Why this phenomenon of “loss of shape of our plants”?
You have to understand how a plant lives.
Plants have a strong dependence on the quantity and quality of light.
What about the temperature?
Plant growth is like a mathematical equation with one unknown, but with three parameters: light, temperature, and water.
The light,
It is often of poor quality due to:
- Glazing changes the light spectrum.
For example, 1 m from a window, the light intensity drops by around 50%.
In addition, the glass deflects part of the light rays, particularly towards the blues and purples which allow the plant to dwarf and accentuate its colors.
Glazing also tends to trap infrared which, in turn, tends to elongate the internodes. - Artificial lighting whose spectrum is often of poor quality for plants
– Image Source
Temperature,
It is often too high except for plants originating in equatorial forests.
In apartments, the ambient temperature is often above 21 ° C, this temperature is good for tropical forest plants which at the same time withstand low light.
On the other hand, for plants of Mediterranean origin or oceanic climate, such temperatures require an intensity and a quality of light that they do not find in apartments.
However, it is possible to solve the problem of light radiation by adding spectrum lamps loaded with blue and violet radiation near these plants.
This is why orangeries were invented where the light is weak, but where the temperature is cool, just above the frost limit. Waterings are also reduced.
– Simon mcgill
Water in the soil and in the air (hygrometry),
It is often easy to manage provided you understand the needs of each plant.
Plants in equatorial forests are designed for very high or even saturated air humidity. In our apartments the heating lowers this hygrometry to 40%. The solution is to put gravel in a saucer full of water under the pot without the root ball bathing. The evaporation of this water will significantly increase the humidity rate in the leaves.
Be careful with plant pots, they are generally not drilled at the bottom. Irrigation water collects and rots the roots. It must be emptied regularly after watering
Each time one of the parameters varies, the values of the variable change it is necessary that the others be adjusted as well. They are intimately linked to each other.
What about the fertilizer?
Although of less importance, It follows the same logic. In winter, with low quality light in small quantities, fertilizer inputs are stopped.
Conclusion
It is easy to understand that taking out the plants in summer, while respecting their needs, becomes a very good operation. This allows them, even in the shade, to fill up with certain molecules necessary for their good health.
The quality of the external light radiation and the thermal amplitude harden the plants, recolor them and promote their flowering.
Ask all your questions during the gardening show on Sunday morning on France bleu Isère from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. by calling 04 76 46 45 45