Forcing means tricking a dormant plant into believing it is spring.

The dormant plant is very cold-hardy in Britain.

What she had taken for a tree trunk or dormant plant was an animal.

The dormant plant "will look dead," but in February shoots should appear.

She slipped into the garden and ran lightly along the rows of dormant plants.

But heavy rainfall can make a dormant plant grow again, even in a desert.

But there is a "permanent wilting point," he said, when a dormant plant that has slowed its respiration will stop breathing entirely.

Also, grape pruning is done on dormant plants, before growth begins.

Though dormant plants often get all they need from rain and snow, it is best to check the soil every two or three weeks.

One alternative, he said, would be to fire up one of its dormant fossil-fuel plants, which would mean more air pollution.