Information about different climates
When designing a garden or purchasing plants it is highly recommended to do some research on the climate we haveas this will prevent problems from occurring.
Each climate zone creates a habitat for a specific class of plants. You could say that it is the climate that makes the plants what they arebecause depending on rainfall, ambient humidity, temperature… there will be some plants or others.
What are the different climates in the world?
Generally speaking, there are three types of climate on planet Earth: hot, temperate and frosty.
Hot weather
When we talk about heated weather, we mean a type of climate in which temperatures remain above 0 degrees all year round, and which can also exceed 30 or even 40 ° C. There are two subtypes in this group:
- heated wet climate: we found the world’s tropical forests. The expansive majority of plants grow there: all kinds of palm trees, ferns, bromeliads… The temperature never drops below 10 degrees, and there is very bulky rainfall, which is why the ambient humidity is very high.
- droughty, heated weather: we find deserts, cactus habitats and handsome tree aloes. Rainfall is very sporadic and temperatures can quickly rise to 40° and drop to 5° in one day. As the name suggests, rains are very sporadic.
Icy weather
in a temperate climate we find habitats of trees whose autumn color, such as maples, oaks, chestnut trees, … delights many people. It is also a place where coniferous trees can be found, including: redwoods, pines, junipers.
It is characterized by a very wide temperature range, because in winter it can drop to -30°C, and in summer in some areas even up to 45°C. It is the only one with four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Most rainfall is concentrated in spring and autumn.
As an fascinating fact, in this group we will find different subtypes:
- Hot, saturated: The countries where this occurs are those where it usually rains in the summer, coinciding with the hottest time of the year. But frosts are also recorded in winter.
- ocean: With cold and generally droughty summers and delicate winters, the sea has a significant impact on the climate as well as on plants.
- Mediterranean coast: as the name suggests, it occurs in the Mediterranean region; that is, south and east of the Iberian Peninsula and reaching western Asia. Here, summers are very heated and droughty, and winters are rainy. In some areas, it can even be said that the climate is subtropical for most of the year, with the exception of January and February, when temperatures can drop below 0 degrees. Olive trees, carob trees and rosemary, for example, desire this climate.
Icy weather
During frosty weather, precipitation can be quite constant, depending on the area, but due to its proximity to the poles, the winds are very frosty. Temperatures are cold, but very frosty in winter. Summer is usually very miniature and snowfall occurs early.
This is, for example, a habitat Long-lived pineOr Picea abiesamong other trees.
What are the best outdoor plants?
Generally, when we go to a nursery, the “House plants” section is devoted to tropical plants, i.e. plants from a heated, tropical climate, with very high humidity and very hot winters.
This is very advisable source native plants or alternatively plants whose climatic origins are similar to the climate we havenot only to avoid problems, but also to keep your garden tidy and save time and money.
Why is knowing the climate so essential to care for plants?
For a straightforward reason the weather is everything to them. A plant from a wet temperate forest will have many problems living, for example, on the Mediterranean coast, where temperatures can exceed 30°C or even 40°C, as is the case in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. The coconut tree, a palm typical of beaches and tropical rainforests, will not be able to live in a place where temperatures drop below 10°C; simply: its cells will be destroyed and the plant will die.
So I could give many, many examples. Houseplants are those that, although tropical and therefore very sensitive to frost, adapt well to life in the house if they are provided with a range of minimal care. For example, I have plants that, if left outside in the winter, will soon wither; but having them at home they grow very well, like philodendron or some palm trees, such as Deeply shiny.
As you can see, the climate is of great importance for plants.