How Do Plants Grow?

All plants need sunlight, air, water, soil, and even animals and insects. There are some which also need fire. For instance, some pine tree species will only release seeds after a fire because they need the intense heat in order to open the cones and seeds.

In plants that have seeds, the seeds contain storage for food as well as a plant embryo which is similar to a fertilized egg. Through pollination, fertilization takes place. Flowers contain male and/or female parts which produce an ovum for fertilization.

During pollination, the ripened ovule is protected through the seed coat, as well as by the ovule’s outer covering. This will develop into seeds or fruits which contain seeds. Seeds germinate through the interplay of temperature, moisture, light, humidity, and quality of nutrients found in the soil.

When a seed drops to the ground, it will begin to soften because of the soils moisture. It will soften until its seed coat opens up for germination. It will then develop a tap root, root hair, and the top of the plant will begin to grow out of the ground towards the sunlight. This is now the seedling plant which will grow more roots to find more ground moisture.

Plants will grow out of the soil for food and energy.  Plant food typically comes from soil and water. Plants use up food and energy from sunlight through photosynthesis and respiration through leaves. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during the daylight and in return releases oxygen during the night. 

Photosynthesis

Plants generate food from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. Through the use of a green pigment called chlorophyll, plants can produce their own food. Plants use energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide from the air into simple sugars which is used by the plants for its structural growth. 

Soil

Plants need soil for other essential nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen, as well as water. These are the plants basic needs for growth, although there are types of plants that can grow without soil or without sunlight. Aside from photosynthesis, plants can use respiration to produce their food. 

Plant Basics

Most plants consists of six basic parts:

• Roots
• Leaves
• Stems or branches
• Seeds
• Flowers
• Fruits

Each plant part has an important function for the growth of the entire plant and is part of the process of growing.

Ocean Plants

Plants can grow directly in the ocean. For them to grow there, they will still need sunlight. Actually, all marine life depends on sunlight for the process of photosynthesis to take place.

Sunlight can penetrate the ocean for up to a thousand meters. A depth down to around 100 meters will receive a good supply of sunlight. This region is referred to as the euphotic zone. On the other hand, any deeper than that -particularly 1000 meters or below- will only receive diffused sunlight. This is known as the disphotic zone. The aphotic zone is the area where no sunlight can penetrate.There are two types of plants that grow in the ocean. One type has roots that develop on the ocean bed while the other type is rootless and floats on the surface of the water. Ocean plants that float on the surface of the water receive all the sunlight they need for photosynthesis to take place.

Those that are rooted are found in the euphotic zone. No plants can survive below the euphotic zone since sunlight cannot reach that area and photosynthesis cannot occur in deeper waters. Aside from water and sunlight, marine life such as seaweed, algae, kelp and phytoplankton draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for growth.