Anyone interested in gardening has one question in mind when choosing a
new plant: Will it thrive in my garden?
Many factors come into play to determine whether or not a plant will
perform well for you. Each kind of plant has its own needs and requirements.
Some plants, like the dandelion, are tolerant of a wide variety of conditions,
while others, such as the pink ladyslipper orchid, have very exacting requirements.
Before you spend the time, effort, and money attempting to grow a new plant
in your garden, it is best to do some research to learn something about
the conditions that the plant needs to grow properly.
Here is a brief description of some of the environmental parameters
that influence plant growth:
Daylength is usually the most critical factor in regulating vegetative
growth, flower initiation and development, and the induction of dormancy.
Plants utilize daylength as a cue to promote their growth in spring and
prepare them for the cold weather. Many plants require specific daylength
conditions to initiate flowers.
Light is the energy source for plants. Cloudy, rainy days or the
shade cast by nearby plants and structures can significantly reduce the
amount of light available. Shade adapted plants cannot tolerate the
bright light of full sun. Plants survive only where the amount is
within a range they can tolerate.
Plants grow best within an optimum range of temperatures; and the range
may be wide for some species, narrow for others. Plants survive only where
temperatures allow them to carry on life-sustaining chemical reactions.
Plants differ in their ability to survive cold temperatures. Some
tropical plants are injured by temperatures below 60°F. Arctic
species can tolerate temperatures well below zero. The ability
of a plant to withstand cold is a function of the degree of dormancy present
in the plant, its water status, and general health. Exposure to wind
and bright sunlight or rapidly changing temperatures can also compromise
a plant's cold tolerance.
Heat tolerance varies widely from species to species. Many plants
that naturally grow in arid tropical regions are naturally very heat tolerant,
while subarctic plants and alpine plants show very little tolerance for
heat. High night temperatures are often the most limiting factor
for many plants.
Different plants have different water needs. Some tolerate drought
during the summer but need winter rains. Others need a consistent
supply of moisture to grow well. Careful attention to the need for
supplemental water can help you select plants that need a minimum of irrigation
to perform well in your garden. If you have poorly drained, chronically
wet soil, you can select lovely garden plants that naturally grow in bogs,
fens, and other wet places.
The ability of plant roots to take up certain nutrients depends on the
pH, which is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your soil.
Most plants grow best in soils that have a pH near 7.0. Most ericaceous
plants such as azaleas and blueberries need acid soils with pH below 6.0
to grow well. Lime can be used to raise pH and materials containing
sulfates such as aluminum sulfate and iron sulfate can be used to lower
pH. The solubility of many trace elements is controlled by pH, and
only the soluble forms of these important micronutrients can be used by
plants. Iron is not very soluble at high pH and iron chlorosis is
often present in high-pH soils, even if they contain abundant iron.