Exploding the Winter Dormancy Myth

As I go online, I obviously look at a lot of plant sites, and one of the common things that I see is a mention of winter dormancy. Today we’re exploding the winter dormancy myth.

Table of Contents

Why I Question Winter Dormancy in Tropical Plants

You know, I grow a lot of tropical plants. In the tropics, it’s 12-12 or close to it all year round. Most of the tropical plants we’re growing as houseplants don’t have a winter dormancy. They don’t suddenly go dormant because it’s December where we live.

Less Winter Light Doesn’t Mean Dormancy

They might slow down, but that’s primarily because we get less light over here in the northern hemisphere. If you keep the temperature constant and you keep the light constant—which I do because I use grow lights—there’s no dormancy.

I mean, plants do grow better in direct sunlight, usually, but nowadays we’ve got full-spectrum LEDs, and they come pretty close.

My Kitchen Garden Keeps Growing All Winter

In my video I show my kitchen garden. It only has a north window and is generally a dark room but with an LED grow light it becomes a thriving garden with no signs of dormancy.

What Active Winter Growth Actually Looks Like

When I say these plants are still growing, I’m not just talking about plants that remain green through the winter. I’m looking for actual new growth. I see new leaves developing, vines getting longer, roots growing, and new pitchers forming on my Nepenthes.

My Nepenthes truncata is a particularly good example. It’s growing under artificial light and producing pitchers around 8 inches long. That’s not a plant sitting dormant waiting for spring. It’s actively growing because I’m continuing to provide the light and temperatures it needs.

That’s why I think it’s important to watch what your plants are actually doing rather than automatically changing their care because winter has arrived.

Even My Plants Without Grow Lights Keep Growing

Even my plants without artificial lighting continue to grow during the winter but while growth is slower they certainly are not dormant.

Likewise I have 4 lighted terrariums, some with tropical carnivorous plants, some with houseplants and some with both and they show no signs of dormancy.

What I See With My Own Plants

One reason I’m pretty confident about this is the number of plants I’m growing under different conditions. My kitchen garden is under an LED grow light, but I also have plants growing with natural window light and four terrariums under artificial lighting.

The plants getting natural light may slow down during winter, which is exactly what I would expect as our days get shorter. But the plants under artificial lighting just keep growing.

My terrariums make this especially easy to see. I grow tropical carnivorous plants along with other houseplants in them. I’m seeing new leaves, new growth, and new pitchers. My Nepenthes truncata is producing pitchers around 8 inches long. There’s nothing dormant about that plant.

That’s the nice thing about growing your own plants. You don’t have to rely entirely on what you read online. You can watch what the plants actually do.

Winter Dormancy FAQs

Do tropical houseplants go dormant in winter?

Most tropical houseplants don’t require a cold winter dormancy. They may grow more slowly when winter brings shorter days and lower light levels, but slower growth isn’t necessarily dormancy.

Why do my houseplants grow slower in winter?

For many tropical houseplants, reduced light is a big reason. Winter days are shorter and the sun is lower in the sky. Plants relying on natural window light may slow down simply because they’re receiving less usable light.

Can grow lights keep houseplants growing through winter?

Yes. That’s what I see with my own plants. When I provide adequate artificial light and keep indoor temperatures fairly consistent, my tropical plants under lights continue actively growing through winter.

The Winter Dormancy Myth: Final Thoughts

The main point I’m trying to make is that slower winter growth isn’t the same thing as dormancy. If your tropical houseplants are getting less light during the winter, they’re probably going to grow more slowly. That doesn’t mean they’ve gone dormant.

I see that difference with my own plants. The plants under my grow lights continue growing throughout the winter, while some of the plants relying on natural light may slow down. My lighted terrariums continue growing too.

To me, that says a lot. These plants are responding to their growing conditions, not to the date on the calendar.

So instead of automatically assuming your tropical houseplants are dormant in winter, watch what they’re actually doing. If they’re still producing leaves, roots, pitchers, or other new growth, they’re still growing.

If you want to dig deeper into true plant dormancy, winter light levels, grow lights, watering, and fertilizing, I suggest reading my full article Do Houseplants Go Dormant in Winter? Not Always.