The noonday sun caused this cucumber plant to show signs of heat stress and wilting. Thanks to sufficient soil moisture, the plant recovered without damage once temperatures cooled.
July 5, 2025
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July 5, 2025 1:05 a.m.
Abiotic vs. biotic: How to decode problems in your garden
Pests and diseases are biotic factors that impact an ecosystem and its organisms. Examples: those deer mowing your hostas to the ground, along with the cabbage worms chomping your kale. Abiotic factors, the non-living components, including physical, chemical, and other factors, can significantly impact a garden’s health just as much as pests and diseases can.