Cactus, Bougainvillea, and Frangipani Help Reduce the Impact of Extreme Heat

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the average air temperature during the dry season in 2023, particularly in September, was 27.0°C. Looking back, the temperature in September during the 1991–2020 period averaged around 26.6°C. This temperature anomaly in Indonesia in September 2023 ranks as the fourth highest since observations began in 1981.

This rise in temperature not only disrupts human life but also affects other living beings, including plants. Each plant has a different temperature tolerance limit depending on its species.

In general, extreme weather with high temperatures can hinder plant growth. However, there are certain types of plants that are able to adapt to high temperatures because they can reduce excessive evaporation. These plants include green vegetation such as ornamental plants, medicinal plants, and various trees commonly found in home gardens.

Not only are these plants able to adapt to high temperatures, but they can also help mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, such as air pollution and low humidity, which can lead to Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). Therefore, green plants can be utilized to help reduce pollution and the effects of extreme weather.

Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si, a lecturer at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Indonesia (UI), stated, “Plants are one of the organisms that provide ecosystem services for humans and the environment. They are a key component in carbon absorption and serve as providers of environmental services, functioning as producers of fresh air, sources of shade, absorbers of dust and pollutants, soil enrichers, and groundwater binders. Therefore, their existence is vital to human life.”

To cope with the current extreme heat, the public is encouraged to plant ornamental plants in their home yards or surrounding environments. Mega recommends several leafy ornamental plants suitable for hot temperatures, including decorative palms, bromeliad pineapples, golden pothos, and aloe vera, which also function as dust absorbers. She urges people to choose plants that do not require much water and thrive in sunlight, such as ornamental plants like cacti, bougainvillea, and frangipani.

Non-ornamental plant types can also be an alternative, such as bamboo and shade trees with wide canopies that can help reduce the effects of high temperatures. For those planning to start gardening, Mega emphasized that the most important first step is understanding that plants bring benefits both to the environment and to oneself. She hopes that people will prepare space in their homes to grow plants.

Planting activities can begin by growing various vegetables and fruits for personal consumption. By adopting the “grow your own food” concept, people will be able to meet their daily food needs. If they have enough land, they can also plant fruit trees or shade trees. “Because if our environment has many trees or flowering plants, we also play a role in ensuring that ecological processes and ecosystem service cycles are maintained — and of course, we are the ones who benefit,” said Mega.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/