Quiescence is a temporary pause or slowing of plant growth caused by unfavourable environmental conditions rather than an internal biological program. Common triggers include low light, drought, cold temperatures, extreme heat, or nutrient shortages. When conditions improve, growth usually resumes without the plant requiring a specific physiological change to “wake up.”
Many houseplants become quiescent during winter because indoor light levels are too low to support active growth. Although they may produce few or no new leaves, they remain metabolically active, continuing to photosynthesize, respire, and maintain living tissues.
Quiescence differs from dormancy, which is an internally regulated resting state that persists even if environmental conditions become temporarily favourable.
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