| What role does weather have on plants growing outside compared to plants growing inside? |
| Plants grown indoors are in an artificial, controlled, relatively protected environment. These plants tend to be less resiliant than their counterparts grown outside. Indoor light levels tend to be lower and temperatures warmer. This is why bedding plants grown in a greenhouse need to be slowly conditioned or acclimated to the outdoor environment before being planted in the garden. It takes them some time to "toughen up" for life in the real world. Outdoor plants are subject to the effects of weather patterns as they occur in nature. Plants respond to the amount of light, moisture and air available to them, as well as to the ambient temperature and other variables such as wind speed. Their growth and in fact survival depend on these being suitable. For the same reason, when we grow plants indoors, we have to try to provide them the conditions they require or they will die. Over time different plants have adapted to various conditions. For example, some can withstand and in fact need long periods of drought and others require a cold-induced dormant period. When we try to grow these as cultivated plants we need to be sure to mimic those weather patterns. I hope this helps! |
