Plants Are More Aware Than We Realize

by Kathy Doss

Have you ever looked at a drooping leaf and felt like it was crying out for water? It probably was, we just weren't tuned into the right frequency.

Recent scientific breakthroughs have revealed that plants aren't the silent observers we once thought. When stressed by thirst or physical damage, plants emit actual sound waves. These ultrasonic "clicks" or "pops" resemble the sound of tiny bubble wrap being popped. While these sounds are too high-pitched for the human ear, specialized equipment can pick them up clearly. A healthy plant remains mostly quiet, but a dehydrated or injured plant can emit 30 to 50 pops per hour. Researchers believe these sounds originate in the xylem, the internal tubes that transport water. When a plant is stressed, air bubbles form and burst within these tubes, creating popping sounds. Click here to hear the plant talking.

Scientists aren't just listening; they are learning to translate. By using artificial intelligence to analyze these sound patterns, researchers can now determine with 70 to 90 percent accuracy whether a plant is suffering from dehydration or physical injury. This discovery has massive implications for the future of gardening. Gardeners could one day use sensors to "listen" to their plants and provide water only when the plants signal a need. Furthermore, because many insects can hear these ultrasonic sounds and often avoid laying eggs on stressed plants, scientists are exploring whether artificially mimicking these sounds could act as a natural, chemical-free form of pest control.

Awareness goes both ways, and evidence suggests that plants are just as good at "hearing" their environment as they are at speaking to it. In experiments where water was enclosed in a pipe, hidden from sight and touch, plant roots still grew toward the sound of the flow.

Plants can even distinguish between different types of sounds. When played a recording of a caterpillar chewing, plants increase their production of chemical toxins, yet they remain "calm" when exposed to vibrations from the wind. Even the specific sound of a buzzing bee can stimulate a flower to release its pollen, ensuring a more efficient reproductive cycle.

This research is a powerful reminder that plants are highly active and communicative. Eventually, we may be able to grow healthier plants using technology that listens to them and interprets their language. In the meantime, it won't hurt to talk to your plants. They just may be listening.

Are you interested in horticulture, gardening, and networking with other volunteers in the community? If so, begin the new year with the goal of becoming a Tennessee Extension Master Gardener in Robertson County!

Training will begin on Tuesday, January 27. Weekly sessions will continue through the end of April. Day and evening sessions are available.

To learn more about the Master Gardener Program, visit the state website here. For more information on the training or how to register, please contact Bob Ary at bobary@utk.edu.

These cold weeks while your garden is fast asleep are the perfect time to reevaluate and plan for the upcoming growing season. Perhaps you would like to rework a previous plan that didn't turn out so well, or maybe it's time to implement a new design that you've been putting off. Whatever your goals, make them achievable by planning out enjoyable outdoor spaces using UTIA's Publication W869. This guide will help you evaluate your wants and needs, including creating a map that will see your plan through to execution. Download your copy here.

As you're designing your plan for beautiful and functional outdoor spaces, don't forget to include lots of native plants! Natives are always a smart choice as they are perfectly suited for our area, which means low to no maintenance, hardiness, and important benefits for native wildlife. You can use this site from Tennessee Smart Yards to learn more about native species and strategies for integrating them into your spaces. You can also use their helpful tools to learn more about specific native categories (flowers, grasses, ferns, trees, etc.), find resources for local sourcing, and look up important definitions.