Succulent dormancy: what you should knowUpdated 2 years ago

Some succulents are adapted to go dormant during particularly cold or hot seasons to protect themselves from extreme temperatures. Dormancy varies across succulent genera and some varieties will lose their seasonal patterns in cultivation. The majority of succulents have a spring/summer growing season and slow down or shed leaves in the winter cold, though there are a few notable exceptions listed below.

Growing Season versus Dormant Season Care

• Dormant and semi-dormant succulents need little to no water
• Do not fertilize just before or during a plant's dormant season
• Dormant plants won't respond to climatic changes until they start growing again

Summer Dormant, Winter Growing Exceptions

• Aeonium
• Aloe
• Gasteria
• Haworthia

Varieties that Lose Leaves Each Winter

• Orostachys
• Sedum kamtschaticum
• Sedum spurium

For more information, check out the full Guide to Winter Dormancy.