What is a likely result of hot weather effects on plants grown in dark containers?

In hot weather, plants grown in dark containers are likely to experience stunted growth on the side that is exposed to the sun. Dark containers absorb more heat from sunlight, raising the temperature of the soil inside them significantly. As a result, the roots can become excessively hot, leading to stress for the plant. This stress affects water uptake and nutrient availability, particularly on the side facing the sun, where the plant may be unevenly watered or stressed by elevated temperatures.

The areas of the plant that are directly exposed to these higher temperatures may show signs of stunted growth due to the combination of heat stress and potential root damage. This uneven growth can lead to an imbalance in the plant's overall health and development.

While the other options may seem plausible in certain contexts, they do not address the specific consequences of heat stress in dark containers effectively. Enhanced growth is counterintuitive under high-stress conditions, flowering failure might be caused by various factors including stress but isn't specific to container color, and leaf drop, while possible in extreme cases, does not address the localized effect on the sun-exposed side as clearly as stunted growth does.