Do conifers go dormant?

[Tucker943]

Guys,
do conifers go dormant through the winter? To make that question a little less broad, lets say a white pine. Yeah, I could go look through any number of books to find the answer but i guess I'd rather some good conversation.

Chris

 

[treegazer]

In what geographic region is the conifer growing?

 

[guymayor]

"dormant' is a relative term. Life is always going on.

/what exactly do you mean? no living conifer is as dormant as that deer in your avatar.

 

[No_Bivy]

dormant = not growing.....then I say yes. My bonsai conifers stay in a cold room all winter with very little light. I water once a week.

 

[The_REVerend]

Even in winter cell development is still taking place
Is it for reference, pruning or transplanting?
Rev

 

[Tucker943]

Curiousity....the trees I am referring to are those of new england area. It was the topic of conversation between another climber and I last night. We know and say that deciduous trees go dormant through the winter months in many regions, do conifers?

 

[spydermonkey1]

i believe a conifers cell development slows dermasticly but does not stop altogether the just restart when winters over

 

[boreality]

Nasa did a major study on the Boreal Forest, they had research towers and an air force of 20 planes. The study was called Boreas and they used to have a web site, I'd put a link but I don't have that technology. Anyway they found that the forest still made a major amount of oxygen during the winter (which is signifigantly colder than New England). To me this would indicate the the trees are respiring meaning they are not dormant. Probably 50% of the canopy is conifer.

 

[JJackson]

I would agree with Spydermonkey, in classes in university it was taught that cell dvelopment slowed considerably in cold weather. In winter they would be as close to dormant as they get.