Why Plants Need Water More Than Any Other Liquids
Under-watered plants may lose their structure and become wilted or brown. According to Clemson University's Cooperative Extension Service, water makes up 80 to 95 percent of plant tissue; without adequate water levels, a plant will become stressed. As the plant devotes more energy to pulling up water through its roots, fewer resources go to leaf production. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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Photosynthesis converts light energy, carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates--the main source of food for plants. Plants use approximately 5 percent of the water they absorb to fuel photosynthesis, Clemson CES states in "Why Plants Need Water."
Significance
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According to Montana State University's Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, plants are comprised of mostly carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Adequate plant growth is dependent upon proper the timing and quantity of water during the growth season. Plants that do not take up adequate water while they are producing leaves will be stunted. Plants that experience drought conditions later in their growth cycle will produce fewer seeds (fruit, flowers and vegetables).
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Facts
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Soil nutrients are dissolved in water and drawn up through the plant's root system. Dry soil can result in malnourished and withered plants.
Considerations
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In hot weather, plants evaporate water through their leaves to cool down and avoid overheating, this process is called "transpiration." The remaining 95 percent of the water used by plants goes towards transpiration. Plants that wilt in the afternoon sun do not have enough water available to keep up with their rate of transpiration, says Clemson CES. Though they can rehydrate over night when the rate decreases, without additional water "permanent wilting will occur, leading to plant death."
Misconceptions
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You may think that you don't have to water outdoor plants and shrubs during the winter. According to the Colorado State University Extension Service, while you shouldn't water when the temperature is lower than 40 degrees F, long periods of dry weather in the fall and winter can cause root damage to trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. Root damage weakens plants, causing them to draw on stored energy to grow and leaving them open to insects and disease.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Sabrina Mae
