In short, benthic populations of Microcystis settled in a deep zone of the Grangent reservoir are able to participate to the recruitment process after a wind range of benthic life durations. While an overwinter lasting a few months did not seem to affect this recruitment ability, a benthic life phase lasting several years resulted in lower recruitment. However long the benthic life phase lasted, the only abiotic factor that significantly promoted the recruitment of Microcystis in this experiment was sediment resuspension. On the basis of these results, we propose that the benthic recruitment of Microcystis in deep and dark zones is triggered, firstly, by passive mechanisms such as sediment mixing and, secondly, by active mechanisms related to the physiological state of the cells. Until now, the benthic recruitment of Microcystis was thought to take place mainly in littoral areas. This study shows that recruitment can also take place in deep zones, even from old populations, and this implies that we need to reconsider the benthic recruitment process in deep areas.