This year I observe that the mango tree is slow to produce flowers. The flowers, which are usually there by January, came only by the last week of Feb.
There is scientific evidence that a heat stress will trigger flowering. Unlike us, plants are a victim of its environment. It has to live with the available water within its root zone. It cannot move (though the roots will travel far to get to moist earth) and search for a water source like we are able to do. So, in the event of a severe water stress, they slow down their functions and concentrate to produce new offsprings. They produce flowers!
The day time temperature in Kerala last week was touching 37 degree C. Maybe the mango is also responding to the heat by flowering late.
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