Plants are alive! They take in nutrients, they grow and they reproduce. Plants grow best when they have the right conditions. That means getting the right amount of sunlight and water to grow best.
To better understand how plant growth works…
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Plants Need Sunlight
Sunlight is light that comes from the sun. It shines down on Earth every day. Plants capture sunlight using their leaves and they use energy from it to make nutrients.
Plants Need Water
All living things need water to stay alive. Plants use water to make nutrients in their leaves and it helps the plant stand up straight. Different plants need different amounts of water.
Plants Grow Best in Rich Soil
Soil provides an anchor for plants to take root. Rich soil, such as loam, is a mixture of sand, clay, minerals and dead or decaying plant material. Soil has the water and nutrients plants need to grow best.
Plants Grow Slowly
It takes a few months for a plant to grow from a seed into a plant that can be eaten. People eat all the parts of a plant: stem, leaves, fruits, roots and even flowers. A carrot is the root of a carrot plant.
Plant vs. Animal Needs
Plants and animals have some of the same needs, but some of their needs are different. Both of them need water to live, but only plants need light. Also, animals eat food, but plants make their own food with the help of sunlight.