Water & Plants: How Long for Water to Reach Roots?

In summary: Sounds like a good experiment! Get a plant and some food dye and knock yerself out! Don't forget to let us know your conclusions!
  • #1
Swapnil
459
6
How much time does it take for a plant to start taking water up to it roots through the stem to its other braches once you have watered it?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #2
Sounds like a good experiment! Get a plant and some food dye and knock yerself out! Don't forget to let us know your conclusions!
 
  • #3
Dave's suggestion is how florists get carnations with interestingly striped petals, for example. It's fun, you should try it.

Soil water uptake rates vary a lot from species to species, time of day, ambient temperature, soil microstructure, and relative humidity... some plants even get all their water from condensation on leaf surfaces - like Welwitschia mirabilis. Epiphytic orchids and plants like Tillandsia (Spanish moss) absorb water from dew or rainfall directly onto specialized aerial root systems.

If you take Plant Physiology - unless you are a Botanist I do not recommend it - you'll spend at least half a semester on plant/water relations. It ain't that simple.

But.

The basic model is easy to understand. For example, in order to actively move water, plants have to have open stomates or have spongiform tissue that is low on water. Most plants rate of water uptake at night is much slower because stomates are closed.
 
  • #4
DaveC426913 said:
Sounds like a good experiment! Get a plant and some food dye and knock yerself out! Don't forget to let us know your conclusions!

Exactly how can I perform this experiment? What does food dye have to do with this? :confused:
 
  • #5
I'm pretty sure I did that experiment in elementary school. If you feed it colored water, it'll turn that color as the water gets sucked-up the stem.
 
  • #6
Swapnil said:
Exactly how can I perform this experiment? What does food dye have to do with this? :confused:

As Russ pointed out, you feed them colored water (the food dye is just a safe coloring to use). The food dye is taken up with the water. But, I'm not sure if that works through the roots. I've done this with cut stems immersed in dyed water. The roots might be better at filtering what they take up.
 
  • #7
russ_watters said:
I'm pretty sure I did that experiment in elementary school. If you feed it colored water, it'll turn that color as the water gets sucked-up the stem.

So if you have a red colored water and you pour it into the plant, would the whole plant turn red or just the leaves?
 
  • #8
Moonbear might be right about needing to cut the stem and put it in a bath of colored water (hey - it was 20 years ago!), but anyway...
So if you have a red colored water and you pour it into the plant, would the whole plant turn red or just the leaves?
The stem will slowly turn red as the water rises up through it.

Google finds many references to this: http://sps.k12.ar.us/massengale/water_movement_in_celery_stems.htm
 
Last edited:
  • #9
So if you have a red colored water and you pour it into the plant, would the whole plant turn red or just the leaves?

Dark blue works better. It's easier to see. Red makes the petals a more interesting color, if petals are a light color to start with. Use food coloring - the liquid dye that comes in little bottles. Some commercial dyes are not friendly to plant tissues.

The dye can work up through the stem and into the petals of a flower in a few hours if you use a cut flower. Moonbear is right - the cell membranes in root hairs may filter out foreign molecules, like dye.

More importantly, dyes bind to organic matter in the soil long before they get to the root hairs. If you grow plants hydroponically, you can add dye to the growth medium and the plant will suck up some of it, depending on the dye molecule.
 
  • #10
Swapnil said:
How much time does it take for a plant to start taking water up to it roots through the stem to its other braches once you have watered it?
If the roots aren't damaged it's immediate. I used to do a lot of work with roses which would come bare rooted. You put the bare roots into a bucket of water, they will start taking in water immediately.

As for other plants. Take a plant with roots and knock or wash off the dirt. Let it start to wilt, then place into tepid water, Usually within an hour the plant will look the same as before it started to wilt. Just be careful not to let it wilt too much, you'll just end up killing it.
 

1. How long does it take for water to reach plant roots?

The time it takes for water to reach plant roots depends on various factors such as soil type, plant type, and environmental conditions. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours for water to reach the roots.

2. How often should I water my plants?

The frequency of watering plants depends on several factors, including the type of plant, its size, and the environmental conditions. As a general rule, most plants require watering when the top inch of soil is dry.

3. Can underwatering or overwatering affect plant growth?

Both underwatering and overwatering can negatively impact plant growth. Underwatering can lead to wilted and dry plants, while overwatering can cause root rot and other issues. It is essential to find the right balance and water your plants according to their needs.

4. Does the temperature affect the time it takes for water to reach plant roots?

Yes, the temperature can affect the time it takes for water to reach plant roots. Warmer temperatures can increase the rate of water absorption by plants, while colder temperatures may slow it down. It is important to adjust your watering schedule accordingly in different seasons.

5. How can I ensure that water reaches the deeper roots of my plants?

To ensure that water reaches the deeper roots of your plants, you can try deep watering techniques such as using a drip irrigation system or creating watering basins around the plants. These methods allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil, reaching the plant's roots.

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
934
  • General Discussion
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
28
Views
4K
Replies
20
Views
6K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
21
Views
2K
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
881
Replies
6
Views
451
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
1
Views
850
Replies
8
Views
2K
Back
Top