It often coincides with plants overwintering, and is definitely something you’ll see a lot as fall kicks in. This is where the snap-scratch test comes into play. The key principle is to avoid sudden changes, which can shock the plant. · if you aren’t sure whether a plant is dead or still dormant after the winter, you run the risk of yanking one out when it is just taking its time to burst into life when the conditions are right. When it comes to telling if your dormant plant is still alive, youll often need to look beyond the surface and dive into the details. · all plants go through periods of dormancy. Light-colored, supple roots that are fleshy and look healthy indicate dormancy. Here are 5 tips to help you determine if a plant is still dormant or ready for the compost pile. · dormant plants are still living and should be left in place—theyre just conserving energy in their off season. Learn how to tell if your plant is dead or just dormant with simple tests and the difference between dead and dormant plants. · fortunately, there are a few simple ways to tell if your perennial is dormant or truly dead and gone. Waking up a dormant plant if the scratch test confirms your plant is alive but dormant , encourage active growth by gradually adjusting its environment. Put simply, it is the natural resting phase where growth slows or pauses. · shriveled, moldy, dry, brittle, or mushy roots are a good indication that the plant is dead. · it can be tough to tell if plants are dying , or just entering a phase of dormancy. Learn how to tell if your plants are going dormant , dying, or dead. Dead plants , of course, will not recover and should be removed. Indeed, what is dormancy in plants ?