I'm still learning about succulents, especially watering. I found an interesting reference yesterday after I was researching a comment about not watering Aloes in the summer (at least once temps hit 90º).

The table identifies a bunch of succulents - Aloes included - that are summer dormant, and should be watered sparingly. I knew Aeoniums were summer dormant, but there's a lot more:

Summer dormant
Adromischus
Aeonium
Aloe
Anacampseros
Astroloba
Avonia
Bowiea
Bulbine
Ceraria
Conophytum
Cotyledon
Crassula
Dioscorea
Dudleya
Fouqueria
Gasteria
Gibbaeum
Graptopetalum
Graptoveria
Haemanthus
Haworthia
Kalanchoe
Neohenricia
Othonna
Pachycormus
Pachyphytum
Pachyveria
Pelargonium
Peperomia
Portulacaria
Sansevieria
Sarcocaulon
Sedeveria
Sedum
Senecio
Stomatium
Talinum
Tylecodon

Winter dormant
Adenia
Adenium
Agave
Alluaudia
Brachystelma
Bursera
Calibanus
Ceropegia
Cissus
Cyphostemma
Didieria
Dorstenia
Echeveria
Encephalartos
Euphorbia
Ficus
Fockea
Huernia
Ibervillea Ipomoea
Jathropha
Lithops
Monadenium
Moringa
Operculicarya
Pachypodium
Pedilanthus
Plumeria
Pseudolithos
Pterodiscus
Raphionacme
Siningia
Stapelianthus
Synadenium
Tillandsia
Trichocaulon
Trichodiadema
Xerosicyos

This page also says that you should not disturb a succulent that is dormant, that it is the opposite of most perennials and can damage or even kill the plant. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Here's the page for you to enjoy.... the table that I've copied is about 1/2 way down the page. http://www.highlandsucculents....

In my area adromischus, anacampseros, crassula, senecio, graptoveria, gasteria, pachyveria, sanseveira,portulacaria, kalanchoe, haworthia are not summer dormant. The aeonium, maybe, I did notice the rosettes got tighter and smaller, but not totally dormant. The dudleya, I think it is dormant, so it is not making any good growth right now.

I sure have a lot to learn about these kinds of plants. Didn't have a clue about dormancy til now! Thanks for the link.

That is a good reference tool. Thanks for posting it!
I found it so useful, I made it a sticky!!

Good deal!

Tarev, I believe that most of the South African natives, such as the Aloes, etc., are considered summer dormant because during *our* summers, those plants south of the equator are in their winter. Amaryllis is another good example of summer dormant plants, blooming in the winter.

I think plants acclimate locally once they are established, regardless where they are. Once they feel that appropriate temps they will grow, or once gets colder time to sleep. Or the other way around, if it is way too hot, they will slow down their growth as if dormant but actually slowed down pace.

The amaryllis as far as I have tried it, sure, they can be forced to bloom in winter, but afterwards, their natural cycle to bloom is Spring.

Sheryl,
A very big thank you for the link. It answers a lot of my questions. And now why I have been haveing some problems with my jades. and a Thumbs up.
Stush

Thanks for the posting this is great info.
What Tarev said is entirely correct most succulents and some cactus will start growing at your local climates good times.
That being even more true if they are in the ground. Some will not and will hate you for trying to water them and all the sun they get.

You are all welcome, hope this helps all.

Since I made this thread sticky I would prefer it not be used as a chat thread - so I have closed it. Feel free to talk about the heat and its consequences in a new thread named 'Summer heat'

I've really enjoyed the information shared here, and especially about the lack of watering needs for certains of those listed during the Summer months.

In our high humidity Summers it makes a lot of since in Florida...

I'm guessing this is the cactus chat?? Although since fall is almost gone the title know longer fits
I finally went to Seattle's volunteer park conservatory and took a few photos.

Greg, you're not volunteering are you? Nice pic of these barrel-type cactus and I note the little Turk's cap cactus!

Bev - haha - not at this time! I moved to Seattle in 1984 and several of the plants in this cacti part have become something like friends...I've seen them develop over the years! This is the best I've ever seen them looking though, so that's exciting! They just sparkle! They looked clean, and well tended and happy!

Iposted this before (above).

Since I made this thread sticky (because it contains great information) I would prefer it not be used as a chat thread - so I have closed it. Feel free to talk about the heat and its consequences in a new thread named 'Summer heat' - or maybe now 'how to get them through the winter'