Copiapoa continued growth over winter.

[MikeInOz]

I di not stop watering my Copiapoa seedlings in Autumn this year. Instead I continued to give water whenever the mix was dry right through the winter. They received less during very cold weather and a little more when the day was predicted to warm up. Minimum temperatures were down to 3C a couple of times and regularly down to 5. Days averaged about 14C. New spines were produced very slowly during the winter. They did not enter dormancy. Now that spring has arrived I expect things to pick up steam. I suspect that if you can keep your seedlings between 7-10 and 25-30 degrees all year in good light you can safely water them continuously. I have about 50 seedlings of various species and they all did well. Some examples below. They are approaching their 5th year.

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[Aiko]

Do you have good sun light during your winters?
If I would continue watering in winter, my plants for sure will etiolate. For many species I don't mind allowing them to dry for a month or 5 to 6. They do shrink very nicely and it is always a joy of seeing them plump up again after their first watering in March (when it is spring where I live).

[MikeInOz]

Do you have good sun light during your winters?
If I would continue watering in winter, my plants for sure will etiolate. For many species I don't mind allowing them to dry for a month or 5 to 6. They do shrink very nicely and it is always a joy of seeing them plump up again after their first watering in March (when it is spring where I live).

For the past 3 years we have had very little sun in winter. I would guess one day/week. Most days are overcast. Whenever I had a sunny say I placed the trays in the sun. But I guess the light was enough for them not to etiolate.