Winter and Summer Growers
Succulents and cacti have preferred growing and dormancy seasons for each plant. Some grow in summer and are dormant (inactive) in winter while some are just the opposite and are actively growing in winter and dormant in summer. The difference is the hours of sunlight in a day and temperature. Keep in mind it is not uncommon for a plant to change its growing growing habit and revert from being a winter grower to a summer grower and vice-versa. The season a plant is active is important because the water and nutrient needs change - more is needed while growing and much less is needed while dormant.
Please also keep in mind that with the advent of DNA testing, some plants have had their names changed in recent years, but their growing habits remain the same.
Winter Growers
These genera are dormant during the hottest summer months. They actually grow during Fall and Spring, and in real Winter months when days are shorter they produce only minimal growth, if any.
Adromischus
Aeonium
Aichryson
Aloe
Anacampseros
Astroloba
Avonia
Bowiea
Bulbine
Ceraria
Conophytum
Cotyledon
Crassula
Dactylopsis
Dioscorea
Dudleya
Fouqueria
Gasteria
Gibbaeum
Graptoveria
Greenovia
Haemanthus
Haworthia
Kalanchoe
Summer Growers
This group is generally regarded as the summer growers. They have adapted to our northern hemisphere cycle and are dormant from around November thru February. Many of these will also enter a pseudo rest period during the hottest part of the summer before putting on a final burst of growth in September and October.
Adenia
Adenium
Agave
Alluaudia
Brachystelma
Bursera
Calibanus
Ceropegia
Cissus
Cyphostemma (most)
Didieria
Dorstenia
Echevaria
Encephalartos
Euphorbia
Ficus
Fockea
Huernia
Ibervillea
Ipomoea
Jathropha
Lithops
Monadenium
Moringa
Operculicarya
Pachypodium
Pedilanthus
Plumeria
Pseudolithos
Pterodiscus
Raphionacme
Sinningia
Stapelianthus
Synadenium
Tillandsia
Trichocaulon
Trichodiadema
Xerosicyos
Monanthes
Neohenricia
Othonna
Pachycormus
Pachyphytum
Pachyveria
Pelargonium
Peperomia
Pilea
Portulacaria
Sansevieria
Sedum
Senecio
Sphalmanthus (Phyllobolus)
Stomatium
Talinum
Tylecodon
