What Happens When Plants Go Dormant?
Dormancy looks different in each plant. One of the first signs of plant dormancy will be no new growth and, for perennials and deciduous plants, shedding foliage. In an effort to conserve water and nutrient needs over the winter, plants will suspend growth and cast off the parts that would require feeding. While you might observe many plants simply drop their foliage such as the leaves on a tree, most other plants simply appear to shrivel up. All parts of the plant that were once green seem to go brown. In fact, if you’re not familiar with your plants, you might suspect it has died. Never fear, your plant is simply resting.