How PLANTS GROW

In this Green Ecologist article we are going to answer a simple question related to plants that is very common: how exactly do they grow? Although the answer may seem really simple, there are several factors and processes linked to this topic that are worth knowing and understanding.

Therefore, in this article, we want to teach you those little peculiarities about the birth and growth of a plant, or what is commonly known as germination. Thus, if you want to delve into the issue of how they are born and how plants grow, continue reading this interesting post.

How plants are born

Germination It is a natural process which implies that from a seed there is the expansion of a form of life that begins as tiny, which we will call seedling, and grows to the size necessary for its survival.

The seed is the reproductive sexual element created after the fertilization phase, in order to perpetuate the species. In addition, the seeds also perform a fundamental function such as expanding through multiplication and dispersal over more areas close to those of the main plant. Therefore, the birth of a plant it begins when the seed is placed in an appropriate medium for its growth. In the same way, it is important to know that once the germination process begins, or the birth, it is not reversible nor can it be paralyzed without the plant dying.

In the inner part of the seed is the endosperm, which provides the necessary energy for its evolution to begin. The process begins by absorbing water and releasing the hormone gibberellic acid. The resulting substance is absorbed by cells which can thus form enzymes that will change the endosperm, turning it into sugar or glucose. This glucose is the energy base for the plant embryo. As soon as the first leaves appear, the photosynthesis process begins.

Next, we will better explain the phases of the germination of a plant, but first we recommend you take a look at this other post about the Parts of the seed and their functions to understand everything better. Likewise, it is also recommended that you read these other articles on What is a seed and what types are there and the Parts of a plant and their functions.

The growth of a plant

When the environment where the seed is found has the ideal conditions, the life of the new plant begins. The process begins with the rupture of the seed envelope and the appearance of the root. In a simple way, we can divide this fact into several stages that are key to understanding the plant growth process. This is how plants grow:

Pollination

In most cases, fertilization of plants occurs through a process called pollination. This begins from the fall of the pollen of the stamens of the flower itself until it reaches the stigma of the pistil; either from another or from the same flower. Pollinating agents are very varied, from the wind itself or insects to the people themselves.

Learn more about this process with this other post about What is pollination and its types.

Fertilization

Process by which the union of the male and female cells of plants is carried out. This begins with the arrival of the pollen grain to the ovary, which happens thanks to pollination. This is usually the most common method in plant reproduction.

We encourage you to learn more about this topic by entering this link on the Reproduction of plants.

Germination and development

At the beginning of this first phase of seed growth It is still in a latent state of life, after the awakening or completion of this process called germination, the seedling birth. Here, each specific species will need specific conditions of temperature, humidity and light for optimal growth, both of the root and for the production of what we can call the first shoot. Thus, the germination process of plants begins with the development of the embryo, which feeds on the substances stored inside until it begins to expand, finally breaking the coating provided by the seed. Therefore, we can talk about three key stages:

Hydration: This stage is essential for the birth of the plant since, thanks to the humidity that the seed collects, it facilitates the breakdown of the protective layer so that the first sprout appears.
Germination: During this stage is where the metabolic changes that the seedling needs for its correct development take place. Here the hydration received decreases until, in many cases, it is completely reduced.
Increase: here the radicle appears, or first root, through which the seedling will begin to absorb water and the rest of the substances necessary to achieve the desired size for its survival.

To learn more about this process, you can read this other article in which we explain How to germinate a seed.

What do plants need to grow

Plants mainly need the light as one of its main sources of energy for its development. Similarly, they need carbon dioxide, mineral salts and water. Thanks to these energy sources, the different anabolic processes that produce reserve substances are started. In addition, they need other nutrients taken from the soil as a basis for their growth. In this way we can divide the nutrients used by plants into two main groups:

Macronutrients

They are the nutrients necessary to carry out a correct morphogenesis and organogenesis. That is, the nutrients that are needed to perform most cellular functions. Within this group are:

Match.
Potassium.
Sulfur.
Calcium.
Nitrogen.
Magnesium.

Micronutrients

Also known minor elements are those used to complete the rest of the enzymatic reactions, key to fulfilling the rest of the metabolic functions of plants. In this group are:

Boron.
Copper.
Manganese.
Iron.
Zinc.

Thus, thanks to all these nutrients and environmental factors such as light and humidity, plants continue to develop and grow, continuing their life cycle. If you want to delve into this topic, we advise you to read these other articles on the Process of plant nutrition and What plants need to live. In addition, here we explain how to make plants grow faster.