Today 🧒
Child: Why don’t plants move?
Plants don’t move like animals because they don’t have muscles or legs. Instead, they stay in one place and grow toward sunlight and water.
Child: How do plants grow toward sunlight then?
Plants use something called phototropism. They sense light and grow their stems and leaves toward it to get more energy.
Child: What happens inside the plant to make it grow that way?
Inside, plants make special chemicals called hormones. These hormones tell the cells on the darker side to grow longer, so the plant bends toward the light.
Child: So if they can’t move, what happens if the sunlight moves during the day?
The plant slowly changes direction as the sunlight moves. It keeps bending toward the light so it can catch as much as possible all day long.
Child: How do we know plants really do this and it’s not just us imagining it?
Scientists did experiments where they blocked light from one side of a plant. The plant bent away from the dark side toward the light. That’s how they saw phototropism in action.
Child: How long does it take for a plant to bend toward light?
It usually takes several hours or even a day for plants to bend noticeably. They grow slowly but steadily toward the light.
Child: I thought plants just grew straight up, not bent. Is that wrong?
Good question! Plants usually grow upward because of gravity too, which is called gravitropism. But light can make them bend sideways, so they don’t just go straight up.
Child: Is that like when I stretch toward the window in my room?
Exactly! Just like you reach for light when you’re near a window, plants grow toward light to get the energy they need to live and grow.
Child: Can I try to see phototropism at home with a plant?
Yes! Put a plant near a window but cover one side with a box or paper. Check it every day to see if it starts bending toward the light.
Child: Why is it cool that plants move like that even if they don’t walk?
It’s cool because plants find ways to live and grow without moving fast. They slowly reach for what they need. Keep asking questions like this, and you’ll discover even more amazing things!