Plant Needs & Growth Explorer

Every plant needs five things to survive and grow. Air provides carbon dioxide. Water carries nutrients and keeps stems firm. Light powers photosynthesis. Nutrients from soil build strong roots and leaves. Space lets roots spread and leaves catch sunlight.

Remove any one of these and the plant slows down or stops growing entirely.

Plants use light energy to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugar. This process is called photosynthesis. The sugar is food that fuels growth.

More light means more food and faster growth. Plants in shade grow slowly because they make less sugar each day.

Roots absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil. Water travels up the stem and into the leaves, carrying nutrients along the way.

Water also keeps plant cells firm and full. Without enough water, stems droop and leaves wilt.

Scientists change one condition at a time to find out what matters. Everything else stays the same. This is called a fair test or controlled experiment.

Try growing two plants with the same seed. Change only the light or only the water. The difference in height tells you how much that condition matters.