Regardless of whether the plants are indoors or outdoors, it is always important to avoid stressing plants. Read how to do this here.
You should definitely avoid stress with your plants so that they develop magnificently and delight you with a lush bloom every year. Moving flower pots, for example, represents an enormous stress factor, which then first has to get used to their new surroundings. Or transplanting, which cannot always be avoided, can cause stress for the plants. In this context, the traditional saying You don't transplant an old tree! applies. Very old trees in particular should remain in their original location as long as possible.
Signs of Stress
The plant can only indicate stress factors acting on it through visual changes, which of course can also occur due to deficiency symptoms. Which is why it is always very difficult to identify the true stress factors.
All plants also have a certain stress tolerance, which means that they can survive short periods of drought or cold almost unscathed. Especially if they are provided with sufficient nutrients in return. However, they should never be exposed to extreme stressful situations over a long period of time, so that they do not have to show a stress reaction in the first place.
By the way:
Stress in plants has also led to more and more stress-resistant plants (more resilient, less demanding, etc.) being offered for sale in specialist garden shops. Unfortunately, some of these are also genetically modified plants.
What are typical stress factors?
A basic distinction is made between avoidable stress factors and manageable stress factors. Both types are presented here in more detail.
» Avoidable stressors:
Among the absolutely avoidable stress factors for plants are, of course, draughts, excessive solar radiation (leaf burn/sunburn in plants), excessive watering, excessive drying out and extreme cold temperatures. butthis also includes uncontrolled pruning (e.g. on trees and shrubs), unnecessary rearranging and transplanting as well as light frequencies that are too low (daylight or sunlight).
This helps:
Even before purchasing a plant, you should make sure that it gets the best possible location in a perfect environment.
» Combatable stressors:
The stress factors for plants that can be combated include, of course, bacterial infestations and pest infestations of all kinds, but also polluted soils, adverse environmental influences (e.g. acid rain) and the like.
This helps:
Ideal in this context is, of course, coping with stress on an ecological basis, but unfortunately this does not always lead to the desired success. Which is why, in exceptional cases, you will certainly have to resort to chemical-based aids.
Tip:
Stress can also be reduced if the individual plants are provided with sufficient nutrients (e.g. in the form of biological fertilizers).