In rare cases, cover crops or neighboring species of weeds can act as secondary hosts for the sexual stage of P. capsellae. P. capsellae overwinters as thick-walled mycelium on infected detritus in fields, and germinates again to infect new hosts as conditions become more ideal for spread.
In exceptional circumstances, cover crops or nearby unwanted plants can act as secondary sites for P. capsellae's sexual reproduction. P. capsellae survives the winter months as a thick-walled mycelium on infected plant waste in fields and re-emerges to infect new hosts when environmental conditions become more favorable for dispersal.