Hydroponic Gardening: An Introduction to Hydroponic Gardening for Beginners (Part 5) Growing Plants

PLANT GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY. (Part 5)

There are three kinds of plants. Each of these classes is metabolized in a different way. The first class are succulent plants called CAMs. These plants like low light and high humidity levels, so they thrive indoors in bathrooms and kitchen areas.

The second class of plants is called C4. These plants grow in hot, arid regions and are very efficient in using carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight. Most C4 plants are fat.

The third and last class of plants are called C3. These plants join two 3-carbon atoms together to make sugar. The chemical formula for sugar is C6H12O6, which is 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms bonded together. Most of our favorite plants are in this class.

HOW DOES A PLANT WORK?

Like all living things, plants breathe 24 hours a day. To generate energy, each plant cell respires (converts plant sugar into energy). The plant uses Oxygen (O2) and expires, or exhales, Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

In the same way that energy moves around the human body, water, nutrients, and plant sugars are continuously transported around the plant body. The leaves create a circular flow with the roots. This circulation occurs when the leaves draw water from the roots through their xylem.

These are straw-like cells found in the stem of the plant. The water that continually evaporates from the leaves absorbs more water from the roots and creates the internal water pressure that keeps the plant rigid. Thus, if the plant is deprived of water, such as in a drought, it loses its rigidity and begins to wilt when internal pressure drops.

The leaves return energy to the roots in the form of sugar solutions. These are transported from the leaves through the phloem of the plants. These are also straw-like cells found in the stem of the plant. In this way, the leaves exchange sugars for water and nutrients, while the roots exchange water and nutrients for sugar solutions. This circulation of liquid is constant and continuous throughout the life of the plant.

THE MAIN PARTS OF THE PLANT.

The 3 main parts of a plant are the roots, stems, and leaves. Each of these parts is of great importance and any problem that arises in any of them will be one of the biggest. The most sensitive part is the roots, as well as being the hardest to see in case of any problems.

The roots:

The miracle of growth begins at the roots. As already mentioned, the roots transport nutrients to their leaves and the leaves return the sugars from the plants. The roots also act as stores for excess sugars produced by the leaves. These sugars are stored in the form of starch. The size of the root ball, and therefore the amount of starch that can be stored, determines the success of the plant in terms of growth and productivity.

The size of the root system is directly affected by the amount of moisture, temperature, available oxygen, and the supply of plant sugars that are carried from the leaves. According to Graham Reinders, in his book “How to Supercharge Your Garden,” a research rye plant in a 12-inch pot was said to have 14 billion roots. These hairs would have stretched 6,200 miles (almost 10,000 km) if they had been laid end to end and covered an area of ​​180 feet by 180 feet (about 55 m by 55 m). The larger the root system, the more energy (starch) it can store and therefore the more nutrients it can send to nourish the leaves. The plant will then have the ability to grow stronger. The end result of this is that the leaves will be able to pass more sugars from the plants to the roots and so the cycle continues.

Another factor to consider is the root medium. Plants feed on the environment surrounding their roots. It stands to reason that the less energy the plant has to expend to obtain that food, the more energy it has available to use for growth and nutrient exchange with its leaves. Because a plant takes in most of its water through its roots (root hairs trap surrounding water molecules) and transpires about 99% of that water through its leaves, it will wilt and it will fall over if its roots cannot draw enough water. outside of its surrounding environment.

A plant growing in soil will take its moisture from the surrounding soil. This moisture normally reaches the soil in the form of rain and the plant absorbs this rain and the nutrients that have been dissolved in it, through its roots. Once it has stopped raining, the topsoil dries out quickly as water seeps into the ground. Due to this drying, the plant has developed a way to absorb oxygen through its upper roots. The upper third of the roots are specialized as “Air Roots”, while the lower third are specialized as “Water Roots”.

It is vital to ensure that the Air Roots are not kept constantly moist, as this will cause the plant to drown. However, water roots can be kept moist all the time, as long as the water has enough dissolved oxygen. Insufficient oxygen will result in roots with brown, discolored root tips and subsequent infection. Healthy roots are a crisp, white-looking structure.

The plant is quite capable of living healthily with the roots exposed to light as long as they remain moist. However, the light will encourage the growth of algae that will cause odors. The algae will also compete with the plant for oxygen during dark periods and nutrients in light periods. This, of course, will mean that the plant has to work harder to produce enough sugars for its needs. The oxygen produced during dark periods is used to help the roots convert these sugars, from the leaves, into energy (starch).

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005.

JR Haughton. ITEC MIPTI

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