How a Plant Grows
A seed contains a new plant and all that it needs to grow. The growth process, or germination, begins when the seed splits open and roots emerge below the soil, while a stem emerges on top of the seed and pushes upward through the soil. Does this Spark an idea?
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Root Systems
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Most plants produce a main root from which grow other smaller hairlike roots whose job it is to take in water and nutrients from the soil. The roots, which are composed of cells, also hold the plant in the ground.
Stems and Leaves
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Once the roots are firmly established in the soil, the new plant sends up a stem that develops the first set of leaves, called cotyledons. While cotyledons are not true leaves, they begin manufacturing food that is stored in the seed to feed the growing plant. As the root system continues to grow beneath the soil, new true leaves appear at the top of the plant.
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Growth Requirements
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A plant grows to maturity by using the sun's energy to produce food through the process known as photosynthesis. Water and carbon dioxide are transformed by the sun's energy into sugar, which feeds the plant, and oxygen, which is released into the air.
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References
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