Winter phenomena in plant life. Rest features

Starting from late autumn and then throughout the winter, tree and shrub species of the flora of our region are at rest. Such winter phenomena in the life of plants are caused by many reasons. Among them - a significant decrease in temperature, lack of adequate nutrition and others. The life processes of plants are slowed down, and even under favorable conditions that have arisen suddenly, they cannot be resumed. Many probably noticed that if in December-January you bring home a cut branch of a tree and put it in warm water, then it does not “wake up”, retaining its lifeless appearance. But if you do something like this at the very end of winter, when spring is approaching, then the buds immediately open, although it is still very cold outside. Why is this happening? What role does winter play in plant life? What makes representatives of the flora in the wild and in the surrounding squares and parks wake up, spreading fresh foliage? We will try to answer these and other equally interesting questions in our article.

Plants in winter

In hot countries, whether winter or summer, the temperature does not really “jump” from the main averages. Therefore, the trees in the subtropics and tropics grow and turn green all year round. Another thing is the middle zone of Russia, for example. Or Siberia. Here, plus or minus temperature fluctuations sometimes make gaps of fifty degrees, and this is simply fatal for many species of deciduous trees. Wise nature came up with for these plants with foliage, protective reactions to poor living conditions that occur in cold weather. Winter phenomena in plant life are a kind of “blocking” of life processes, helping to survive difficult times. What happens to them?

Metabolism

Winter phenomena in the life of plants cause a state of rest, slowing down inside the trunk. Visible tree growth stops. As is the return to the atmosphere of moisture. As well as feeding with No, in winter, trees, of course, also grow. They just do it very slowly, imperceptibly to the human eye. Moisture also circulates (a complete cessation of circulation, according to the observations of scientists, occurs at a temperature of minus 18). And in winter, a large tree still evaporates up to 250 ml of moisture into the air. But, you see, these processes occur much more slowly than in spring and summer.

shedding foliage

Almost all trees drop their leaves in winter (except evergreens). It gradually turns yellow all autumn and falls off, leaving bare branches. These winter phenomena in the life of plants are also associated with the mechanisms of protection from the cold: the plant loses leaves and, as it were, closes from the effects of the environment. Stops almost completely photosynthesis, the process for leaves containing chlorophyll. Nutrition becomes minimal, as the main portions are processed with the help of foliage. And the root system, due to frost, reduces the supply of moisture and minerals from the soil.

Features of the transition to hibernation

We can say that the first signal for plants is the reduction of daylight hours. When it is noticeably shortened, in the cells there is a change in the ratios between the substances responsible for the metabolism and growth of tissues. The tree, as it were, begins to prepare to slow down life processes.

How long does the hibernation of trees last?

This state of deep winter dormancy, comparable to hibernation, lasts differently in different species of trees and shrubs. So, for example, at a birch or poplar - until the end of January. And maple or linden is carried out in this state for up to six months (in especially cold winters). In lilacs, the hibernation period ends by December.