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**media type="youtube" key="FLVMHcokVNs" height="237" width="392" align="right" How does water help plants live? **
When precipitation falls to the ground, it is absorbed into the soil. The water in the soil is then absorbed into the root hairs of a plant. The plant takes the water up its roots and up the xylem which is one of the vascular channels. It eventually goes into the leaves and performs photosynthesis which is a food making process for the plant. The phloem which is the second vascular channel brings the food made down into the roots for plant growth. When there is too much water in the leaves, it is released through the stomates. Once it’s out of the plant, it is evaporated back up into the air. If there is a shortage of water in the plant, the stomates will shut for good to keep in the little water that they have. The plant's photosynthis will stop. The plant then wilts, and dies. Turgor pressure is also a big part of keeping a plant alive. It is a force from the cell organelles towards the cell wall. It helps keep the plant upright, but a downside is its possiblility of bursting of a cell. ====** What other things are required for plants to live? **====

Water for absorbing nutrients from the soil: You need water for any creature to live, so plants obviously will need water. Plants absorb nutrients and water through the soil, and without them a plant will wilt. (see above) Sunlight/ carbon dioxide for photosynthisis: Sunlight is another essential factor to plant growth. Without any sun or light, the plant will stop photosynthisis, which is a system where the plant makes food. Photosynthisis feeds the plant. If stomates (tiny openings in the leaf to let in sun) close to conserve water, the sunlight will be unable to reach the plant. If the plant doesn't have food, it dies. Rich fertile soil/nitrogin for the plant to be grown in: Like I said about water, plants absorb nutrients through the soil. Roots grow in soil, and soil accumulates water that plants need to survive. Plants also need nitrogen, and they get this from soil. One of the most essential elements to plant survival, however, is phosphorus. Phosphorus, like nitrogen, is abosrbed through the roots in the soil. Every living thing needs phosphorus. It makes plants grow rapidly, helps plants absorb nutrients, aids photosynthasis, helps flowers bloom, and turns sunlight and nitrogen into food.

Everything seems to relate back to water, and the all important phosphorus. Check out some of our clips to see some plant life....

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