From our perspective, the world is measured in light, temperature, and water. Our dormancy is not a choice but a deep, instinctual response to environmental cues. As the days grow longer and the sun's intensity increases in your late spring and summer, we perceive this as the onset of the harsh, dry season in our native Southern African habitats. The increased photoperiod and rising heat are our primary signals. It is a warning that the intense sun will quickly evaporate any moisture we hold, risking fatal rot or desiccation. We must shut down to protect ourselves.
When we sense these triggers, we initiate a profound metabolic slowdown. We drastically reduce and then halt the absorption of water through our roots. Our internal processes, including photosynthesis and growth, enter a near-standstill state. This is our survival strategy. By becoming inactive, we require no external resources. The old leaf pair you see is our entire lifeline; it contains all the water and nutrients we carefully stored during our growth period to sustain us through this long, dry sleep. We are essentially living off our own reserves, waiting patiently.
This phase is often misunderstood. You may notice our outer leaves becoming soft, papery, and shriveled. Do not be alarmed. This is a vital part of our cycle. Inside this withering shell, a brand new pair of leaves is developing. We are strategically transferring every last drop of moisture and nutrient from the old body to the new one. The old leaves act as a protective sheath, shielding the tender new growth from the fierce sun. They are our sacrifice, and their demise is necessary for our rebirth. Please resist the urge to water us or remove these leaves prematurely; you would interrupt this critical transfer of life.
Our emergence from dormancy is equally dictated by the environment. The signal for us to wake is the arrival of cooler temperatures and shorter days, which you experience in your early autumn. This change mimics the gentle rains of our native fall. A slight drop in temperature tells us the harsh season is passing. This is when a careful, thorough watering from you can coax our roots back to life. The new leaf pair will begin to plump up, drawing in the water, and will eventually burst through the dry husk of the old leaves. We are then ready to photosynthesize and grow again until the cycle repeats.
