How Plants Survive Winter Posted On : Mar-05-2010 | seen (341) times | Article Word Count : 427 |
The survival of plants in cold weather is due to acclimation Cheap Brandon Dunn Jersey , which involves getting several weeks of exposure to near-freezing temperatures before a frost. Plants purposely put themselves in a state of desiccation. They remove excess water from their leaves-in the case of evergreens like rhododendrons and conifers-or from buds and stems. When they are in this self-induced dry state, protection from wind can be a p plants in the greenhouse are thriving-their glossy leaves in stark contrast to the view beyond the glass. Outside Cheap Jordan Thomas Jersey , brown and gray bare stems and drooping evergreen leaves are rimmed in ice. Have you ever wondered-what mechanisms make those outdoor plants survive beyond the greenhouse walls? And why is one plant designated a Zone 7 and another a Zone 3?
I checked out these questions and learned that one of the main factors for cold survival is how plants handle water. Then I called Ross Penhallagon, at the Oregon State University Extension Service office. He confirmed what I had discovered.
Ross told me that the first aspect of cold survival is acclimation. Plants do best when they get several weeks of exposure to near-freezing temperatures before a frost. This signals them to prepare.
Dry Strategies Work
One preparation method? Plants purposely put themselves in a state of desiccation. They remove excess water from their leaves-in the case of evergreens like rhododendrons and conifers-or from buds and stems. It's similar to draining exposed pipes so that ice won't expand and burst them. In plants Cheap Vyncint Smith Jersey , the forming ice plays havoc with unprotected cellular structures-why tomato vines are mush after a first frost.