It’s much easier to overwinter dormant plants rather than keeping them growing indoors. But the biggest challenge comes at the start of spring when you’re ready to wake them.
Bringing plants out of dormancy can be difficult and, if you don’t take the proper steps, they could end up dying on you.
In this post, I will give you my best tips to show you exactly how to wake up your dormant plants without damaging or killing them.
Why I Overwinter Dormant Plants
Our winters here in Minnesota are long and very cold. I have a large collection of plants that I overwinter inside the house every year. But keeping all of them thriving through these long freezing months can be a lot of work.
I am constantly fighting houseplant pest infestations. Not to mention watering all those plants during the long months can sometimes become quite the chore.
To make life a little easier for myself during the winter, there are a few types of plants that I let go dormant right in their pots. A few of my favorites are my brugmansia, plumeria, peppers and tuberous begonias.
During this rest period they require very little care, which makes keeping so much easier. And, since they drop all of their leaves, there’s no need to worry about bugs or weak and leggy growth.
I can simply store them in a dark room and water sparingly (if at all). Then in the spring I drag them out of the basement and start waking them up to help break their dormancy.
When To Bring A Plant Out Of Dormancy
It’s best to start triggering your plants to break dormancy about 2-3 months before it’s warm enough to move them back outside. This will give them plenty of time to wake up and prepare for life outdoors.
It’s not warm enough here in zone 4b until about mid-May, so I start the process sometime in late February or early March.
6 Tips For Bringing Plants Out Of Winter Dormancy
When you force plants to go into hibernation over the winter, it’s best to wake them up slowly in the spring.
If you try to force them too quickly, it can do more harm than good, and it could end up being fatal to them. Here are my tips for how to successfully bring a plant out of its dormant state.
1. Water It
The first thing you should do to trigger your plant that it’s time to wake up is to give it some water.
Give it a deep, soaking drink, and make sure all of the excess drains completely from the pot. You just want to moisten the soil, it should not be overly wet or soggy.
2. Give It Some Light
The second main trigger to break winter dormancy is light. So move your plant out of the dark and put it near a sunny window where it will get bright light.
Don’t give it direct sun yet though, because it may burn the stems or leaf buds, even if it’s indoors.
3. Repot It (Optional)
If your plant needs to be repotted, this is the perfect time to do it, and this will also help to break their dormancy faster.
Move it to a container that’s 1-2 sizes larger than the current one, and position it at the same depth as it was before.
4. Wait For New Growth
Once your plant starts to put on new growth, that means it has successfully broken its dormancy. Resume your regular watering routine, and give it a 1/4 or 1/2 strength dose of liquid fertilizer.
I recommend using a natural one, like compost tea or an organic general purpose fertilizer, as chemical brands can the roots.
5. Harden It Off
Wait until the nighttime temps are above 45°F before moving your plant back outside, and never put it directly into the full sun.
The new leaves won’t be strong enough to handle direct sunlight yet, and it could burn the stem and buds. Start by placing it in a shady spot where it is protected from the wind and rain.
Then, gradually move it to its full sun location over a few weeks, giving it plenty of time to get used to the intense rays.
6. Prune Weak Winter Growth
Any new leaves that grew during the winter will be weak and may burn off once you have moved the plant back to its full sun location – even after you harden it.
This is normal, so don’t panic. Simply prune off the weak or damaged foliage to encourage new, hardier leaves to grow.
More Posts About Overwintering Plants
- How To Overwinter Sweet Potato Vines Indoors
- How To Overwinter Coleus Plants Indoors
- Overwintering Tropical Plants Indoors
- How To Store Dahlia Bulbs For The Winter
- Dormant Cyclamen Care: When, What To Do, & How To Revive It
How do you wake up dormant plants in the spring? Share your tips in the comments below.
John says
Can you take a dormant plant pot it wake it up then trans plant it in a garden?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you sure can. Wait until it has fully broken dormancy and has grown several healthy new leaves before you transplant it into you garden.
Eugene Brackle says
Purchased 3 Plumeria Plants while in Hawaii 2007. 2 survived & this yr I took 2 cuttings. Cutting R doing well. Mother plants not showing sign of new growth. Stems look great. Hoping Mother Plants will come back.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you took the cuttings during dormancy, then it could just be slow to regrow. Here are a few articles that will help you..
– How To Overwinter Plumerias
– How To Care For Plumeria Plants
– Propagating Plumeria Cuttings In 5 Easy Steps