From our perspective, the dazzling display of flowering is an immense energetic expenditure. We have channeled vast stores of carbohydrates, nutrients, and water into producing vibrant petals and reproductive structures to attract pollinators. Once the final petal drops and the seed heads begin to form, our internal biological clock signals a critical transition. The priority is no longer attraction and reproduction but survival and preparation. Our focus turns inward, shifting resources from the spent blooms back down to our most vital part: the tuberous roots. This is not a death; it is a strategic retreat. We begin the essential work of photosynthesis through our remaining foliage to create and send energy reserves down for storage, ensuring we have the strength to weather the coming dormancy and emerge again.
You may be tempted to cut us back immediately after our performance ends, but please resist. Our leaves are now our lifelines. Though no longer supporting flowers, they are hard at work as solar panels, absorbing sunlight and converting it into precious sugars through photosynthesis. This process is how we recharge our batteries. Allow our foliage to remain intact, green, and functional. Continue providing water and a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer to support this recovery process. We are gathering strength for the long sleep ahead, and interrupting this process by removing our leaves too early would be like unplugging a battery before it is fully charged, leaving us weakened and vulnerable.
As the days grow shorter and temperatures may shift, you will notice a change. Our leaves will naturally begin to yellow, brown, and wither. This senescence is a deliberate and controlled process on our part. It is the visual sign that we are actively reclaiming any remaining mobile nutrients and minerals from the foliage and transporting them down to the tubers for storage. The life force is retreating from the parts we can afford to lose—the parts that would be damaged by frost or drought. Once the foliage has turned completely yellow or brown and becomes easily detached, our withdrawal is complete. The energy is secured underground.
With our energy safely stored, we enter a state of true dormancy. This is a period of suspended animation, a necessary rest where our metabolic activities slow to a bare minimum. For us, this is a time of peace and patience, waiting for the specific environmental cues that signal it is safe to grow again. During this phase, our needs are simple. If we are in the ground in a suitable climate, we require a period of cooler temperatures and less moisture, though the soil should not become dust-dry for extended periods, as it could desiccate our tubers. If you lift our tubers for storage, they need a cool, dark, dry, and well-ventilated environment to rest without rotting or sprouting prematurely. This quiet period is not emptiness; it is a vital part of our lifecycle where the potential for next year's grandeur is held securely within.
