| Plants are amazing, especially when you wonder how | | | | through the soil to new locations. Humans help with |
| do plants grow. There are over 350,000 species of | | | | splicing for cross breeding and new growth on old |
| plants, above ground and underwater plants. Each | | | | plants. |
| one has to survive some harsh conditions to grow, | | | | Plants that have seeds create little packages (seeds) |
| and you can see the tenacity of plants to grow | | | | that contain a food store and a baby plant embryo, |
| when you see them perched on the side of canyon | | | | similar to a fertilized egg, and there is a protective |
| walls, or pushing their way up through old pavement. | | | | seed coat over the seed. When fertilized through |
| Their will to survive and propagate is intense! | | | | pollination, the seed forms after a flower dies. The |
| Plants include flowers, trees, shrubs, bushes, grass, | | | | flower contains male and/or female parts that create |
| moss, vines, herbs, seaweed, and green algae. These | | | | an ovum ready for fertilization. This becomes the |
| have much in common. They depend on Nature for | | | | seed or fruit containing seeds. |
| survival, and the contents of other living and natural | | | | The seed drops to the ground and begins to soften |
| things. They need sunlight (except deep sea plants), | | | | with moisture until the seed coat opens enough for |
| water, air, bees and insects, soil, animals, and fire for | | | | germination to break through with a tap root, root |
| life. Some pine trees only release their seeds after a | | | | hairs, and the plant top begins to grow towards light |
| big fire; they need the heat to open the cones and | | | | and warmth. This is the seedling plant. The roots |
| seeds. | | | | grow down to find more moisture and the top of |
| Some underwater plants get their nutrients from | | | | the plant grows up to find food and energy. |
| water, surviving without sunlight. In hydroponic | | | | Plant food comes from the water and soil. Plants |
| growing, plants are grown in just water instead of | | | | take in food and energy through photosynthesis |
| soil, and you can see the root growth. The water | | | | from sunlight, and respiration through their leaves |
| must have the nutrients needed, or the addition of | | | | (osmosis). They take in carbon dioxide from the air in |
| plant food for the plant to thrive. | | | | the daylight and release oxygen during the night. It is |
| To answer the question of how do plants grow, you | | | | important for plants to obtain the right minerals from |
| must look at propagation. Some plants have both | | | | soil. Fortunately, Mother Nature works just perfectly |
| male and female parts, others do not, but they all | | | | in most cases and plants thrive. |
| depend on wind, air, animals, bees and insects to help | | | | When you look at all it takes for Nature to be in |
| with pollination and fertilization. Others will send out | | | | perfect balance and answer the question of how do |
| runners and tubers, or create corms, bulbs, suckers, | | | | plants grow, it is an amazing thought, and a |
| and adventitious buds to propagate new plants | | | | miraculous process. |