Winter Dormant vs. Summer Dormant Succulents

Lots of us succulent hobbyist know the concept of “Winter Grower” and “Summer Grower”. Basically succulents in the “Winter Grower” categories grow better when temperatures are low, they go to dormancy in hot days, whereas succulents in the “Summer Grower” category grow better when the temperatures are high, they go into dormancy when the weather cools down. Here is a summary of a few main types of winter growing succulents. If you have succulents in this category make sure bring them out in the sun, water them generously (you still have to let them dry out a bit before watering them again) to maximise their growth in Winter. Also to add a few extra interesting facts: 1. For plants that are in the “Winter Dormancy” category, it doesn’t mean that the colder it gets, the better they grow. In contrast, when the weather is extremely cold, they will go into a “Mini Dormancy”. Same goes with the plants in “Summer Dormancy” category. So avoid watering your “Winter Growing Plants” in coldest and hottest days. 2. Even for plants in “Winter Dormancy” category, the degrees they can handle coldness vary. We find Adenium “Desert Rose” in particular has extremely low “cold tolerance”, cold temperatures not only slow their growth, but also easily kill them. So it’s better to either move your desert rose indoor or set up a temporary dome to protect them from cold damage as soon as the temperatures start to drop. Other plants like Sempervivum can be left outdoors throughout Winter, although they won’t grow much but their colour will actually be more vibrant than in their growing seasons when combating the coldness. If you would like to add some beautiful Winter Grower succulents to your collection, here are some nice selections for you to consider: - https://www.mvsg.com.au/succulents-cacti/aeonium-big-bang - https://www.mvsg.com.au/succulents-cacti/aeonium-mardi-gras - https://www.mvsg.com.au/succulents-cacti/anacampseros-rufescens - https://www.mvsg.com.au/succulents-shade/sedeveria-letizia - https://www.mvsg.com.au/succulents-shade/kalanchoe-sexanglaris