Re: another book question AND Dormancy

Robert Allen (Robert.Allen@Eng.Sun.COM)
Thu, 16 Dec 1993 17:36:22 +0800

>>Also: I live in LA, about 5 miles W of the water, and I keep my (few
>>-- S. minor, VFT, C. darlingtonia, several common Dros.) CP outside.
>>They don't seem to have any interest in going dormant yet, even though
>>I've cut down on the water. The days are still quite warm, (sunny of
>>course); the nights have only recently started to get into the low
>>50s. Do I need to be doing anything special to force dormancy, or
>>just watching?

I think the dormancy is triggered by shorter days and lower temps. If
you don't have these it will be no different from growing them under
lights year 'round, i.e. you'll have to simulate the conditions for
them to go dormant. I'm from California, so I don't know much about
seasons. Will you get cooler temps later?

Somewhere I read that the cooler temps cause the plant to produce
a natural anti-freeze, which protects it a bit in winter. By the
same token, I've heard that naturally dormant plants are more resistant
to rot during dormancy.

Robert