Name: _______________________________
Temperature, Humidity, Light, and Water
This activity will test your researching skills! Use the websites suggested below, any other sites you like, and the chapter
reading to answer the questions below.
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
http://members.optusnet.com.au/bdobson/Why%20Humidity%20is%20Important%20to%20Plants.html
http://www.gardeners.com/When-to-Water/8108,default,pg.html
www.portlandnursery.com
HARDINESS ZONES
1. What are USDA hardiness zones?
2. How did the USDA decide how to divide up the country?
3. Which hardiness zones are in the state of Oregon?
4. In which hardiness zone is St. Helens, Oregon?
5. Pick a city in another part of the country: _________________________.
In which hardiness zone is that city? ______
What is the average low temperature in that city? _______
Go to the Portland Nursery website.
6. Find a perennial you think is interesting: _____________________________________
7. In which hardiness zones can this plant thrive? ______________________________
8. Can this plant grow in Arlington, VA? __________
9. Find Ophiopogon ‘Silver Mist’ (hint: it’s a grass). In which hardiness zones can this plant thrive? ________________
10. Can this plant survive in LaCrosse, WI? _______
HUMIDITY
11. What does dry air do to a plant? Be sure not to use any words in your answer you do not know the meaning of!
12. Sensitivity to humidity limits the kinds of plants that can live in certain environments. In other words, if a plant
cannot survive a very dry, low humid environment, that plant will not survive in that area of the world, so you won’t
find it there. If you want a plant that does not grow well in Oregon’s climate, what can you do in order to supply the
required humidity this plant is adapted to receiving?
13. Where would you probably need to keep the plant?
TEMPERATURE
14. What is the optimal temperature for plant growth?
15. How can some plants withstand cold temperatures?
16. What happens if you cool a plant below its optimal growing temperature?
SUN/SHADE
Note that plants that like shade may not survive if subjected to sunny conditions, and plants adapted to sunny conditions
may die if they are planted in the shade. As a general rule, plants will have more brilliant colors and more flowers the
more sun they get.
17. List two plants for shade:
18. List two sun plants:
19. List two plants that can take part sun/part shade.
IRRIGATION
20. What are two ways to tell if you need to water potted plants?
21. How can you tell if you need to water plants in the landscape?