Plant biology and seasonal care: how light and temperature drive flowering

Seasonal changes significantly impact plant behavior and care requirements. In spring, certain species act as 'protagonists' by blooming before their foliage fully develops. This botanical strategy, as explained by landscaper Agustina Anguita, facilitates pollination by making corollas highly visible to insects when foliage is sparse.

As seasons transition to autumn, plants rely on photoperiodism—the ratio of daylight to darkness—to trigger biological changes. Rather than measuring day length, plants specifically detect the duration of continuous darkness. This mechanism allows them to decide when to grow, flower, or enter dormancy. Plants are categorized into three groups based on this response: long-day plants (such as lettuce and radish), short-day plants (such as strawberries and chrysanthemums), and day-neutral plants (such as tomatoes and sunflowers).

For gardeners, the transition to autumn requires careful observation. While some tropical or cold-sensitive plants should be moved indoors, many Mediterranean species like lavender, rosemary, and olive trees are well-adapted to remain outside. Moving plants too frequently can cause vegetable stress due to changes in light, temperature, and humidity.