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This page is a collection of information that might help succulent and cactus growers understand which plants should be dormant and when.
The intention is to keep tweaking this page as more is learned, please help us refine the quality of the information, input is welcomed.

Introduction

Dormancy is one of the most difficult concepts to learn for newcomers to growing succulents and cacti.
It is best to re-pot or transplant plants just before or during their growth period(s).
Bear in mind that Winter is usually colder than summer although on or near the Equator there is less seasonal temperature variation.

Succulents have developed in regions where there are long periods without rainfall and have learned to grow during wetter months.
Most succulents, especially cacti, are also affected by temperature with less growth in colder months.
In regions where it only rains in Winter months it follows that growth also depends on how low temperatures are. In colder regions growth will only occur in the Spring and Fall.

Note that the list includes mainly genera, there are cases where a species within a genus has the opposite dormancy to the majority in that genus.
Also note that when some plants are grown outside of their native habitat, especially in the opposite hemisphere, they can change their dormancy habits.
Plants from extremely hot and dry parts of the world like Conophytum and Lithops go dormant in the heat of Summer but cannot be allowed to be cold and wet in Winter.

WINTER DORMANT (Major growth is in summer)

This group is usually referred to as “summer growers.” They are dormant from November through February (June through September in the southern hemisphere). Many of these will also enter a rest period for a few weeks during the hottest part of the summer (called estivation) before putting on a final burst of growth in September and October (March and April in the southern hemisphere). Genera fitting better in this category include:

Adenia
Adenium
Alluaudia
Aloinopsis rubrolineata
Beaucarnia
Brachystelma
Bursera
Calibanus
Ceropegia
Cissus

Cyphostemma
Didieria
Dioon
Dorstenia
Dyckia
Echeveria
Encephalartos
Euphorbia
Ficus
Fockea

Hechtia
Huernia
Hylocereus
Ibervillea
Ipomoea
Jatropha
Monadenium
Moringa
Operculicarya
Orbea

Pachypodium
Pedilanthus
Plumeria
Pseudolithos
Pterodiscus
Puya
Raphionacme
Selenicereus
Sempervivum
Sinningia

Stangeria
Stapelia
Stapelianthus
Synadenium
Tillandsia
Titanopsis
Trichocaulon
Trichodiadema
Uncarina
Xerosicyos

SUMMER DORMANT (Major growth is in winter)

Usually referred to as “winter growers” these genera are mostly dormant during the warmer months of May through August (November through February in the southern hemisphere). Their primary growth actually occurs during the autumn and spring while slowing considerably during winter. Genera fitting better in this category include:

Adromischus
Aeonium
Agave
Aichryson
Aloe
Anacampseros
Astroloba
Avonia
Bowiea
Bulbine
Caputia

Ceraria
Conophytum
Cotyldeon
Crassula
Curio
Dactylopsis
Dracaena
Dudleya
Fenestraria
Fouquieria
Gasteria

Gibbaeum
Graptopetalum
Graptosedum
Graptoveria
Greenovia
Haemanthus
Haworthia
Haworthiopsis
Kalanchoe
Kleinia
Kumara

Lithops
Monanthes
Neohenricia
Othonna
Pachycormus
Pachyphytum
Pachyveria
Pelargonium
Peperomia
Pilea
Portulacaria

Sansevieria
Sarcocaulon
Sedeveria
Sedum
Senecio
Sphalmanthus (Phyllobolus)
Stomatium
Sulcorebutia rauschii
Talinum
Tylecodon

Genera such as Agave, Aloe and Haemanthus (to name a few) include some species that are summer dormant and some that are winter dormant, and with genera such as Agave and Aloe, some species do not appear to go dormant at all.
Dioscorea can have periods of dormancy at any time.
Sun intensity increases in summer. When moving plants from shadier to sunnier places, be sure to acclimate them by covering them with a piece of shade cloth or window screen. The covering may be removed after a few weeks.

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