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my plants think it's autumn already because....

UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
in Problem solving
I have a nursery of cuttings, young plants not ready to be planted out etc and a number of them have started to colour their leaves like it's autumn.  they sit in fairly strong shade regards the last few months weather.  those showing autumn colour seem mostly to be those grown/bought for autumn colour (some Rhus Typhina from seed this year and a witch hazel, but others too).

i hope it won't cause any long term problem (unless anyone things this is serious issue) but i'm just curious, could this be caused by:

my plants think it's autumn already because.... 5 votes

maybe too much shade, get them back into a bit more sun
0% 0 votes
we've had about three months of sunshine already, they're ready for this.
20% 1 vote
Sitting in trays of water for a month (trying to keep hydrated obviously)
0% 0 votes
I don't know, but wouldn't worry
40% 2 votes
I'm seeing this too with my herbacious/deciduous, in pots
20% 1 vote
I'm seeing this too with my herbacious/deciduous, planted
20% 1 vote
actions need taking, i will make comments below!
0% 0 votes

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,536
    I think it's a reaction to " stress "
    Devon.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    I think it's probably stress too. I think I'm right in saying that the plant changes we see in Autumn come about when the temperatures begin to drop and the amount of daylight hours shorten. I may be wrong.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,894
    I agree - heat stress and possibly lack of water

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,536
    Pete8 said:
    I agree - heat stress and possibly lack of water

    both this year I'd say
    Devon.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,627
    I have 2 hamamelis in pots, both well watered and fed awaiting their new home in a permanent bed.  One is reaching for the skies and the other is in full flower.   Mad but both a reaction to stress.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    it won't be lack of water, potentially too much :)  thanks for the thoughts everyone.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I wonder, as most of our plants are not hot, dry weather plants, are they confused due to the extended hot dry weather we've been having?    Do they have a built in 'memory' of approximately how long they should be growing for?..........maybe they are just running out of steam? 
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