I'm curious about plant behavior. If a plant starts leaning or stretching heavily in one direction, is that always a sign it's trying to get more sunlight? Can plants actually stretch toward shade? Since 'etiolation' typically refers to plants becoming pale and elongated due to low light, what's the term for a plant that prefers less light?
1 Answer
Plants generally stretch toward the light. They don’t really lean toward shade. If they're not getting enough light, they will reach out for brighter spots instead. It's just in their nature to follow the light!
I've seen some vines cover shady areas of buildings. If they had been planted in a sunnier spot, would they really move to cover the shady side quickly?