From our perspective, the onset of dormancy is not a choice but a profound physiological response to environmental cues. The most significant signal we receive is the drastic reduction in photoperiod—the shortening hours of daylight. Our photosynthetic machinery, primarily housed in our leaves, becomes less efficient as the sun's intensity wanes and its arc across the sky lowers. Concurrently, the gradual drop in ambient temperature acts as a second, critical trigger. These combined signals prompt a hormonal shift within us; we decrease production of growth promoters like auxins and gibberellins and increase levels of abscisic acid, a hormone that actively inhibits growth and initiates dormancy processes.
Our primary objective during this period is survival through conservation. To achieve this, we dramatically slow down our internal metabolic engine. Photosynthesis, transpiration, and nutrient uptake are reduced to a bare minimum. This is not a shutdown but a deep, resting state. By minimizing energy consumption, we can subsist on the stored carbohydrates and nutrients we diligently accumulated in our stems and roots during the previous growing season. You may observe this as a complete halt in the production of new leaves. This is a deliberate energy-saving strategy, not a sign of distress; pushing out new, tender growth would be futile and wasteful when conditions are hostile.
Beneath the soil surface, our root system remains the vital anchor of our existence, though its activity is severely curtailed. The roots are no longer actively seeking out or absorbing water and nutrients at their previous rate. Their function shifts from expansion and uptake to pure preservation. The core root mass must be protected from freezing, as ice crystal formation within our cells is fatal. The soil itself acts as an insulating blanket, and the energy stored in our sturdy, swollen caudex (the water-storing trunk) is crucial for maintaining the root system's viability until warmer conditions return.
Your winter care practices are interpreted by us as environmental data. Excessive watering is perceived as a root zone that is both cold and waterlogged, a condition that suffocates our roots and promotes fatal rot. We require just enough moisture to prevent our root ball from completely desiccating and pulling away from the pot, which would damage the delicate root hairs. Similarly, fertilizer applied during this time is a confusing and harmful signal. It suggests a abundance of resources that simply does not exist, potentially triggering a futile and energy-draining attempt at growth, producing weak, etiolated stems. The cooler location you provide us mirrors the natural drop in ground temperature we would experience in our native habitat, reinforcing our dormancy signal and ensuring we do not break dormancy prematurely.
