What To Do With Your Dormant Plants
It's winter or early spring and your plants were shipped looking a little different than what you imagined. Don't worry! Your plant isn’t dying, it’s just going to sleep or sleeping already! Let’s talk about dormancy and what it means for your plants.😊
Dormancy is nature’s way of helping plants conserve energy for the next growing season. During the winter months here in southeast Michigan, we keep our shrubs in cooler greenhouses where they go dormant. This dormancy usually lasts from November to April. During dormancy, plants go inactive and conserve their energy for the next growing season. This happens naturally as seasons and weather change. As a result, the plants may look dead or as if there is something wrong with them.
Plants Going Dormant (Late Fall - Early Winter Shipments)
If you are receiving your plants in late fall and early winter, as they are beginning to go dormant, you may notice:
- Yellowing/browning leaves
- Spots
- Thinning foliage (leaf drop)
Plants Already in Dormancy (Winter - Early Spring Shipments)
During this time, your plants will be bare, meaning there are no leaves or flowers, just stems. 
If you live in a warmer climate (above freezing), all you have to do is plant the shrub, then feed and water it. Within a few weeks, signs of life will return as your plant adjusts to the warm climate.
If you live in a cooler climate, keep the plant out of the elements by storing it inside a protected environment. Keep its soil moist until outside temperatures rise and your area is frost-free. Your average frost-free date can be found here or by calling your local garden center. Then, plant, feed, and water your plant and you’ll be good to grow!
Worried about your dormant shrub? Try the scratch test!
If your shrub looks bare or leafless, don’t fret—it might just be dormant. To check if it's still healthy, simply do the Scratch Test! Gently scratch a small section of the main stem with your fingernail. If you see green underneath, your plant is alive and well, just resting until warmer days.
It’s important to know that all plants enter dormancy at different rates. Some may still look vibrant and green, while others could be completely bare. Others may be trimmed back to help them ease into dormancy. Every plant handles the colder months in its own unique way.
As always, please feel free to reach out to us at any time with any questions or concerns. You can call us at 855-PW PLANT (855-797-5268), email us at helpdesk@provenwinnersdirect.com or chat with us online! We are happy to help!
For more garden tips and advice, head over to our Garden Life Blog and Garden Resource Center.