Starting from late autumn and then throughout the winter, woody and shrub species of flora of our region are at rest. Such winter phenomena in plant life are caused by many reasons. Among them - a significant decrease in temperature, lack of adequate nutrition and others. The vital processes of plants are inhibited, and even under favorable conditions that arose suddenly, they cannot resume. Many probably noticed that if in December-January they bring home a cut branch of a tree and put it in the warm water, then it does not “wake up”, preserving its lifeless appearance. But if you already do this at the very end of winter, when spring is approaching, then the buds instantly open, although it is still very cold outside. Why is this happening? What role does winter play in plant life? What makes flora representatives in the wild and in the surrounding squares and parks wake up, dissolving fresh foliage? We will try to answer these and other no less interesting questions in our article.
Plants in winter
In hot countries, it’s winter, that summer - the temperature doesn’t really “jump” from the main average indicators. 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 the temperature fluctuations "plus or minus" sometimes make breaks of fifty degrees, and this is simply fatal for many species of deciduous trees. Wise nature invented for these foliage plants protective reactions to poor living conditions that occur in the cold. Winter phenomena in plant life is a kind of “blockage” of life processes that helps to survive difficult times. What is happening to them?
Metabolism
Winter phenomena in the life of plants cause a state of rest, a slowdown in metabolism inside the trunk. The visible growth of the trees is suspended. As well as the return to the atmosphere of moisture. Like root power . No, trees also grow in winter, of course. They only do it very slowly, invisibly to the human eye. Moisture also circulates (a complete cessation of circulation, according to scientists, occurs at a temperature of minus 18). And in the winter, a large tree still evaporates into the air up to 250 ml of moisture. But, you must admit, these processes are much slower than in the spring-summer season.
Foliage dropping
Almost all trees in the winter period discard foliage (except evergreens). It gradually turns yellow all fall and falls, leaving bare branches. These winter phenomena in plant life are also associated with mechanisms of protection from the cold: the plant loses its leaves and closes itself, as it were, from environmental influences. Photosynthesis ceases almost completely, a vital process for chlorophyll-containing leaves. Food becomes minimal, as the main portions of carbon dioxide are processed using foliage. And the root system, due to frost, reduces the flow of moisture and minerals from the soil.
Features of the transition to hibernation
We can say that the first signal for plants is a reduction in daylight hours. When daylight hours have noticeably shortened, a change in the ratios between the substances responsible for metabolism and tissue growth occurs in the cells. The tree, as it were, begins to prepare to slow down life processes.
How long does hibernation of trees last?
A similar state of deep winter dormancy, comparable to hibernation, lasts differently for different tree species and shrubs. So, for example, at a birch or poplar - until the end of January. A maple or linden is carried out in this state for up to six months (in especially cold winters). In lilac, the hibernation period ends by December.