What Makes Plants Grow?

Do you remember in grade school when you planted beans or corn kernels to watch them grow? Even though many people have performed this experiment, many still don't really understand what plants need to grow.

The basic components of plant growth include nutrients (both micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients), water, sunlight and air. Each of these affects the growth rate and heartiness of your plants. By having the correct amount of these nutrients, the plant can complete its growth processes.

Growth Processes

Two plant processes control the degree of growth that your plants will experience - photosynthesis and respiration:

Photosynthesis

The plant undergoes photosynthesis during the daylight hours to produce carbohydrates it needs to survive. These carbohydrates provide stored energy for the plant.

Photosynthesis, in addition to facilitating plant growth, is the process that enriches the air with oxygen. In order to undergo photosynthesis, the plant uses sunlight or ultraviolet light to activate the chlorophyll within the plant. The chlorophyll is part of a process the plant uses to generate energy.

Respiration

The carbohydrates are turned into water, oxygen and glucose at night during the plant's respiration phase. The process of photosynthesis is the plants mechanism for storing energy that will be used in respiration. The energy is stored as chemical energy. Once the sun goes down, the plant enters the respiration cycle and uses the stored energy during the night.

Requirements for Photosynthesis

Plants need certain things in order to undergo photosynthesis - light, water and carbon dioxide.

Light

Plant growth, for example, won't occur without light to activate the chlorophyll molecule. If the light provided is not bright enough or in the right part of the spectrum, the plant's total growth and size will be more limited and the plant could even die.

The amount of light is also a limiting factor in the life cycle of the plant. Without proper light, plant growth will be stunted and the plant may not mature.

Water

All plants also require water to perform the photosynthesis process. The plant needs water not only to carry out photosynthesis but also to carry nutrients to the plant from the soil.

Water also helps the nutrients to reach every cell in the plant. As it circulates through the plants body, the water even removes the waste products. This means without water, a plant will likely die quickly.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is another necessary reactant for the process of photosynthesis to occur. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide during its process and then releases oxygen as a product.

Required Nutrients for Plant Growth

Sixteen nutrients are required for optimum plant growth. In the best of all worlds, the soil the plant is rooted in will have all these nutrients in sufficient quantity to allow the plant to feed.

Unfortunately, most soils are lacking in most nutrients due to over-use and over-planting. The nutrients that were originally present have been depleted over time.

Most of the nutrients required can be replenished by incorporating compost material and fertilizer in the soil mixture. Most fertilizers supply the three most important nutrients: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. These are essential for every plant’s growth.

When planting, make sure that you properly replace the nutrients that your plant will need. Adding a plant food to the soil or mixing it with the water when providing water will help the plant get everything that it needs to grow optimally.

Plant Growth and Soil

A good soil mixture is important to the root system of the plant. While hydroponic growing has been done for many years, more old-fashioned methods can also be used if the soil is properly supplied and revived with nutrients. The soil, when properly prepared, gives the root system of the plant a firm hold that will allow the plant to grow strong.

The soil must be properly drained for the plant to grow healthy. The roots of the plant will rot if the soil is not properly drained.

A plant needs sunlight, water, good soil and air to be healthy and grow. A healthy growing plant brings life and fresh air into any environment. Brighten your office, living space or garden with a living plant.