5 Answers

....no, you are not ignorant; you are learning.

Have a wee read of this, it might explain it...http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/how-a-cotton-plant-grows/

I admire people who continue on with life long learning. I also think it is so much fun to learn new things. You'll learn all about it eventually. Sorry, I can't help you.

Maybe the plants are confused by the weather..>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<..

You can strip the plant of leaves and everything else and it will grow leaves and everything else again. Cotton is a woody plant that will grow into a tree. I see it every year after cotton plants get stripped. First cotton plants are sprayed with a chemical to make it drop leaves. Then stripper machines go through and strip cotton off plants. Weeks later leaves start growing out. What kills the plant is freezing weather. A cotton plant will grow to a tree about 20 feet tall if given adequate conditions. Look for colored cotton next year to grow.