Whether you’re a beginner gardener or well on your way to becoming an expert, you should be closely acquainted with the factors for plant growth and what makes plants grow fast. Knowing this is paramount to the success of your growing efforts and can help take your gardening to the next level.
Green fingers or not, we can all agree on one thing: a thriving garden is a sight to behold. But have you ever stopped to ponder on the factors for plant growth and what makes plants grow fast, tall, and strong?
There is more to it than water and sun. In this article, we study the factors for plant growth which play a role in the health of your beloved greenery. From the type of soil to the air they breathe, we break down everything you need to know to give your plants the best chance to flourish.
Growing plants is both art and science. Optimal growth needs a balance of
- Light
- Water
- Soil
- Temperature
- Air quality
- Humidity
- Fertilisers
By understanding the crucial role each of these factors for plant growth plays, you can create near-perfect conditions for plants to thrive.
In this article the factors are covered in some detail. I’ll tell you how they affect growth and give you practical advice to make the most out of the information presented.
Keep in mind that this list isn’t in order of priority or importance; all four factors are equally vital to the survival of plants.
Light
Light is the single most important factor for plant growth. Without it, plants cannot survive. Depending on the type of plant, the amount of light it needs will vary. Some plants do best with full sun exposure, while other plants may require more shade or indirect sunlight to make plants grow fast and flourish.
Vital light for Photosynthesis and Optimal Growth
During the day, light is vital for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
This chemical energy is then used to fuel the growth of the plant.
The amount of light needed for optimal growth is six hours of direct sunlight daily, with indoor houseplants being able to thrive under artificial LED light for 16 to 18 hours per day in lieu of real sunlight.
Too little light is likely to trigger plant death or stunted growth, while over-lighting a plant may cause withering or severe dehydration which could end a plants life.
Too Little Light
The following are warning signs that plants are getting too little light:
- Plant stems will become leggy, whittling down into long, thin, and weak stems that strain toward the most constant light source available.
- A lack of sufficient light will cause the plant to grow long spaces on stems between the leaf nodes, making them look sparse.
- Plants without sufficient light will drop their leaves.
- Variegated plants (plants with leaves that are white and green) are likely to revert to being solid green.
- Flowering plants will fail to produce flower buds.
Too Much Light
On the other hand, plants exposed to too much light will have leaves that look bleached or burnt. Keeping sufficient distance between plants in any light source is especially important when using artificial lighting that produces a significant amount of heat, such as incandescent bulbs or high-pressure sodium bulbs. The proper distance for each type of plant is:
- Seedlings: 4-6 centimetres.
- Hydroponic lettuce and herbs: 6-12 centimetres.
- Foliage houseplants: 12-24 centimetres.
- Flowering houseplants: 6-12 centimetres.
Light duration
Light duration (also known as photoperiod) is the approximate number of hours of light a plant needs in a 24-hour period. Plants are classified by photoperiod into three categories: short day, long day, and day-neutral.
- Short-day indoor plants, like chrysanthemums, require short days to flower. They cannot be reflowered unless they are grown in short days.
- Long-day plants, like begonias, flower best when they receive more than eight hours of daylight per day.
- Day-neutral plants are insensitive to day length differences for flowering, and are the most versatile of the list.
Water
What makes plants grow fast? Well, water makes up to 95% of a plant’s tissue and is one of the essential factors for plant growth. Plants need water to survive and to carry out the process of photosynthesis. Without water, plants cannot absorb the essential nutrients from the soil. It. It is the trigger that first gets seeds to sprout. And as the plant grows, it is water that carries essential nutrients throughout the plant. Moreover, water is responsible for several important functions within plant tissues.
Water quantity for plant growth
The amount of water needed for optimal growth will depend on the type of plant, its size, and the climate it’s grown in. Generally, most plants will need to be watered once every three days. Too much water, however, can lead to root rot and plant death.
Most garden plants, flowers, and common shrubs in northern climates thrive when they receive at least one centimetre of water per week, although they may need more during the summer.
The main environmental factors that impact a plant’s water needs are light, temperature, and the relative humidity of the environment around it. Plant size also plays an important role, with larger or more robust plants needing more water than smaller ones.
Determining daily water use several times during the growth cycle of your plant, both on warm days and overcast days, will provide you with valuable information for water management.
Water Quality
The quality of the water matters, too. Tap water contains a lot of added chemicals that can be detrimental to plants. So, it is best to stick to filtered water or rainwater when watering your plants.
Soil
The type of soil in which a plant is grown can significantly affect the health of the plant.
Soil should be light and airy, so that it is able to hold water and provide adequate space for the plant to grow. The soil needs to be rich in nutrients, so it can provide the necessary vitamins and minerals for healthy growth.
To improve the quality of your soil, you can:
- Buy topsoil.
- Add fertiliser.
- Break up compacted soil.
- Add minerals like sand, lime, or clay to correct the soil’s pH levels, and
- Avoid planting related species too often, which limits root space.
Soil quality for plant growth
The ideal mixture for plant growth, according to experts, is loam (otherwise known as topsoil). Loam is made up of approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay.
Another important element of soil is its structure, as in, how it clumps together into crumbs, or how quickly water can drain through it. A loose soil structure provides ample pore spaces for both good drainage and root growth, making it ideal for all plant varieties.
The best type of loam, however, depends on what your plant-growing needs are. The three main types are:
- Sandy loam soil, which provides superior drainage to prevent plant bulbs from rotting and ensuring that their roots can easily expand.
- Thick potting loam, which is best when planting flowers in a container like a flowerpot.
- A soil mixture of compost, peat, and topsoil as a general mix with a 1:1:1 ratio for a wide variety of outdoor flower gardens.
Temperature
Plants, in all climates, grow best when daytime temperature is about 10 to 15 degrees higher than night time temperature. Under these conditions, plants photosynthesize (build up) and break down their nutrients during optimal daytime temperatures and then rest at night.
This helps them grow faster, stronger, and have longer stems and leaves. Unless a plant is drought-resistant or geared specifically towards wet weather, however, temperatures out of this range frequently stunt the growth of plants and significantly cut down on their lifespan.
The ideal temperature for plant growth
The perfect temperature for plants to grow is 21-24 degrees Celsius. When the temperature of the growth area rises to higher than 29 degrees, dehydration can rapidly occur unless a plant is drought resistant.
As temperature rises, photosynthesis, transpiration, and respiration increase. On the flip side, the opposite happens when the temperature falls. When combined with day length, temperature also affects the change of plants from their vegetative (leafy) state to their reproductive (flowering) state. Depending on the situation and the specific plant, the effect of temperature can either speed up or slow down this transition between states.
The first factor on our list is temperature.
Like all living things, plants are greatly affected by temperature. We know that temperatures too high or low are detrimental to health and growth). But there’s more to it than that.
Warmth means faster plant growth
Generally speaking, warmer temperatures are conducive to faster growth.
The primary reason is metabolic processes occur faster at higher temperatures. This includes life-preserving processes such as photosynthesis and respiration.
The germination and flowering phases, in particular, are most affected by the increased temperature. These phases also happen to take a fair bit of time, so increasing the rate at which they occur has a considerable effect on the overall growth of plants.
Germination tends to require a higher temperature to be successfull. This is one of the reasons it is best to wait until after the cooler months to plant seeds.
If the soil temperature is too low, germination might take many times as long as it would have under normal conditions. Either that or the seed might not germinate at all.
Higher temperatures encourage plants to transition into their flowering stage sooner.
Not only does higher temperature increase the overall growth, but it also influences the size of plants. Plants grown in temperatures higher than they’re used to, but not so high that they would incur damage, tend to grow larger and take up more space.
They do this to improve their ability to dissipate heat and alleviate heat stress.
Unfortunately, higher temperatures are not all positive. More heat means increased water loss from the plant body due to transpiration and from the soil due to evaporation. That means you’ll have to water the plants more frequently, and the risk of dehydration will be more of a concern.
Higher temperatures also couple poorly with intense sunlight.
Lower Temperature stunts plant growth
Lower temperatures, on the other hand, decrease growth rates and are really only a good thing for plants undergoing dormancy. Sub-zero temperatures, also known as frosts, are life-threatening to grown plants. They typically occur during winter nights.
When water freezes inside the internals of a plant, it forms sharp crystals. These crystals tear open cell walls and plant linings, causing irreparable damage. If your region is frequently plagued by frosts, you must take protective measures to ensure the safety of your plants.
Damage caused by frost is irreversible, and you’ll have to deadhead the affected portion.
Air Quality
Researchers found that reducing global levels of nitrogen oxides – one of the most common pollutants found in both car exhaust and industrial emissions – could increase the growth of winter crops around the world by as much as 25% in China and 10% across Western Europe.
This exemplifies how much air quality affects plant growth. Nitrogen gases in the ozone layer absorb sunlight, effectively diverting it away from plant life. Countries with better air quality see more plentiful plant growth against countries that score low on the air quality index (AQI), such as Thailand and parts of India.
The direct impact of air quality on plant growth
Air pollution injuries to plants are often visible to the naked eye. Injury to a plant’s foliage may be visible even after a short time and appear as dead tissue, or it can develop as a slow yellowing or chlorosis of the leaves.
Frequently in areas with poor air quality, there is also a reduction in the growth of various portions of a plant, leading to plants that look unhealthy or malnourished.
Humidity
Humidity impacts plant growth by limiting the amount of water they can evaporate through their leaves.
For example, if the humidity level–whether it be indoors or outdoors–is too high, plants cannot get rid of the water vapour that has collected in their leaves, which negatively influences their growth because the plants’ roots are now unable to take on new nutrients.
This is why in areas with high humidity, drought-resistant plants like succulents thrive thanks to having to take in very little water, which makes vapour evaporation not a concern.
Most plants grow best with relative humidity of over 50%. Although many plants will tolerate lower levels, only those native to arid regions–like the succulents mentioned above–can safely tolerate humidity levels below 25%.
The negative ramifications of high humidity on plant growth
Humid air directly contributes to plant health problems such as root diseases, dehydration, plant stress, and loss of quality leaves.
In commercial gardens, pesticides are often needed for disease control in more humid areas due to the higher rate of insects. As a result, plants in these areas tend to have a weak, drooping appearance. On the other hand, areas with low humidity often see the speed of plant growth slowed significantly, with sudden cold snaps or humidity drops stunting seasonal growth patterns.
To raise the humidity level for indoor plants, easy solutions are to use a humidifier, a spray bottle or plant mister, and keep plants close together. During seasons when you see your plants suffering in the high humidity, you can balance out their conditions by using a fan, dehumidifier, or air conditioning in their immediate area.
Fertilisers
Last but not least, what makes plants grow faster than they would if left alone? Fertiliser must be on the list of the most important factors for plant growth.
Fertilisers are additional substances fed to plants to increase their growth rate. They commonly contain essential nutrients required by plants, including, but not limited to, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
The advantages of using fertilisers are, they;
- Are easy to transport, store, and add to your garden.
- Make it simple to feed a specific nutrient.
- Are water-soluble and can easily dissolve in the soil.
- Begin working immediately.
- Are predictable and reliable in terms of their results.
In essence, fertilisers help restore soil back to its full fertility, making it easier to grow lush plants.
Nutrients for Plant Growth
Plants need macronutrients and micronutrients to thrive. You may already be familiar with the three big macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – commonly abbreviated as NPK. However, plants also need calcium, magnesium, and sulphur in considerable quantities.
Deficiencies in these macronutrients have varying effects, but a common symptom is stunted growth. Out of these deficiencies, a lack of Nitrogen is the most common.
Plants also need other macronutrients, such as Iron, Boron, and Zinc, but in lesser quantities. These nutrients usually take care of themselves, but you may run into a deficiency from time to time.
Test soil nutrient levels
You may also see nutrient imbalances in the soil. In either case, imbalances and deficiencies are detrimental to your plants’ long-term well-being and must be dealt with promptly.
Testing for soil nutrient levels involves soil analysis. Here’s a practical demonstration.
Fortunately, fertilisers containing macronutrients and micronutrients are readily available in online and offline markets. You can use organic fertilisers such as homemade compost too.
Applying a layer of mulch to the base of the plant is a great way to provide slow-releasing nutrients and keep the soil moist.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, keeping these key elements in mind will help you achieve the vibrant garden of your dreams.
So go forth and cultivate your green oasis, knowing that you have the knowledge to make it flourish. And remember, a balanced approach is key to success: don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you and your plants.
FAQs
What role does light play in plant growth?
Light plays a crucial role in plant growth as it is the source of energy for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce their food. Optimal growth occurs when plants receive the right amount of light, not too much or too little for the species.
What is the ideal soil type for plant growth?
The ideal soil for plant growth is one that is rich in nutrients and has the correct pH level for the type of plant you are growing. A well-draining soil is also important to prevent over-watering and root rot.
How often should I water my plants?
The frequency of watering will depend on several factors, including the type of plant, the size of the pot (if it is potted), the soil type, and the temperature and humidity in your area. As a rule, it’s better to under-water than over-water, as too much water can lead to root rot.
What is the optimal temperature range for plant growth?
The optimal temperature range for plant growth will depend on the type of plant you are growing. Some plants thrive in warm temperatures, while others prefer cooler conditions. It’s important to research the specific needs of your plants to ensure they are in the optimal temperature range for growth.
What is the role of fertilisers in plant growth?
Fertilisers play an important role in plant growth by providing essential nutrients that are not available in sufficient quantities in the soil. Different types of plants require different types of fertilisers, and it’s important to use them in moderation to avoid over-fertilisation, which can have a negative impact on plant growth.
What makes plants grow faster?
In addition to the requirements listed above, what helps plants grow faster may surprise you. Talking to them. In a month-long study, the Royal Horticultural Society recorded 10 people reading to their tomato plants. Each recording was played through a set of headphones that was attached to each tomato plant’s pot. At the end of the month, the plants that had been attached to female voices grew an average of one inch taller than those attached to a male voice. The winning tomato grew approximately two inches taller than the rest.
What are the best types of fertilisers for plant growth?
There are two types of fertilisers for plant growth. Organic (made from plant or animal derivatives) or inorganic (synthetic). There is no one best fertiliser for plant growth. Researching a specific plant’s soil needs will guide you towards the right fertiliser for a unique garden.
What are common mistakes when planting?
Setting too high of a gardening goal is a common mistake when planting, especially if it’s your first time. Remember that it will take time to become well-versed in all the requirements of specific plants.
