Plant Clocks and CalendarsHow do plants know when its time to produce flowers? Why is it that
some bulbs need several weeks of chilling before you can force them to flower indoors?
How do trees and shrubs know that cold weather is coming?
What makes them begin slowing down and preparing for dormancy? The obvious answer would be
that plants begin the process of entering dormancy in response to the cooler temperatures
of autumn. But many trees and shrubs begin this process during the "dog days" of
August. They can’t be responding to cooler temperatures during this hot weather.
Plants have evolved a range of strategies for thriving in
challenging environments. Not only are these adaptations interesting, many are also of
particular interest to gardeners. Let’s take a look at how plants respond to changes
in light levels and temperatures on a daily as well as seasonal basis.
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