Fact 2 - Help! My Monstera is crying!
Have you seen your plant’s leaves get little droplets even when it hasn’t rained and you haven’t watered them recently? This may be a phenomenon called guttation! Guttation is a process where plants expel tiny droplets of water and nutrients through their leaves. While plants always go through transpiration for growth and regulation, guttation is different as it happens through different leaf structures. For transpiration (a very normal and important process in photosynthesis) the tiny pores in the leaf surface (stomata) open up for water to be released to the atmosphere; but for guttation, different pores (hydrathose, which tend to be around the rim or tips of the leaves) open up. Guttation usually occurs when a plant is taking up too much water through its roots and so it has more than it needs and it is trying to regulate the pressure in the plant. As transpiration is the predominant process (guttation only occurs with 5% of the water going through the plant), guttation is more likely to happen when the stomata aren’t open, like in the early morning or at dusk. Guttation is a totally normal, and we think it’s a very cool, process; however, if it seems to be happening regularly it could be a sign of zinc deficiency or even overwatering. Keep an eye out for this beautiful display of science in action!
Fact 3 - Sensing and signalling
Plants are sessile: they’re stuck in one place so they have special mechanisms that help them to adapt to their environment and one that’s particularly cool is signalling. They’ve evolved complex signalling systems that allow them to optimise resources, monitor light and defend themselves. When a plant receives a que from their environment, a specialised receptor detects it, processes it and triggers a response from the plant. Signal transduction can be fast, like a venus fly trap closing milliseconds after it’s been touched thanks to electro-chemical responses; or signal transduction can be slow, like a Hawthorn tree learning to grow away from the harsh onshore winds. Another cool example of signalling is the ‘sensitive plant’ Mimosa pudica (you know that cute little plant that retracts its leaves when touched). When the sensitive plant is stimulated by touch, it triggers a reflex that’s transmitted as action potential where the leaves temporary lose their turgor pressure from water moving out of the cells. Amazing stuff!
