From our perspective, the diminishing sunlight is the primary signal. The days grow shorter, and the angle of the sun changes. Our photosynthetic engines, the leaves, receive less energy. Concurrently, the temperature begins to drop, especially at night. This combination of cooler air and reduced light acts as a direct command to our internal biological clock. It is a clear, undeniable message that the harsh, dry season is approaching. This is not a suggestion; it is a trigger for a deep, ingrained survival protocol. We must conserve every possible resource to endure the coming months of cold and potential water scarcity.
Our response to these signals is a deliberate and strategic shutdown of non-essential systems. The most visible sign is the yellowing and subsequent dropping of our leaves. This is a calculated sacrifice. Leaves are major sites of water loss through transpiration. By jettisoning them, we dramatically reduce our water requirements, a critical adaptation for survival in a dormant state where water uptake from the cool soil is minimal. Furthermore, we actively withdraw valuable nutrients, such as nitrogen and potassium, from the leaves back into our main water and energy storage unit: the caudex. This swollen, bulbous stem is our lifeline, packed with stored water and starches that will sustain our core cellular functions throughout the dormancy.
Once leafless, we enter a state of profound rest. Our metabolic processes, including respiration and photosynthesis, slow to an absolute minimum. Growth ceases completely; this is not a time for expansion but for preservation. Our entire existence focuses on maintaining the vital living tissues within the caudex and roots. We exist on the stored reserves we accumulated during the active growing season. From the outside, we may appear lifeless, but internally, a low hum of life persists, just enough to keep our fundamental structures alive and protected from the cold.
During this dormant phase, our needs are minimal but specific. Water becomes our greatest threat. With no leaves to transpire and slowed metabolic activity, our roots cannot absorb moisture effectively. Any significant amount of water in the soil will likely lead to rot, destroying the caudex from the roots upward. We require a completely dry, or nearly dry, environment. Furthermore, we need protection from the cold. As tropical beings, our tissues are highly susceptible to cold damage. Temperatures below 50°F (10°C) are dangerous, and freezing temperatures are often fatal. We require a warm, dry, and bright location, such as a sheltered spot indoors near a window, where we can wait out the winter in peace, undisturbed.
