Is Our Climate Changing?

The question of how much and how fast southern climate is moving northward is so buried in statistics that a mere gardener despairs of understanding it. Scientists of the United States Department of Agriculture agree that we are in a warming up period that may only last for another hundred years, and that camellias may do quite well around New York at some time in the near future, but that in 250 years the trend may be reversed.

However, for many years real winter troubles due to low temperatures have decreased, and summer heat has been troublesome. Gardeners report more and more success with plant material considered tender or unreliably hardy.

One statistical source finds only four degrees rise in mean temperature in fifty years, but evidence from every side indicates that the trend is far faster than that.

Commercial greenhouse growers are well informed on the subject of fuel consumption. As the winters become milder and shorter much less fuel will be required.

But aside from the obvious saving in fuel what other effects will be realized by the indoor gardener? The answer to this is clear when we remember that indoor plant troubles often begin when the heating season begins. It is a well-known fact that a greater variety of plants are happy indoors as we travel southward. So we are guided to the plant enemy that comes with artificial heat – dryness, or as the air-conditioning folks call it, low relative humidity. You may have noticed that in restaurants, barber shops and beauty parlors, where windows are usually fogged from moisture in the air, plants grow successfully.

As we take in cold air and heat it, we increase its power to take up moisture. It becomes thirsty, and some folks can feel its drying effect in nose and throat. Many plants cannot get moisture into their leaves fast enough, so they wilt, or dry up at the edges or tips. The plant frequently dries out and eventually may die even though the pot is kept moist. The raising of atmospheric humidity is half of successful indoor gardening.

The quantity of water required to keep a house at a degree of humidity favorable to plant growth can be calculated by a ventilating or air-conditioning engineer, and generally amazes the questioner. Certainly no makeshift device such as a pan of moist pebbles can supply the proper humidity.

As the milder winters creep northward, less artificial heat will be needed and for shorter periods. The problem of keeping up the humidity will become easier and greater success will be had with house plants.

In the past year summer temperatures and humidity were high, and little heat was required until mid-November, so that indoor humidity remained high, and instances were reported of cattleya orchids grown in the living room flowering after years of failure.

We should feel encouraged to try the rare, doubtful plants that we covet – study them – give them the best conditions we can… and perhaps this time we will succeed. The odds are changing in our favor!

by Victor Greiff

Related Articles Of Interest:

• What is Sphagnum? What is Peat?
• A Look Ahead Into Tomorrow… Plants And Artificial Lights
• Tips and Guidelines to Growing and Propagating Seeds
• Antirrhinums – Snapdragons – From the Wills Garden Series