How Sunlight Affects Plant Growth

Any living thing needs sunlight to live. Sunlight is a form of energy and this energy is processed through photosynthesis in plants, which means "making of light." Photosynthesis is the production of sugar in plants. As a result of this photosynthesis, plants change growth patterns and absorb more light. That is why you might see houseplants leaning toward the sunlight.

Strong light raises the temperature of plants and plants absorb it. This is either good or bad for the plants. You may not know this, but plants also have a powerful mechanism that draws water from the roots and evaporates it from the leaves.

Plants are all different and light effects them differently also. Strength of light makes a difference, but sometimes more is not better; just like too much water will kill a plant, so can too much sun. Chlorophyll is a pigment in leaves that absorbs energy from the sun. Leaves take in carbon dioxide through small holes in the air around them and water from the roots. Energy is produced by sunlight and provides carbohydrates for food.

Green light is best for green plants because green reflects on green plants. Blue and red light work well in plant growth in the absence of sunlight. The amount of sunlight a plant gets will greatly effect a plant's growth. Just as with some people, some plants require more light because they need more food to grow.