Simple Plant Biology

The phrases ‘plant biology’ and ‘plant physiology’ and just the word botany can bring about scary images to the mind of many people. Although these can be very complex sciences, and studying them is meant for individuals who are professional as well as motivated, these sciences can be a beneficial to gardeners that fly ‘by the seat of their pants,’ to whom even a small amount of information is helpful. Fortunately, absorbing these sciences doesn’t have to be in any way difficult.

Part of the horticulture branch, hydroponics is the practice of cultivating plants in water. Before one can cultivate successfully, it is important to have some knowledge about the needs of plants. This is where botany becomes very important.

As we are aware plants are living things, however they have important differences from animals. The main difference is that plants absorb nutrients and generate what they need much differently than animals do. Plants absorb sunlight which works as an energy source. At the same time, plants are able to extract chemical elements from the medium they are in and then transform the chemicals into food.

Animals, contrastingly, have to get the food they need from other sources, either plants or other kinds of animals. Animals use sunlight for warmth and not as energy to allow them to function. There are of course exceptions as there are many throughout biology. For example, some extremely small organisms that are seen as animals can perform plant-like activities.

Photosynthesis is the key mechanism that most plants use to perform the activities. It is represented by the chemical equation:

6CO2 + 12H2O + light = C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

Six molecules of carbon dioxide (6CO2) and 12 molecules of water (12H2O) combine with each other by using light energy. The chemical reaction then produces glucose (C6H12O6). Glucose is a type of sugar. As with animals, the glucose is later broken down and used as a means of energy for many types of functions. As a side benefit (to us), the six molecules of oxygen (6O2) and six molecules of water (6H2O) are given off as a product of photosynthesis.

Plants are known to be self-sufficient due to this relatively simple chemical reaction. They are able to take in available energy, take nutrients from their environment, and produce their own energy as well as their own food. If only humans could do this!

Yet there is much more to the life of a plant than just producing energy and food for consumption. In order to carry out these tasks, the plant has to be able to breathe and to be sturdy.

Plants have to have a stable structure in order to carry out these elemental processes. Because hydroponics is water based and no soil is involved, the plant needs to have something to be sturdy. Externally, the plant is supplied by the medium with supporting strings, trays, rockwool, etc. Internally, the plant’s cells are able to provide a sturdy support, using different types of elements that are available.

When it comes to forming the cell walls, calcium, plays a big role. The cell walls eventually build up into the plant’s tissues and form different kinds and make features that are able to stand up against gravity, wind, and many other forces.

Plants just like animals breath. Many of us learn in elementary school that plants take in carbon dioxide and then give off oxygen. This is very true, but plants also consume oxygen. They just give off more than they use.

Plants do not have lungs, but they do have stoma, (pores) that let them breathe and take in CO2 as well as oxygen, and then expel some of the O2 that was taken in. This process is essential to root growth and is known as cellular respiration.

These are only a few of the many fascinating features of plants that allow them to provide themselves with food, beauty, and wonderful smells for their fortunate caretakers: hydroponic gardeners.

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