In agriculture when temperature and moisture deviate from the norm two things happen, plant growth suffers and disease flourishes. The Stoller model for plant growth states that proper hormone balance is necessary for optimum growth and performance. When growth conditions deviate from the norm, hormone balance is altered and plant growth suffers. This invention presents evidence to support this model and explain the relationship between hormone levels and plant growth. A clear understanding of this relationship will facilitate crop treatments aimed to eliminate these problems. Although we cannot control the climate, we can control the damage caused by environmental stresses by manipulating the levels and/or ratio of plant hormones in the different plant tissues. By adjusting the levels and/or ratios of hormones, particularly auxin and cytokinins in the root tissue, we can assist the plant in overcoming or compensating for this environmental stress.