Kortedagenplanten

Kortedagenplanten is a colloquial term in Dutch that translates to "short day plant" in English. This designation refers to a specific type of plant that requires a certain period of darkness, typically exceeding a critical length, in order to flower. The length of the night, rather than the length of the day, is the determining factor.

These plants possess a photoreceptor pigment, usually phytochrome, which perceives the duration of darkness. When the nights become sufficiently long, the plant receives a signal that triggers the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development, leading to the formation of flowers.

Examples of kortedagenplanten include chrysanthemums, poinsettias, and some varieties of soybeans. The phenomenon is crucial in agriculture and horticulture for controlling flowering times and ensuring successful crop yields or ornamental displays. Growers manipulate light exposure, often by covering plants during daylight hours to artificially lengthen the night, to induce flowering at specific times. Conversely, if the night period is shorter than the critical threshold, these plants will not flower, remaining in their vegetative state.