Horticulture

Ideal plant temp

between 50° and 85° F

Hardiness

a plant's ability to tolerate cold temperatures

heartiness

a plant's overall vigor

Microclimate

small location that has a different climate than the general surrounding area.

respiration

organisms convert food into energy and requires oxygen

Optimum growth

achieved with optimum temperatures (as well as optimum light, nutrition, etc.).

Net Photosynthesis

The difference between the energy stored during photosynthesis and the energy used during respiration

sugar–starch conversion

As temperatures increase, sugar is converted to starch. As temperatures decrease, starch is converted to sugar

Fall leaf colors

cool nights lower respiration rates, resulting in increased net photosynthesis rates and excess sugar accumulation. These excess sugars are converted to anthocyanins, resulting in brighter reds

GDD

2dailyminimumtemperature+dailymaximumtemperature​−min.thresholdtemperature 

cell death

When ice crystals form inside plant cells, their cell membranes are punctured by the jagged edges of the crystals.

Radiation frosts

occur on cool, clear nights because the energy that plant tissues have (because of their temperature) is radiated outward toward the atmosphere. Since space is significantly colder than the plant tissues, frost forms on plant surfaces as energy is lost to space

tolerate freezing

the water between plant cells will freeze before the fluid inside of the cells. As ice forms between cells, water leaves the plant cells because of osmosis (ice is "drier" than water because of the phase difference). This process continues either until temperatures don't cause any more intracellular ice formation or until the plant cell gets so dehydrated that it cannot survive.

Avoid Freezing

the scientific principle of supercooling. Liquids can be cooled below their freezing point when conditions are favorable to avoid crystal formation. Inside the plant, the cellular fluids frequently undergo supercooling during the winter.

frost cracks

the expansion of ice in the wood.