Vigor
/VIG-er/🧑🌾 Cultivation● Basic
Also known as: vigour, vitality
A qualitative assessment of a plant's health and growth potential, encompassing rate of growth, foliage density, flower production, pest resistance, and overall appearance. Vigorous plants grow strongly and recover quickly from stress or pruning. Vigor is influenced by genetics, nutrition, water availability, light, and soil conditions. In grafting, rootstocks are selected to control scion vigor — dwarfing rootstocks reduce vigor while standard rootstocks promote it.
Etymology
Latin vigere (to be lively, flourish)
Example
“The tree's lack of vigor — sparse foliage, short annual growth, and pale leaves — suggests a nutrient deficiency or root problem.”