Which environmental factor can significantly affect plant growth?

Temperature is a crucial environmental factor that significantly influences plant growth. It affects several physiological processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient uptake. Each plant species has an optimal temperature range for growth, and deviations from this range can lead to reduced growth rates or even plant stress and death.

For instance, if the temperature is too high, plants may experience increased rates of transpiration, leading to water loss and potential drought stress. Conversely, colder temperatures can slow metabolism and limited growth, particularly affecting flowering and fruiting processes.

While other factors like humidity and wind direction contribute to plant growth, temperature has a more direct and universal impact on the physiological functioning of plants, making it a critical consideration in horticulture. Soil color can influence temperature retention in soil but does not directly affect plant growth like temperature does.