Going Dormant during the Winter monthszzz
Winter is coming to North America, and here at ForestPlanet Global HQ it’s time to outplant the mini-forest that’s been happily growing all summer on our windowsill. Rather than bring our lovelies inside for the winter, Farmer Tim Makepeace of the Peirce Mill demonstration orchard recommends out-planting the seedlings, still in their pots, and deep enough so that the roots don’t freeze.
Nearly all plants go dormant in winter—whether they’re growing indoors or out in the garden. This period of rest is crucial to their survival in order to regrow each year, especially after the heck-o-hot summer we had here in Washington, DC.
Why Dormancy? Dormancy is like hibernation in that everything within the plant slows down: metabolism, energy consumption, growth, and more. We’re actually slightly envious, as imagine being able to say ” please wake me in the Spring, when the Sun is warm, the days grow longer, baseball has begun, and everyone is happily vaccinated.” Such is our lot to remain active and hot cocoa-fortified during the Winter months, and to also visit our mini-forest on a regular basis and make sure they are snoring peacefully.
We’ll un-Earth our micro-forest, pots and all, and place them back on our windowsill come Spring. But for now…sleep well…