Depok, October 27th 2023. According to the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the average air temperature during the dry season in 2023, especially in September, is 27.0 °C. If we look back, in September 1991-2020 the temperature was around 26.6 °C. The abnormality in air temperature in Indonesia in September 2023 makes it the fourth highest anomalous value throughout the observation period since 1981.
This increase in temperature not only disrupts human life, but also other living creatures, including plants. Each plant has a different temperature tolerance limit depending on the type of plant.
Generally, extreme weather with high temperatures can inhibit the growth of flora. However, there are types of plants that are actually able to adapt to high temperatures because they can reduce excessive evaporation. These plants include green plants such as ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and various trees that are usually found in the yard of the house.
Not only are they able to adapt to high temperatures, these plants can also help overcome the impacts of extreme weather such as air pollution and low air humidity which can cause Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). Therefore, green plants can be used to help reduce pollution and the impact of extreme weather.
Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si, lecturer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Universitas Indonesia (UI) said, “Plants are one of the organisms that provide ecosystem services for humans and the environment. They are the main components that absorb carbon and act as providers of environmental services that function as producers of fresh air, shade, absorbers of dust and pollutants, fertilizing the soil, and binding groundwater, so their existence is very important for human life.”
In order to deal with the current extreme hot weather, people are encouraged to plant ornamental plants in their yards or the environment around their homes. Mega suggests several leafy ornamental plants that are suitable for planting in hot temperatures, including ornamental palms, pineapple bromeliads, pothos and aloe vera which also function to absorb dust. Mega appealed to the public to plant plants that do not require a lot of water and like sunlight, for example ornamental plants such as cacti, bougainvillea and frangipani.
Non-ornamental plants can also be an alternative, such as bamboo and shade trees which have wide canopies and can reduce the effects of high temperatures. For people who plan to start gardening activities, Mega said that the most important thing to do is understand that plants will bring benefits to both the environment and themselves. She hopes that people can prepare land to plant plants in their homes.
Planting activities can be started by planting various vegetables and fruit for your own consumption. By implementing the “grow your own food” concept, people will be able to meet their daily food needs. If they have large enough land, people can also plant fruit or shade trees. “If our environment has lots of trees or flowering plants, then we also play a role in ensuring that ecological processes and ecosystem service cycles are maintained, which will also benefit us,” said Mega.
