Is it possible to delay dormancy?

[dren]

I come from a place with rather unpredictable weather so my plants really can't go dormant this August and this is my first winter with them. Would it be possible to delay it by a month but still allow to have its four month resting period? I've seen people do it with succulents but I'm not sure if it's possible with CPs.

[ICPS-bob]

I would not worry about a 4-month dormancy. Dormancy of most temperate CP is triggered naturally by shortening daylength (photoperiod) and/or lower temperature. Conversely, they come out of dormancy by longer daylength and/or higher temperature. Your plants should do just fine with a shorter dormancy -- depending on species. Some alpine or subarctic plants such as D. anglica have a 7-8 month dormancy (they are buried under snow from early November till late May). Other species in more southern latitudes (in northern hemisphere) have only a short natural dormancy.

[dren]

Thank you! Your relply really has help me from worrying to much for my plants. If they last this winter I think they should hopefully become accustomed to it.