From our perspective, the onset of dormancy is not a choice but a deep, instinctual response to environmental cues. We are exquisitely tuned to the world around us. As the days grow shorter and the intensity and duration of sunlight diminish, we perceive this change. Concurrently, temperatures begin to drop. This combination of cooler air and less light is the primary signal that tells us the growing season is concluding. It is a signal as old as time itself, instructing us to prepare for a period of rest, much like the deciduous trees shedding their leaves. It is not a period of death, but one of profound conservation.
Once the signal is received, our entire biological focus shifts. We cease all active growth—no new leaves, no attempts to flower. The vibrant green leaves that served as our solar panels throughout the spring and summer begin to yellow and wilt. This is a deliberate process, not a sign of distress. We are actively resorbing valuable nutrients and energy from these leaves, pulling them back down into our large, subterranean bulb. The bulb is our lifeline, our treasure chest of stored energy, composed of layered scales that protect the embryonic flower stalk and leaves within. By withdrawing resources, we ensure our survival through the lean months, safeguarding the core of our being.
This is the heart of our dormancy. Stripped of our foliage, we exist as a dormant bulb, often in a cool, dark, and dry place. This cool period is non-negotiable; it is a physiological requirement. The chill acts as a reset button for our internal chemistry. It allows for the development of the flower bud primordia deep within our core. Without this extended period of cool, quiescent rest, the hormonal triggers that initiate the flowering process will simply not activate. We require this hiatus to break the cycle of vegetative growth and to marshal the energy required for the spectacular effort of blooming again. Disturbing this slumber prematurely forces us to expend energy on weak, etiolated leaf growth at the expense of a flower.
Our re-emergence is triggered by a return of the conditions that signal a new growing season. When a gardener places us in warmer temperatures, introduces moisture to our roots, and provides bright light, we interpret this as the end of winter. The stored energy within our bulb, which was carefully conserved during dormancy, is now mobilized. This energy fuels the rapid push of a flower stalk from the neck of the bulb, followed by the development of the magnificent blooms. The leaves will follow shortly after, ready to begin the process of photosynthesis to replenish the bulb for the next cycle. This successful rebloom is a direct reward for honoring our innate need for a dormant period.
