Do indoor plants always go dormant in winter? A rundown of species that go dormant in autumn

Many plant lovers may think that plant dormancy is all about winter, and that plants only "sleep" when it gets cold. Actually, that's not the case. The dormant period doesn't necessarily fall in winter; some indoor plants start slacking off as soon as autumn arrives and quietly enter dormancy.

First, let's talk about why a plant's dormant period isn't necessarily in winter. Plant dormancy mainly depends on environmental changes, such as dropping temperatures and shorter daylight, and these signals make them feel it's time to rest. Autumn cooling comes earlier than winter, and some plants are especially sensitive to temperature changes: as soon as daytime temperatures drop below 20°C and nighttime temperatures fall below 15°C, they may switch into dormancy mode. This is especially true for plants native to tropical and subtropical regions: they grow vigorously in summer, but once autumn turns cool they "can't take it" and enter dormancy early to conserve energy.

So which indoor plants go dormant in autumn?

Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a typical example. In summer its vines can grow wildly for several meters, with glossy, thick leaves, but once autumn arrives, new leaves grow small and slowly, and old leaves may turn yellow. This is because golden pothos likes warmth; when autumn temperatures drop, the roots' ability to absorb water and nutrients weakens, so it can only "save energy" through dormancy. At this point, if you still water it every day and fertilize heavily as in summer, you'll actually cause root rot.

Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) also goes dormant in autumn. Its leaves are large, and in summer its transpiration is strong, so it needs frequent watering. But once autumn arrives, its leaves unfurl noticeably more slowly, or even stop growing altogether. You'll notice its stems seem to "freeze up" - that's the signal of dormancy. At this point, put it in a warm spot, don't let cold wind blow directly on it, and water less; just water once the top of the soil is dry.

Many succulent varieties also like to go dormant in autumn. For example, Haworthia cooperi and bear's paw (Cotyledon tomentosa) may still be growing in summer, but once autumn cools down, their leaves become wrinkled and no longer as plump as before. This is them reducing water evaporation and preparing to "hibernate." At this point, absolutely don't water frequently, or the leaves will easily turn to mush; just put them on a sunny windowsill and let them go dormant quietly.

Money tree (Pachira aquatica) likewise enters dormancy in autumn. It is already a slow grower by nature, and in autumn it almost stops growing entirely. Some plant lovers see its leaves drooping a little and keep watering, only for waterlogged soil to rot the roots. In fact, when the money tree is dormant, its water needs are very low; even if the leaves are a bit soft, as long as the soil is dry, it will recover on its own, and there's no need to worry at all.

So, the dormant period of indoor plants really isn't necessarily in winter, and quite a few plants do go dormant in autumn. When growing plants, you have to observe carefully: if you find a plant isn't growing much and its leaves look worse, don't rush to assume it's sick - it may simply be quietly going dormant in autumn. At this point, the most important thing is to "fuss over it less": water less, don't fertilize, don't repot, and create a quiet environment for them. When spring comes and the weather warms up, they'll naturally wake up and come back to life.