Before the rain, what tree cries. Plants are barometers or who can predict the weather. Signs associated with plants in other countries of the world

Where do we usually look when we are going for a walk or running errands? Right! To a thermometer or an Internet site that shows the weather. It turns out that many indoor plants are excellent weather forecasters and can tell whether it will rain or whether it will be hot. You just need to learn to understand their “language”.

So, who are these green fortune tellers?

MONSTER DELICIOUS. This branching vine will unmistakably tell you whether it will be damp outside. If it is expected that the sky will be clouded and there will be rain or drizzle, droplets will collect on its leaves.

ROOM BANANA (Muza). Whenever increased air humidity is expected, a drop of dew forms at the tip of its young, unopened leaves.

ROOM ROSE. Before the rain begins, its flowers begin to smell more fragrant.

MARANTA. All species of this magnificent tropical plant respond to increased air humidity by producing moisture on the leaves.

HOYA IS FLESH. If droplets collect on its flowers, there is an unmistakable warning: it will rain. By the way, it tastes like sweet nectar. It is unknown whether it is edible.

BALSAM. If “tears” form on its leaves, it means sunny, clear weather.

CYPRESS. It begins to smell stronger when it is damp outside.

MIMOSA SHY. It shows not so much the weather as the time. By evening its leaves fold, and by morning they open.

Oxalis (oxalis). This representative of the flora with butterfly leaves behaves in the same way as the bashful mimosa. It is not only a green (or purple!) clock, but also a phyto-barometer: its petals also fold when rain is approaching.

ALOCASIA speaks not only about the weather, but also about poor care. Water forms on its leaves even before rain, and may indicate excessive watering.

TELOCACTUS (telocactus bicolor). On hot days, droplets of liquid form on its modified stem - usually at the base of the spines, at the top.

They say that at home this flower can predict rain: if it “cries”, expect bad weather...

Alocasia flowers - rarely grown indoors tropical plant. Comes from the aroid family. There are more than fifty various types, differing in plant height, size, shape and color. General characteristic feature all varieties - dense, shield-shaped, large leaves, oval, with a pointed end and clearly visible veins. There are stomata on the surface of the leaf, through which Alocasia releases excess moisture.

The plant was brought from Malaysia and Ceylon, where it grows wild. How Alocasia is considered one of the most decorative deciduous plants, and quite deservedly so. Its magnificent foliage looks very picturesque in almost any interior, especially near artificial ponds in winter gardens. The plant is quite large, reaching a height of 1 m.

Alocasia blooms very rarely, its small ones are collected in an ear, partially wrapped in a leaf, like a blanket. If the inflorescence spadix is ​​pollinated, then over time berries with seeds are formed. It is better to remove the inflorescences, since during their appearance the growth of the magnificent leaves, for which Alocasia flowers are actually grown, stops.

You should know that the entire plant is completely poisonous, the juice irritates the mucous membranes and skin, so the tropical beauty should be kept away from children and animals.

It’s simply amazing how unpretentious the overseas flower Alocasia is. Caring for him, despite his tropical origin, is not difficult; you just need to provide the conditions to which he is accustomed in wildlife. It grows quietly in a humid, warm microclimate, spreading its exotic leaves. Periodically, some of them turn yellow and fall off, but new ones immediately grow in their place. Alocasia flowers love light very much, however, they need to be shaded from direct rays of the sun.

Warmth and humidity are essential conditions for good health for plants; it is advisable to avoid sudden changes in temperature. It is convenient to place the pots on a tray with small wet pebbles to maintain constant humidity. In summer, the plant should be watered generously with settled, soft water, and make sure that the soil in the pot is always moist. In winter, on the contrary, watering should be moderate and careful to prevent root rotting.

In the spring-summer period, Alocasia flowers need to be fed once every 2-3 weeks with CMU for indoor plants. The soil should be easily permeable to moisture and air, with good drainage. Replanting is done in the spring - for young plants as needed, and for adults - once every two to three years. Pots for plants should be high.

It should be borne in mind that in dry air plants can be affected by pests, most often aphids, scale insects, and spider mites. If the infestation is small, the leaves and stems can be wiped with a soapy sponge. In case of severe infestation, you will have to use a suitable insecticide. Keeping in mind the toxicity of the plant, all work caring for it must be done with gloves.

Important! The plant is used in folk medicine, but because of its toxicity, self-medication is very dangerous!

Talks about the abilities of barometer plants Vladimir Mezhensky, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, author of the book “Indicator Plants”:

On your own summer cottage plant cloves grass(Dianthus deltoids) and calendula(Calendula officinalis). On the eve of rain, they cover flowers and inflorescences to protect the pollen from getting wet. The flower symbol of Ukraine is also very sensitive to weather changes - mallow(Malva). On the eve of rain, its flowers wilt and close.

Excellent barometer - flowering potato b. Before the attack inclement weather its pedicels bend and the flowers droop. Blooming carrots are also a wonderful weather forecaster: if the inflorescence sticks up, wait good weather, and before the rain the white umbrella will droop.

Good weather forecaster bindweed(Convolvulus). If the flowers are open in the morning, it means a clear day; if they do not open in the morning or are closed in the middle of the day, it means rain. And if the bindweed blooms even in cloudy weather- it will be a sunny day.

At high humidity air, some plants intensely secrete nectar. For example, flowers white slumber(Melandrium album) are pollinated by moths and open at dusk. If this plant begins to actively secrete nectar, wait for precipitation. And if in the evening large insects fly past open flowers, no nectar is released - it will be clear. It is noteworthy that a nap can detect a change in weather within 9-12 hours!

Some weather forecasting plants signal weather changes by the arrangement of their leaves. For example, at bracken(Pteridium aquilinum), which is often used as ornamental plant in the gardens, frond leaves They curl up before good weather, and unwind before rain.

Signals similarly stone berry(Rubus saxatilis), straightening the leaves for rain and curling them into a tube for heat. She is able to predict weather changes 15-20 hours in advance.

Some plants “cry” in anticipation of rain, releasing drops of moisture. Why is this happening? In dry weather, plants evaporate water without any problems, but with an increase in air humidity (which usually precedes precipitation), excess moisture has to be released in liquid form in order to maintain the flow of water through the plants' vessels. Therefore, for example, if in the morning on the leaves Cannes(Canna indica) drops of water are visible, which means it will rain during the day.

Your lawn will also report bad weather. Before the rain clover leaves folded like an umbrella, covering the flowers. They close into a “tassel” dandelion flowers A. But even a pubescent dandelion can predict the weather. When it’s dry and sunny, its white parachutes fly away at the slightest breath of wind, and before bad weather the fluffy ball folds into a strong umbrella.

Bushes and trees - predictors

An unusual reaction to changing weather is observed in decorative honeysuckle. About 12 hours before it rains, it begins to emit an unusually strong odor.

The day before rainy weather enhance nectar production and yellow acacia flowers(Caragana arborescens). Usually its bushes begin to smell fragrant in the evening, at sunset. But before a rain or thunderstorm, its flowers begin to emit a strong scent during the day, while releasing a lot of nectar - to attract insects.

Capable of predicting bad weather willow And maple. About 10–12 hours before the rain, these trees “cry” - they release excess moisture from the leaves. Branches oils before rain they go down, and before clear weather they go back up.

About spiders, ants and bees

Insects - companions of plants - can also tell the weather, often no worse than weather sites. So, before the rain, a spider stops hunting, leaves its web and hides in a shelter.

Ants scurry around on the eve of rain. If a thunderstorm is approaching, which means heavy rains will fall on the ground, then the ants in a hurry transfer their pupae to the deeper chambers of the anthill. Before bad weather, these insects close all passages behind them and hide.

Bees subtly sense impending bad weather. If the sun is shining in the morning and the bees do not fly out of the hive to collect honey, expect a thunderstorm in the near future. If bees leave the hive, but do not fly far, there will be precipitation. If it's the middle of the day large groups bees return to the hive - it will begin soon heavy rain and possibly with a thunderstorm.

Vyacheslav SIGALOVSKY

In nature, things rarely happen unexpectedly. Almost never. Rain lets you know its approach long before the first drops begin to fall. Winter announces plans to cover everything around with squeaky snow at the very beginning of autumn. Spring drops paint a clear forecast for the future harvest. The main thing is to be able to see these signs and read them correctly. And if nature has deprived us of meteorological sensitivity - in this sense, humanity is a little unlucky - turn to more attentive helpers. For example, to plants.

How different plants can predict weather changes

For any blade of grass, the issue of weather is of paramount importance. Its existence directly depends on whether it rains and how long the warmth lasts. Therefore, plants are a very accurate barometer. True, they do not make their observations known as clearly as, say, animals. But they can make their forecasts for many months in advance. And learning to read their “green” language costs nothing. It is enough just to be observant.

Predictive herbs and folk beliefs

Sweet clover loves sunny weather

• If the grass is thickly covered with dew in the morning, the day will be fine. The stems remain dry - it will rain. And if dew has been present since the evening and persists until dawn, sunny weather has firmly established itself.
• It is known that some grasses begin to release moisture before the rain begins; for example, weeping grass, arrowhead and telecut.
• Kostyanika straightens and stretches its leaves upward, as if trying to protect its bright berries from the weather.
• The sweet clover acts in a similar way - its leaves rise before a thunderstorm, folding around the stems, and in sunny weather they straighten out and “droop.”
• Woodlice or chickweed does the opposite. If the sun has long risen in the sky, and its stems are in no hurry to straighten, soon the horizon will be covered with clouds.
• When the burdock anticipates dampness, its thorns become less angry, as if softening, and almost do not cling to passers-by. But as soon as the plant feels the warmth of many days ahead, the hooks spread out in different directions, acquiring rigidity.
• Fern leaves curl downward in warm, dry weather and straighten out before rain.
• Sensing bad weather, a blooming dandelion quickly folds its yellow ball and wraps it in a green rosette. And if you try to blow away the white parachutes from a faded plant, you can feel how firmly they hold on to their legs. But in hot weather, the seeds scatter from any breeze.
• The delicate field bindweed and buttercup hide their flowers from the weather.
• Meadowheart, celandine and clover droop towards the ground, predicting rain.
• If the reeds “cry” - droplets of water appear on the leaves - experienced hunters They throw the gun on their shoulder and turn home: a real downpour is about to begin.
• Before rain, thistle prefers not to open its inflorescences at all. They often close tightly a day before expected precipitation.
• Sow thistle and sorrel produce quite accurate forecast on winter months . If the first one is born, you will have to freeze properly. If the latter is dominant in the meadows, the winter will be warm and generous with thaws.

Even in your garden you can find your own small weather station. For example, the white caps above carrots and potato flowers tend to the ground when it rains, and by the amount of husk on the bulb you can determine how severe the winter will be. The more layers, the stronger the frost will crackle.

How to tell the weather by the appearance of flowers

Lily flowers will not appear above the water until it becomes warm

• The beautiful rose carefully protects her petals from bad weather. Before the rain, its buds remain tightly closed.
• Mallow is even more capricious. Its bright flowers hide under the protection of green buds a day or two before bad weather.
• Marigolds, oxalis and violets hide from the rain.
• The flowers of the daisy and blue coppice-snowdrop slam shut before bad weather, and the plants themselves fall to the ground, bending the stem.
• But calendula, sourness and sedum don’t even think about hiding from the weather. On the contrary, on rainy nights the sedum cups do not close until dawn.
• The marsh whitefly also loves water. If the sun stays in the sky for a long time, its leaves fit tightly to the flower, and before bad weather they lower and straighten out.
• The water lily closes its buds and goes into the depths several hours before a heavy downpour.
• In addition to rain, this river beauty skillfully predicts heat or cold. If its flowers rose together from the depths and covered the surface of the reservoir, there is no longer any fear of frost.
• On land, the coltsfoot will tell about the coming warmth. As soon as the yellow shaggy specks of flowers here and there crawl out of the ground, folk beliefs They say: spring has firmly settled in your area and is no longer going to give in to winter.

Even the domestic monstera, which is from weather conditions depends little; it tends to “cry” in the summer before rains, and in the winter before a thaw.

Which trees and shrubs are natural barometers

The oak groans before the rain, and before harsh winter covered in acorns

• By appearance Rose hips can predict the approach of bad weather. If a thunderstorm approaches, the buds do not open.
• Honeysuckle and acacia begin to smell fragrant before the rain, quickly attracting insects. Small droplets of nectar appear in the cups of acacia flowers.
• Droplets of water appear on the leaves of willow and horse chestnut when bad weather approaches.
• The branches of fir trees stretch towards the sun, droop towards the rain, and bend towards the snowstorm. If the rain is pouring down and the prickly paws are sticking up, the weather will soon clear up.
• Fir cones close when the air becomes damp.
• When there is bad weather, on the bark coniferous trees droplets of resin are released in abundance.
• If you press your ear to the trunk of a pine tree before a big thunderstorm, you can hear a rumble - the pine tree “rings.”
• The oak tree creaks and groans before the hurricane.
• Larch needles seem to shrink before rain, and become wider in sunny weather.

Would you like to receive a forecast for the whole season? And this is not a problem, the Russian people have long figured out how to connect the behavior of this or that plant with weather changes.

• If a leaf from the trees flew together, frost will soon begin to crackle. And the leaf fall will drag on, the winter will pass from thaw to thaw.
• If there is a lot of frost on the trees, summer months will be hot.
• It’s good when the snow bends the branches with its weight; It's going to be a fruitful year. Everything is correct: a lot of snow in winter, a lot of water in spring, plenty of bread in autumn.
• The rowan blossomed late - autumn will be clear and sunny, and mushroom pickers will rejoice at the rich spoils. Did the tree produce a large harvest of berries? The rains will pour incessantly, and the winter will be severe. But in the summer the flax will grow ugly.
• There are many acorns on the oak tree - many cold days.
• It is known all over the world that a year fruitful for berries and mushrooms often foreshadows a cold and snowy winter . It is believed that this is how nature tries to take care of birds and animals that need to prepare a lot of food for future use.

There are many signs about the weather associated with the birch tree.

• If the birch leaves turn yellow first at the bottom, and then at the top, spring will be delayed on its way. The leaf will remain on the branch until mid-October, and winter will be late. And if everyone flies at once and in unison, expect a prolonged thaw in February.
• When the birch tree produces a lot of sap in the spring, the summer will be rainy.
• But if the white-trunked beauty blooms before the alder and maple, warm and dry months lie ahead. But when one of the named couple gets ahead of the birch, there will be rain and cold.
• The same competition is going on between oak and ash. The oak tree was the first to wake up in spring - the summer months are dry; ash - rainy.
• The maple leaves have blossomed, and the mountain ash is covered with clouds of small white flowers? Morning frosts will not happen again.
• If the aspen is completely covered with shaggy catkins, prepare your bins for a generous harvest of oats.

In former times, the time of sowing a particular garden crop was determined by the flowering of trees and shrubs in the spring:

• The bird cherry tree has blossomed, it’s time to go out into the garden - the bird cherry cold will come. However, in middle lane In Russia, this time is considered successful for planting potatoes.
• The rowan tree has bloomed - prepare cucumbers and tomatoes.
• Aspen hurries gardeners to sow carrots.
• Catkins have appeared on the oak tree - it’s time for peas.
• Blooming juniper marks the time of sowing barley.
• When the ground is thickly covered with grass, buckwheat is sown.

Signs associated with plants in other countries of the world

• In Japan, the nature of the coming winter is determined by the growth of wheat: the higher it is, the less snow will fall.
• Germany and France are expecting a mushroom harvest. There are a lot of mushrooms - the snowdrifts will lie high.
• In Germany there is also such a sign with dark humor: if the cherries are red, the asparagus is dead. That is, the season of this crop is over and it no longer has a place in the garden.
• The British calculate the approach of a storm by the leaves on the trees. If they turn over under the pressure of the wind, there will be a storm. If they just hesitate, the bad weather will quickly subside.
• Waiting for spring, the Belgians and Germans talk poetically: “Christmas in the snow - Easter in clover; Christmas in green - Easter to be white."

If you are a keen gardener, then you yourself have probably noticed more than once which plants’ behavior promises a change in the weather. If not, still, take note of the predictions of the green “weather stations”. Will it come in handy?

If today there are many diverse technical possibilities that allow us to learn about the weather for the future, then in ancient times nature itself helped people predict the weather. People observed the phenomena occurring around them, the properties of plants, the behavior of birds, insects, and deduced patterns. From such everyday observations of the weather, numerous folk signs grew:

If the oak leaves before the ash, the summer will be rainy and cool. If the ash tree blooms earlier, then the summer should be dry and warm.

Very abundant flowering of thistles is a sign of a beautiful and dry autumn.

Until the leaf from the cherry tree falls, winter will not come.

There are a lot of nuts and acorns, but few mushrooms - the winter will be snowy and harsh.

Since ancient times, people have known that many plants react quite sensitively to various atmospheric changes and watching them, they made appropriate conclusions about the upcoming weather. Even the famous Greeks and Romans Aristotle, Cato, Virgil and Pliny wrote about this relationship and outlined weather signs, based on observations of plant behavior, in an easy-to-remember poetic form.

Today, over 1000 different species of animals and plants are known, by the behavior of which we can predict the weather for a certain time. By the way, there are organisms that not only predict the weather, but can also influence it. Oxford scientists have proven that single-celled algae are capable of creating wind to rise into the sky and generate clouds, which serve as air transport for them to move around the globe. Fungal spores living in the clouds, in turn, can cause precipitation, with which they return to the ground.

Famous weather forecasting plants

"Crybabies"

Some deciduous trees, among which alder, willow, horse chestnut, with their “crying” notify us of rainy weather, sometimes three or even four days before the rain. Sometimes drops fall from willow leaves so often that the ground under the trees becomes wet. Apparently that’s why it is popularly called “weeping willow.”

Among indoor plants, he predicts the weather. Before the rain, the plant begins to “cry” - droplets of water appear at the ends of its round, leathery leaves.

Typical "crybabies" are native Indian broadleafs, growing in many front gardens and gardens. If transparent droplets of water appear on the wide leaves of plants in the morning, it will definitely rain in the afternoon.

So why do plants “cry”? It's all about the evaporation of moisture that the roots absorb. High humidity air, which usually happens before rain, prevents evaporation - then the plant leaves, through special pores called water stomata, begin to release droplets of moisture.

Flowers are diviners

Flowers and fruits of many plants also help predict the weather for the near future. Observe, for example, the behavior of a dandelion. If its yellow flowers close in sunny weather, or if its fluffy ball of seeds closes like an umbrella, it will rain. And vice versa: open flowers and widely spread dandelion fluffs indicate that the weather will be clear and dry.

The thornweed is considered a reliable weather predictor. Its open flowers notify us of the upcoming sunny weather. If it's shining bright sun, and its petals do not open, it means it will rain soon.

Marigolds are known not only for their quality medicinal plant, they serve as a living barometer for us. When there is a strong increase in humidity, which usually happens before rain, their yellow-brown flowers close. Carpobrothus and mallow flowers have similar synoptic abilities.

Closed marigold flowers mean rain.

Spring flowers such as crocuses and tulips, which open their petals as the air warms, also help forecast the weather. These bulbous flowers are very sensitive to meteorological factors, because even with a minimal increase or decrease in air temperature, their flowers open and close.

Robinia or false locust predicts the weather for us differently: before the rain, it generously bestows insects with its honey-sweet aroma, the aroma of which can be heard hundreds of meters away. If bees, bumblebees and other insects hover over a tree, it means it will rain; if the buzzing stops, the weather will be clear.

Another example: the Saxons prefer to determine the weather for the second half of the year by rowan trees. They know that late flowering of rowan indicates a long and warm autumn.

Many people underestimate the benefits of chickweed

It is considered a malicious weed, which is quite difficult to control when it gets into the garden or garden. It’s a pity, because few people know how useful this plant is! Chickweed is an excellent barometer plant, by which you can recognize the weather for the near future. If before 9 o'clock in the morning the white corolla of the flower has not risen and opened, then it will rain during the day. And after the rain, the plant becomes as if crystal - thanks to the stems overflowing with water, shining in the sun. This is probably where its second name comes from - woodlice. In addition, chickweed very quickly fills free space, creating flowering carpets in flower beds or decorating large spots between trees. In this role, it protects the soil from erosion and drying out. In early spring it is suitable for preparing salads and dressings.

Geranium

Interestingly, changes in air humidity can be determined by looking at the geranium seed capsule. Insert the seed into the hole in the cardboard. When air humidity increases, which usually happens before rain, the tip of the awn will begin to turn clockwise; accordingly, when air humidity decreases, the tip of the awn will turn counterclockwise.

Fragrant weather forecasters

As you know, many plants announce upcoming rain with their rich aroma. For example, the aroma of fragrant bedstraw and Matrona noctule intensifies on the eve of warm and humid air. In this case, the birch tree also emits a strong spicy aroma; the smell is enhanced by white and yellow acacia, on whose flowers a mass of insects gather before the rain.

Warm, humid air enhances the scent of fragrant plants. Lilacs, peonies, fragrant roses and some types of clematis smell more intense before the rain. Their smell intensifies 2 to 8 hours before the rain begins.

Deciduous and coniferous oracles

The trifoliate leaves of wood sorrel are arranged vertically during the day, and hang down “in their sleep” at night. However, if the wood sorrel, which is also popularly called “hare cabbage,” drops its leaves during the day, you need to wait for rain. The forecast of this plant is so accurate that in ancient times people grew it indoors in flower pots and used as a barometer.

For many residents of North Asia, spruce and juniper are still important weather predictors - long before the rain they lower their branches and raise them up before clear weather. Even dry branches have good weather sensitivity. Conduct an experiment, for example, with a used-up Christmas tree: take a small part of the tree trunk along with a branch approximately 30 cm long, clean it, apply a scale - and you have a spruce barometer ready! Attach the trunk to some support, leaving the branch free. The anchored branch begins to react to the weather, lowering the end of the branch before rain and lifting it up before clear weather. The amplitude of movement of the end of the branch depends on its length. With a branch length of 30 cm, the swing amplitude reaches 10 cm. After some time, when the branch shows its capabilities, you can mark “clear”, “variable”, “rain” on the scale, as on a regular barometer.

If scales fir cone open - there will be dry, sunny weather, closed scales - for rain.

Mullein

Mullein is sensitive to weather changes and sometimes capricious. On the eve of rain, the tip of its long spike-shaped inflorescence leans to the west. If it points to the east, the weather will be sunny.

However, this plant has much more talent than we expected. If in the first year after planting the plant develops a lush rosette with very densely planted lower leaves, this is a sign that the winter will be early, with heavy snowfalls. If the upper leaves, collected in a rosette, lie tightly to each other, snow will fall only at the beginning of the new year. That's why the Germans call this plant a "meteorological candle."

Translation: Lesya V.
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