According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the average air temperature during the dry season in 2023, specifically in September, was 27.0°C. Looking back, September temperatures ranged from 1991 to 2020, ranging from 26.6°C. This abnormal temperature in Indonesia in September 2023 marked the fourth-highest anomaly in the observation period since 1981.

This increase in temperature not only disrupts human life but also other living things, including plants. Each plant has a different temperature tolerance limit, depending on the type of plant.

Generally, extreme weather with high temperatures can inhibit plant growth. However, some plant species are 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 commonly found in yards.

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 used to help mitigate pollution and the impacts of extreme weather.

Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si, a lecturer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at the University of Indonesia (UI), said, “Plants are one of the organisms that provide ecosystem services for humans and the environment. Plants are the main component of carbon absorption and play a role in providing environmental services that function as producers of fresh air, shade, absorb dust and pollutants, enrich the soil, and bind groundwater, so their existence is very important for human life.”

To cope with the current extreme heat, people are encouraged to plant ornamental plants in their yards or around their homes. Mega suggests several leafy ornamental plants suitable for hot temperatures, including ornamental palms, bromeliad pineapples, pothos, and aloe vera, which also function to absorb dust. Mega urges people to plant plants that don’t require much water and prefer sunlight, such as ornamental plants like cacti, bougainvillea, and frangipani.

Non-ornamental plant species can also be an alternative, such as bamboo and shade trees with wide canopies that can mitigate the effects of high temperatures. For those planning to start gardening, Mega said the most important thing is to understand that plants bring benefits both to the environment and to themselves. She hopes people will prepare land for planting plants in their homes.

Planting activities can begin with growing a variety of vegetables and fruits for personal consumption. By implementing the “grow your own food” concept, communities will be able to meet their daily food needs. If they have sufficient land, they can also plant fruit trees or shade trees. “Because if our environment is full of trees or flowering plants, we also play a role in ensuring the maintenance of ecological processes and ecosystem service cycles, and of course, we also benefit,” said Mega.