What Are The Things Plants Need To Grow
The Necessary Components Plants Need to Grow
While many common houseplants aren’t extremely difficult to grow, optimizing some of the variables will help your plants thrive and grow faster and stronger. Continue reading to learn more about how the different components a plant needs to grow in more detail.
Water
One of the most obvious things plants require to grow is water. Water is necessary for the plant to get nutrients and resources, which provide energy and help the plant to grow. Plants need water for photosynthesis, as they utilize the hydrogen that is absorbed. Water also is how plants carry nutrients to all parts of itself which promote growth. Plants even use water as the support for the cells.
Without adhering to proper watering, a plant may struggle to stay healthy and grow to its fullest potential. As the plant dries up it may lose leaves, which reduces the food, or energy that it gets from photosynthesis, and if not cared for may struggle to survive. While each plant will come with watering instructions, typically plants prefer a deeper more saturated watering as opposed to frequent watering. It’s also important to make sure the water can drain from your pot so the roots don’t get overwatered and rot. When roots absorb water they are taking in nutrients from the soil, so fully saturating the entire pot of soil allows every root to absorb as much as possible to encourage the plant’s growth. Following the water instructions for any plant will encourage plant growth significantly.
Light
Another obvious primary ingredient that plants need in order to grow is light. Through photosynthesis plants will harness the light from the sun, or an artificial grow light, and turn that light into energy. Especially in seasons of growth plants require energy in the form of light to grow more leaves and flowers. During photosynthesis plants take water from the soul and carbon dioxide to create the simple sugars used for energy, which then in turn releases oxygen out into the world. When small changes in the plant’s environment change they can typically adapt, but it’s important to make sure your plant is getting an appropriate amount of light to ensure healthy growth. You may notice in winter each plant grows slower. This is due to the plant not having sufficient access to most of the ingredients needed to properly grow. For plants that require a significant amount of light, they may need to be moved closer to a window or have their light intake supplemented with an artificial grow light. When plants aren’t exposed to enough light it can stunt the growth, resulting in less leaves and flowers, and longer, thin stems.
Soil Nutrients to Help Plants Grow
Household potting soil is made up of organic matter and mineral particles, and oftentimes have added components designed to help provide nutrients, regulate water, and allow the roots to have easier access to air. Organic materials are made from once living things that have decayed which provide many nutrients for the plant to grow, while minerals come from mostly clay and sand. The plant roots thrive in well balanced soil, growing deeper and stronger which will help provide the necessary nutrients that encourage plants to grow. Stronger roots in well-balanced soil also provide stability for the plant, especially as it continues to grow taller with more limbs.
If a plant is overwatered it may wash away nutrients that would otherwise be absorbed by the roots, so it is important to find the right balance when adding water to the soil. When the soil nutrients have been washed away by water or have been absorbed by the plant it may slow down in growth. Without proper soil nutrients the plant will struggle to grow regardless if the plant has access to a healthy amount of other necessary components. Ensuring that your potted plant has high-quality soil will result in excellent plant growth and an overall healthier plant.
Plants Need the Right Space to Grow
The importance of matching your plant with a pot or planter is often overlooked, especially considering pots and planters are now a part of home decor as much as they are to house the plant in them. Different species of plants have unique needs when it comes to living in a pot. Just like some plants prefer looser soil, some plants may thrive in larger pots that have additional room for growing. Other plants may prefer smaller plans for long periods of time so their roots grow tightly together.
While it may not seem like a big deal, choosing the right planter can make a massive difference in whether or not your plant thrives. Terracotta pots are iconic and classic, but not just for their visual style. Pots made of porous materials, like clay will help excess moisture escape. A planter without any drainage may result in unhealthy roots and root rot, which can reduce the speed at which your plants grow. For many plants, an ideal pot is porous, a suitable size, and has a hole for proper drainage. Overall growing a plant is simply exercising control over the environment, and making small adaptations to ensure you’re providing everything your plant needs.
Humidity
Depending on your location, humidity may or may not be an issue. Many plants do extremely well in a humid environment and thrive when the humidity is around 70%. Unfortunately generally indoor spaces that aren’t dedicated for plants shouldn’t be over 50% humidity. Many plants can adapt, and may require slightly more water to keep the plant happy. There are ways a plant owner can control the humidity in the air and some plant owners will utilize humidifiers in the same room they keep plants that are more sensitive to the dry air. Many common household plants don’t have as difficult of a time growing in drier environments. When JOCO Growers selects indoor houseplants for fundraising we keep this in mind to ensure our customers enjoy the plants they are caring for. When planting a newly purchased plant in an indoor pot you want to give your plant the best chance of success, so avoid placing plants next to a heater or air vent that can dry the air out near the plant. Studies have shown that indoor plants in a more humid environment are likely to grow faster and stronger when paired with high quality soil, appropriate watering, and good sunlight. If a plant is very overwatered and exists in an environment with very high humidity this can cause issues with the roots, even causing rot to set in with the roots.
Appropriate Temperature
When dealing with indoor plants temperature isn’t as much of a concern since they typically do well in temperatures that humans feel comfortable in. Around 70ºF is perfectly fine for most plants and will allow them to grow properly. In situations where the temperature drops below 50ºF there is some risk. Many plants can get cold shock when the temperature drops too low. If a plant has dark spots on discoloration after being exposed to cold temperatures it is likely a sign that cells in the plant have died. Some plants have a bulbotuber, a unique form of plant stem that can survive intense environmental conditions. Even after losing all of their leaves they may grow completely back. Anytime a plant is outside and the temperature is dropping below 50ºF we recommend covering the plant or bringing it inside if possible. Plants have a little more tolerance for hotter temperatures. If they are well watered and aren’t over-exposed to the sun many plants can handle temporary exposure to temperatures nearing 100ºF. During this period they may halt photosynthesis, and if this occurs too often it can cause the plant to wilt and potentially die.
The Science of Air Quality
Plants have a rather unique ability to use carbon dioxide to create their own energy source resulting in a release of oxygen into the environment around it. Low quality air or any air pollution can have an impact on the plants, however any air that is dangerous to plants is also dangerous to humans so this shouldn’t be a concern.
Plants for A Cause: The JOCO Growers Mission
What began as a passion for gardening growing plants turned into a mission to help communities and provide for students across the region. JOCO Growers works with school organizers to set up fundraisers that support local students in their classrooms and with after school activities. We have fully committed our entire grow space to growing plants used for fundraising. We believe in growing high quality products that work perfectly for local fundraising, so every single plant we grow is utilized for raising funds for school communities. It is the JOCO mission to create a positive impact through what we love, and to help school organizers, parents, and teachers to provide an excellent education and safe space for their children and students.
We Grow Every Plant Locally
Every plant we provide for fundraisers is grown in our own growing space locally. It’s crucial to our mission that the fundraising organizers and customers of those fundraisers are happy with their purchases. We guarantee the quality of our plants by growing them all ourselves and never working with big box retailers. Every plant that JOCO provides has been grown and cared for in our own greenhouse.
Hosting a Fundraiser with JOCO Growers
Customer service is as important to our team as the quality of the products. We aim to create a smooth and easy process for any fundraising organizers we work with. We believe in our product and aim to put our customers first.
Over many, many fundraisers we have developed and streamlined our process to simplify it as much as possible without leaving anything important out. Throughout the whole fundraising process we provide support and help. We can suggest fundraising ideas, help with payment management, account management, event organizing information, and provide a high quality, well cared for product on a dependable timeline. When organizing a fundraiser with JOCO Growers we can offer tips, tricks, and help with marketing materials to assist you in promoting your fundraiser.
JOCO’s High Quality Plants
We never work with big box stores and grow everything in our own greenhouses, so we continuously offer healthier and stronger plants than if we sourced them through other companies. We believe in our products and believe that a sustainable, long-term gift like a plant works great for fundraising. We are always happy to get feedback from many fundraising organizers about how happy their customers are with their purchases.
Contacting JOCO Growers
If you’re looking to start a school fundraiser and have any questions about our process or products please contact us today. We are always excited to hear from parents, teachers, and community organizers looking to raise money for local students.
