plant kindness experiment

IKEA’s Bully A Plant Project Is Proof: Positivity Alters Our Physical World

While plants may not have feelings, they still respond to their environment by sending signals to other plants about impending danger. They also can sense water, light, and gravity, and have complex sensory systems that can pick up on changes in their surroundings. Some people believe that plants are aware of their environment that they actually grow better when humans speak kind and supportive words to them.

Due to the rise in bullying around the world, IKEA’s UAE division wanted to test this theory with two of their own plants. They brought two of their Dracaena plants to a school. Next, they instructed school children to speak kindly to one plant and “bully” the other one. IKEA partnered with ad agency Memac Ogilvy to create an inspirational marketing video about the bully a plant experiment . Then, they asked children to help with video recordings to play on a loop for 30 days to the plants.

The company hoped to raise awareness on the harmful effects of bullying, because if it can cause a plant to suffer, these hateful words can hurt humans, too. In the Middle East, May 4th is Anti-Bullying Day. So IKEA wanted to get involved and show how much damage bullying can inflict on someone’s life. Below, we’ll go over some facts and statistics about bullying and what you can do to stop it if you or someone you know is a victim.

Facts about Bullying (people or a plant!)

First off, due to the advent of the Internet, cyberbullying is on the rise as well as in-person bullying. It seems much easier to bully people while sitting behind your computer typing on a keyboard, but this is what makes it so insidious. Rumors can spread much easier over social media platforms, and this can end up damaging the victim’s reputation for life.

Been Bullied

Been cyberbullied, frequency of bullying, types of bullying, how often adult notified.

While rare, some cases of bullying may even lead to suicide if an adult doesn’t intervene. Research shows that bullying can worsen feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, rejection and despair, and these feelings can lead to suicide in some cases.

Risk Factors:

How to prevent bullying, how kindness can impact others (and not just plants).

A recent study reported on how people felt after either performing or observing acts of kindness for one week. Researchers instructed the participants to carry out at least one more generous act than normal for a close friend or relative, an acquaintance or stranger, or themselves, or try to observe kind acts. They asked participants about their levels of happiness before and after the study period. They found that everyone in the study who either performed acts of kindness for someone or observed a person being kind to others reported greater feelings of happiness.

Here are some ideas on how you can make a difference in someone’s life:

Final thoughts on the “bully a plant” experiment.

Bullying is still a widespread problem in many schools throughout the world. As you can see in the bully a plant experiment, unkind words can do a lot of damage. Bullying happens mostly in middle schools, and only 20-30% of students tell an adult if they’ve been bullied. So, most of the problem goes unheard, which means we should stand up for those who have remained silent. If you witness bullying, either get involved to stop it or tell a trusted adult.

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Children Were Asked To "Bully" One Plant, While Being Kind To Another. Here's What Happened To The Plants

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IKEA / YouTube

An experiment by furniture company IKEA has gone viral over the last week.

They asked a group of school children to "bully" one plant while being kind to another, and took recordings of the children's insults. It's not clear precisely what they said to the plant, but think along the lines of "you little leafy bastard" or "you thicko photosynthesizing green-stemmed twat".

One real recording used, perhaps the most cutting of all, asks the plant "are you even really alive?" and another said, "you're not even green".

For the other plant, they recorded compliments, like "I like your stamen, that's a nice stamen" or "I wish I could turn sunlight into food like you can, that's very clever".

Over the course of a month, these insults or compliments were then played to the plants. 

At the end of the month, the plant that had been played hurtful things like "even vegans think it's fine to eat you, you emotionless little green wanker" looked different from the complimented plant. The bullied plant had wilted, while the complimented plant was healthy.

The Internet seems to have taken this as confirmation that plants can hear what's being said, and get sad and even die when you aren't nice to them.

IKEA haven't exactly been helpful in dispelling this idea.

"Plants have feelings, just like people," they write on their YouTube video. "So, what happens when you feed one plant with compliments and another with negative remarks?"

In the background of the experiment, a sign says "plants have the same senses as humans", which sounds like bullshit until you read the note underneath saying "based on a study by Dr Masaru Emoto on the molecular structure of water under influence of thoughts and vibrations", which absolutely confirms it as bullshit. Emoto's studies were pseudoscientific at best, and claimed, amongst other things, that prayer could cleanse polluted water.

So, what does  the experiment actually prove? Basically nothing.

It might be a fun way to teach children about bullying and a good ad, but it certainly doesn't have any science to back it up. Calling a plant a "good for nothing pollen-creating shit" has not been proven to cause it to wilt. This would take a much larger, controlled experiment than IKEA, we suspect, are willing to conduct.

However, there is evidence that plants react to sounds (or vibrations), and they have even been shown to pollinate in reaction to bee buzzing .

“Sound vibrations could trigger a response of the plant via mechanoreceptor," Michael Schöner, a biologist at the University of Greifswald, told Scientific American . "These could be very fine, hairy structures, anything that could work like a membrane."

There is no evidence to date that plants know when they're being called a dick, that they understand what it means, or that it would cause them to die. We'd hazard a guess that there will never be evidence for this.

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The Power Of Kind Words: Speaking To Plants Experiment

Plants have always held a special place in our lives. Whether it’s the lush greenery in our gardens or the potted plants scattered throughout our homes, plants bring life and beauty to our surroundings. But what if there was more to our connection with plants than just aesthetics? Recent studies have shown that the way we speak to plants can have a profound impact on their growth and overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of the speaking kindly to plants experiment and uncover the power of positive verbal communication.

The Importance of Speaking Kindly to Plants

Humans and plants share a deep connection that goes beyond the scientific understanding of photosynthesis and oxygen exchange. Plants respond to their environment, including the sounds and vibrations around them. When we speak kindly to plants, we are not only expressing our care and appreciation but also creating an environment of positivity and support.

Research has shown that plants exposed to positive language exhibit faster growth rates and overall better health. This phenomenon can be attributed to the vibrations and energy we emit through our words, as well as the psychological effect of positive verbal interaction.

By speaking kindly to plants, we are cultivating mindfulness and empathy. It encourages us to slow down, pay attention to the needs of another living being, and develop a greater sense of connectedness with nature.

Setting up the Speaking Kindly to Plants Experiment

Before diving into the experiment, it’s crucial to establish a controlled environment to ensure accurate results. Choose a selection of plants that are similar in size, species, and health. Providing them with identical conditions such as light, temperature, and watering schedule creates a fair comparison.

Additionally, it’s essential to establish a baseline for comparison. This can be done by selecting a control group of plants that will not be exposed to positive language. It allows us to measure the impact of speaking kindly on plant growth and health.

The Methodology of the Experiment

Once the setup is in place, it’s time to begin the speaking kindly to plants experiment. Interact with the plants on a daily basis, using positive statements and words of encouragement. The frequency and duration of these interactions can vary, but consistency is key.

When speaking to plants, use phrases such as “You are growing beautifully,” “I appreciate your presence,” or even simple expressions of love and gratitude. These positive statements can create a nurturing environment and positively influence the plants’ growth.

Monitor the plants closely throughout the experiment, observing any changes in growth patterns or overall plant vitality. Keep a record of the plants’ progress and take note of any noticeable differences between the control group and the plants exposed to positive language.

Results and Findings

The speaking kindly to plants experiment has shown promising results, highlighting the positive effects of positive verbal communication on plant health. Plants that were spoken to regularly exhibited increased growth rates and enhanced overall vitality compared to the control group.

Comparisons between the two groups revealed stark differences in growth and appearance. The plants exposed to positive language showed more vibrant colors, fuller foliage, and stronger stems. These findings suggest that speaking kindly to plants can significantly impact their physical well-being.

While the results are fascinating, it’s important to acknowledge the potential influence of other factors. Vibrations and energy emitted through speech, carbon dioxide levels from human breath, and heightened care and attention given to the spoken-to plants could contribute to the observed effects.

Possible Explanations and Theories

Scientists and researchers have proposed several explanations for the impact of speaking kindly to plants. One theory suggests that the vibrations and energy transmitted through our words resonate with the plants, stimulating their growth and overall health.

Another theory revolves around the carbon dioxide levels released during speaking. As humans exhale carbon dioxide, the plants may benefit from the additional supply, enhancing their growth. Additionally, the psychological aspect of positive verbal interaction may play a role in promoting a nurturing environment and encouraging plant growth.

Implications and Applications

The speaking kindly to plants experiment has broader implications for our relationship with nature. By understanding the power of positive communication, we can enhance the connection between humans and plants, fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Furthermore, incorporating plant communication into mindfulness practices can be a powerful tool for personal growth and stress reduction. Taking the time to speak kindly to our plants allows us to cultivate mindfulness, empathy, and a sense of interconnectedness with the environment around us.

Finally, this experiment highlights the importance of promoting positive environmental attitudes and behaviors. By valuing and respecting all living beings, we can contribute to a sustainable future and take active steps towards preserving our planet.

The speaking kindly to plants experiment emphasizes the profound impact of positive verbal communication on plant growth and well-being. By speaking kindly to our green companions, we not only nurture their physical health but also foster a sense of mindfulness and empathy within ourselves. This experiment reminds us of the interconnectedness between humans and nature and encourages us to treat all living beings with kindness and respect.

– Insert your list of references here

Matt Gallagher

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The Power of Words: A Middle School Experiment on Plant Growth

Words have incredible power – they can build up, tear down, heal, and hurt. At Centner Academy, we believe in the importance of cultivating a kind and encouraging environment, not just for the benefit of our students, but for all living things. That’s why our middle school students are conducting a fascinating experiment on the impact of words on plant growth and health.

The experiment involves two identical plants, but with one crucial difference: one plant will be spoken to with kind and encouraging words, while the other will be subjected to negative and discouraging words. Although plants don’t have ears to hear, they are highly sensitive to the vibrations and frequencies in their environment, including sound.

This experiment aims to raise awareness of the profound impact our words can have, not just on our fellow humans but on all living things. We want to demonstrate the importance of kindness, positivity, and respect for the world around us.

The results of this experiment could have significant implications, not just for our school community but for the wider world. We invite you to follow along with our progress and see for yourself the power of words in action.

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Plant Experiment: Words And Growth

Words have power. They encourage, heal, comfort, criticize, hurt; it all depends whether you choose to use them for good or evil. They affect adults, children, and plants alike. This week on You Had Me At Gardening we explore how plants react when exposed to different types of rhetoric, more specifically how plant growth is affected. For that reason, we chose the famous speech I have a dream of Martin Luther King and a speech by Adolf Hitler. We conducted the plant experiment using bean seeds as they’re known to grow quickly.

What inspired us to try this out?

There are some interesting studies out there that explored the possibility of sound affecting plant growth and health, and carrying out our own experiment was definitely exciting!

Now although plants don’t have an organ to recognize air vibrations (like eardrums in humans), previous studies indicate that plants are highly sensitive to the sounds in their environment.

For instance, a South Korean study published in 2018 explained that plants show reactions to sound stimuli. For example, we have the sounds of buzzing insects. Depending on the type of sound they produce, plants identify the insects as either threats or friends. Certain frequencies of bee buzzing will make plants release pollen from their anthers, thus facilitating pollination.

On the other hand, sounds of insect chewing trigger the release of defense related chemicals. The authors also found that sound treatment altered the level of growth hormones, and therefore, sound could be used to enhance plant growth, while also increasing plant resistance against external stress. The article gave examples of plant growth that was improved by sound treatment in crops such as rice, wheat, tomato, lettuce and spinach.

They also discovered that if the proper frequency and decibels are picked according to crop species, a sound wave treatment could help delay fruit ripening. This would make fruit last longer and seems a better alternative to genetic modification or chemical preservatives.

Another study from 2010 conducted in China focused on the Influence of Sound Wave Stimulation on the Growth of Strawberry in Sunlight Greenhouse . The authors found that the group exposed to sounds had a denser leaf area at the beginning of the growing season, squaring period and fruiting stage. Also, the strawberry that received the sound treatment was stronger and became more resistant to disease and pests.

We took all these findings into consideration when we decided to conduct our own experiment.

Another interesting experiment related to discourse and how words can influence plant health comes from IKEA . They conducted their own experiment last year, in a school in the Middle East, where they placed two plants. The plants received the same treatment in terms of water, light and fertilizer. But for 30 days the first plant was exposed to words of encouragement and kind comments, while the second one received only criticism and harsh remarks. At the end, the states of the two were compared.

After 30 days there was a clear difference in the plants’ wellbeing. The one that received compliments was thriving, while the one that received criticism showed signs of struggling and had droopy brown leaves. The results spoke for themselves.

Why did IKEA conduct its experiment in a school? It was an attempt to raise awareness on the issue of bullying and the negative effects it has on children and people in general. School bullying statistics show that in the US alone, one out of four children is bullied. And the most pervasive type is verbal bullying, that affects 77% of all students, with 14% showing signs of low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

The takeaway?

Words have power and they affect all living beings, be they humans or plants. It’s up to us to choose the right ones.

Our experiment

We also wanted to investigate how plants are affected by sounds and (negative) words. But instead of speaking to our plants for the experiment, we went for audio recordings of 2 very famous people:

• Martin Luther King – “I have a Dream” speech.
• Adolf Hitler – a public speech from the 1930s at Festplatz, Tempelhof, Nr Berlin.

Before we go any further with details of the experiment, we first need to analyze and compare the 2 speeches.

King and Hitler both tried to persuade others and talked about racial segregation, but their political views were very different. They both spoke according to their own motives, talking about goals, desires, and stirring people to act in a direction or the other.

According to the motives of each, the person’s discourse is seen as either positive or negative. We can consider a discourse positive if the orator encourages peacemaking actions, while a negative discourse includes intentions to instigate anger, resentment, hostility or conflict.

King’s discourse focused on unity and bringing together the people of the world. He advocated for peace, not war. He called for justice, freedom and equality among people, all by using peaceful means. He wanted change for the people, but not through violence. He tried to establish common ground with his audience through emotional appeal to their needs and values.

On the other hand, Hitler’s discourse focused on the achievements made together with the people and him as a leader, trying to express the unity of the German people. In most of his speeches he encouraged racial segregation by advocating for the belief that only people with Aryan blood should live together. Due to perhaps his experience in the military, his words were more direct, and he didn’t use a lot of metaphors when conveying his ideas.

Experiment materials and design

As mentioned before, we chose bean seeds for our experiments as they grow quickly. We used a total of 30 seeds, and we selected 3 groups for the experiment:

• One group was exposed to King’s speech
• One to Hitler’s
• The last one was the control group that was not exposed to any sounds.

Each group was given a total of ten seeds and in terms of light, water and soil, all seeds were given the same treatment.

Duration of experiment: 15 days Period: 19 August – 3 September Exposure to discourse: Daily from Monday to Friday, 3 full hours starting from 4:30 PM

Each group was given 2 pots, and each pot had an equal number of 5 seeds.

We diligently planted the seeds and exposed the treatment groups to their respective discourses for 3 hours from 4:30 PM.

No notable activity recorded yet in either group.

Continued to expose the two groups to their respective discourses.

We finally had sprouts!

So far, the control group was leading with 8 emerging sprouts, some slightly more visible than others. Following, we had 7 sprouts for the Hitler group, and 6 for the King group.

The control group had 8 stems growing steadily, the Hitler group had 7 plus one sprout slightly visible in the ground, and the King group had 7 tall stems plus 2 new sprouts emerging.

The control group had 9 stems of different heights. They all seemed sturdy and stood straight, with decent leaf density.

The Hitler group had 8 stems of relative similar heights and a new smaller growing sprout. Height was good, but 3 stems were tilting in different directions. Lack of good leaf density made them look a bit bare.

The King group had 10 stems of different heights. All of them looked sturdy and straight with good leaf density.

All the seeds in the group exposed to King’s discourse sprouted, while in the control group and the one exposed to Hitler’s discourse, nine out of ten seeds sprouted.

When it comes to height, we can clearly see that the group exposed to Hitler’s speech is shorter compared to the control group and the group exposed to King’s speech .

However, between the control group and the one exposed to King there is little to no difference.

All the groups exhibited good leaf density. The control group and the King group had more bent stems than the Hitler group, but then again, that might have been due to their height.

Plant experiment #2 - Hitler vs Martin Luther King

In brief, we did find evidence that n egative discourse intended to instigate resentment and hostility affects plant growth rate .

The effect on sprouting , however, is questionable. There were also no major differences in height between the control group and the one that was exposed to a positive discourse.

The study results were not as shocking as those in the Ikea experiment, but the difference in plant height might suggest that negativity expressed in words may directly influence plant growth rates .

What do you think? If you have conducted any such experiments yourself, we would love to hear about the outcome.

• Eliasson, Emma. “ THE POWER OF WORDS: An Analysis Based on Two Speeches, by Two Famous Orators. ” Halmstad University, 2013.
• Jung, Jihye, Seon-Kyu Kim, Joo Y. Kim, Mi-Jeong Jeong and Choong-Min Ryu. “ Beyond Chemical Triggers: Evidence for Sound-Evoked Physiological Reactions in Plants. ” Frontiers in Plant Science 9, no. 25 (2018): doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00025
• Qi, Lirong, Guanghui Teng, Tianzhen Hou, Baoying Zhu, and Xiaona Liu. “ Influence of Sound Wave Stimulation on the Growth of Strawberry in Sunlight Greenhouse .” International Federation for Information Processing 317 (2010): 449-454.

Hi! I’m Andreea. My interest in plants and gardening all started after I moved and got a little tree as a gift from a friend to decorate my new home. Taking care of the little one was new and exciting, and I soon started researching about how to create a good environment for plant growth, what plants go best indoors, and my collection started growing and growing.

4 thoughts on “ Plant Experiment: Words And Growth ”

What seeds did you use

Hello Nathan, thank you for your question! We used white beans in all three groups because they sprout fast and grow quite tall in a short amount of time. Hope this was helpful!

so my comment is about the plants and if they were to bare fruit , witch one would be better and i also wanted to know if you added a hostile place for the hitler group, and a really calm and welcomeing place for the king group. and if the plants were exposed to that for years. and i want to know how that would effect humans?.

Hi Z! Thank you for your question. The experiment was interested in the effects the two speeches have on the height and overall growth of the plants. By the growth rate, probably the control group and the positive group would have a better harvest, but you can try yourself and let us know too!

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All living things need kindness and care to survive.

We usually equate this need to humans and animals; however, a study conducted by IKEA tested if plants need kindness too.

The experiment took place at over thirty days at several schools in the United Arab Emirates. Each school received two leafy green IKEA plants: one that received compliments, and another that received insults. Both plants were given equal amounts of water and sunlight during the experiment.

The students recorded their own compliments and insults, which were replayed in the school hallways for one month.

“You look rotten,” “nobody likes you,” and “you’re not even green,” were a few insults. Compliments included, “seeing you blossom makes me happy,” and “you are beautiful.”

The Results

IKEA published a video on April 30, which showed the students recording themselves, the study’s results, and feedback from students and school faculty members.

At the end of the study, the plant that was insulted was wilted, and the one given compliments was still green and thriving.

The fact that the insulted plant didn’t grow was a happy coincidence; for plants to react to sounds, scientists say that they need to have sensory glands that we he have yet to discover.

The closest we’ve come to this is proving that plants react to vibration, which was determined in a study conducted by Hideyuki Takahashi in 1992. Takahashi tested vibrating sounds on cucumber and rice plants, and found that the vibrations helped the rice and cucumbers grow.

However, after the IKEA experiment, many of the children—along with some amazed viewers, felt the plant growth truly was impacted by words.

“If it affects a plant it can definitely affect other people,” said one of the study participants in the video.

The Kindness Mission

IKEA’s controversial study was not created to show that plants have emotions, but rather to advocate kindness in schools.

“At IKEA, we believe happiness is spread through how we treat each other,” the video stated.

This belief falls in line with the country’s recent initiatives, which include a happiness through giving organization and an anti-bullying app.

In 2016, the United Arab Emirates government launched “happiness is giving,” an organization that encourages kindness and positivity in children. The organization has launched many projects to help others. One involves reaching 1 million acts of giving each year through social media. Another, a retail initiative, encourages shoppers to donate to children in need.

Kindness and happiness are also needed in Dubai schools. According to a 2015 report by the Programme for International Student Assessment, more than one quarter of Dubai children were bullied in school that year. Just last year, the country announced efforts to incorporate toottoot , an app that children can use to report bullying incidents.

The IKEA study, which has already reached schools across the country, is already helping bring kindness to Dubai, according to Vinod Jaya, managing director of IKEA UAE.

“It has helped children and their families understand the impact that words can have,” he said .

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23 Plant Experiment Ideas

ThoughtCo / Hilary Allison

• Cell Biology
• Weather & Climate
• B.A., Biology, Emory University
• A.S., Nursing, Chattahoochee Technical College

Plants are tremendously crucial to life on Earth. They are the foundation of food chains in almost every ecosystem. Plants also play a significant role in the environment by influencing climate and producing life-giving oxygen.

Plant experiments and studies allow us to learn about plant biology and its potential usage for plants in other fields such as medicine , agriculture , and biotechnology . The following plant experiment ideas provide suggestions for topics to be explored.

Plant Experiment Ideas

• Do magnetic fields affect plant growth?
• Do different colors of light affect the direction of plant growth?
• Do sounds (music, noise, etc.) affect plant growth?
• Do different colors of light affect the rate of photosynthesis ?
• What are the effects of acid rain on plant growth?
• Do household detergents affect plant growth?
• Can plants conduct electricity ?
• Does cigarette smoke affect plant growth?
• Does soil temperature affect root growth?
• Does caffeine affect plant growth?
• Does water salinity affect plant growth?
• Does artificial gravity affect seed germination?
• Does freezing affect seed germination?
• Does burned soil affect seed germination?
• Does seed size affect plant height?
• Does fruit size affect the number of seeds in the fruit?
• Do vitamins or fertilizers promote plant growth?
• Do fertilizers extend plant life during a drought ?
• Does leaf size affect plant transpiration rates?
• Can plant spices inhibit bacterial growth ?
• Do different types of artificial light affect plant growth?
• Does soil pH affect plant growth?
• Do carnivorous plants prefer certain insects?
• Guide to the 6 Kingdoms of Life
• Phases of the Bacterial Growth Curve
• Gram Positive vs. Gram Negative Bacteria
• Animal Studies and School Project Ideas
• Angiosperms
• 10 Facts About Pollen
• Nematoda: Roundworms
• Is Spontaneous Generation Real?
• Parts of a Flowering Plant
• 5 Tricks Plants Use to Lure Pollinators
• Carnivorous Plants
• Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships
• The Photosynthesis Formula: Turning Sunlight into Energy
• All About Photosynthetic Organisms
• Protista Kingdom of Life
• Common Animal Questions and Answers

• Planet Earth
• Strange News

Plants Talk: Seedlings Thrive with Encouraging ‘Words’

Table of Contents:

Does Talking to Plants Help Them Grow? . Today’s Wonder of the Day might lead to some interesting conversations in your garden!

• Wonder What’s Next?
• Wonder Sources
• Did you get it?

Have you ever helped a friend or family member plant a garden? Maybe you’ve picked a flower for a special friend as a simple gesture to show them how much you care about them? If you’ve ever worked with live flowers or plants, you know that they require special care to survive and thrive. For example, plants need a foundation of good soil to support and nourish their roots. They also need sunlight so that their cells can produce food via photosynthesis. Plants won’t do well unless they have a sufficient supply of water, too. Occasionally, plants will require special minerals that can be provided by applying a fertilizer to the plant’s roots. If you’ve satisfied all of these basic needs but a plant is still struggling, there’s one more thing you could try: a kind word. Many people believe that talking to plants helps them to grow, and they may just be right! The idea that talking to plants helps them to grow is not a modern notion. Experts believe this theory probably dates back to a book from 1848, in which German professor Gustav Fechner suggested plants might be capable of feeling human-like emotions.

Video advice: Music for Plants – Music Stimulation for PLANT HEALTH – Brainwave Entrainment

◢ Using binaural beats and isochronic tones that flow up and down 0.5Hz to 7.83Hz, these are associated with good vibrations, offers balance and stress relief, relaxation, stimulations for growth, peace and tranquility and harmony. The soothing music combined with the brainwave entrainments was created for your plants, your home and yourself, to achieve the essences of being calm and in touch with the energies all around. The carrier frequency used is of the Sun, which promotes light, warmth, and centering. May this music bring you closer to nature. Useful for daily meditations and relaxation, and listen through stereo speakers.

Does Talking to Plants Really Make Them Grow?

In studies performed by the Royal Horticultural Society and others, researchers have found that talking to plants really can help them grow faster.

Asked about her plant’s favorable response to her voice and selection, Sarah Darwin commented, “I’m not sure if it’s my dulcet tones or the text that I read from On the Origin of Species (her ancestor’s seminal work) that made the plant sit up and listen, but either way I think it is great fun and I’m proud of my new title. “

The TV show “Mythbusters” conducted a study in which 60 pea plants were divided among three greenhouses. In one greenhouse they played recordings of humans saying nice things to the plants. In another, recordings sounded insults at the plants. The third greenhouse was silent, with no recordings played. After two months, the pea plants showed greater—but roughly equal—growth in the two greenhouses with the recordings, and they showed the least growth in the control greenhouse with no sound.

32 Inspirational Gardening Quotes

If you feel unmotivated to start gardening this year, read these quotes. They will make you laugh, smile, think — and want to get your hands dirty again.

Michael Pollan: The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world.

I’m not much of a gardener, but I definitely want to learn more. Last year was the first time in many years that I really went for it in a couple small plots. I was pleased as punch that some of what I planted actually grew! Of course, there were some failures too. But overall, my experience made me excited to try gardening again this year. However, it is a bit of work, so I found the following quotes inspiring, funny, and thought-provoking — just what I needed for more motivation.

‘They respond to vibrations’: does talking to plants actually help them grow?

After a year at home with her orchid, Seetha Dodd was rewarded with a large spray of blooms. Could her words of encouragement have played a part?

There is an orchid plant that lives on my kitchen windowsill. For the first two years in my care, she produced two flowers a year. When it comes to house plants, I am more brown- than green-thumbed, so this performance exceeded my expectations. I put it down to sheer luck (mine) and some serious willpower (the orchid’s). I was grateful for this two-flower miracle that survived despite my lack of gardening knowhow. But last year was an anomaly. Like many of us, I spent many iso hours cooking, baking, singing and talking in the kitchen. This meant my orchid was the recipient of an exponential amount of companionship and attention. She responded by producing 13 glorious flowers between May and October. I hadn’t upskilled, I was just there more, I noticed her more, and yes, I may have directed some conversation her way. But did her blossoming really have anything to do with my presence? Had she been responding to my voice? After years of producing only one or two flowers, in 2020 Seetha Dodd’s orchid managed 13 blooms.

Chili plant seedlings isolated from chemical, touch and light-transmitted signals can “talk” by sound with a friendly basil, speeding their growth.

Even in the plant world, babies fail to thrive without a friendly community chattering nearby, according to a new study. The research cements anecdotal gardening knowledge, confirming that chili plants flourish if planted near basil. But in this case, chili seedlings were isolated from chemical, touch and light-transmitted signals from an adult basil plant. Only sound from plants could have reached the chilies, the study, published May 7 in the journal BMC Ecology, concluded. “Our results show that plants are able to positively influence growth of seeds by some as yet unknown mechanism. We believe that the answer may involve acoustic signals generated using nanomechanical oscillations from inside the cell, which allow rapid communication between nearby plants,” lead study author Monica Gagliano, a researcher at the University of Western Australia, said in a statement. The research adds to growing evidence that plants “talk” via sound. Gagliano already has shown that fennel, which transmits nasty chemicals to curb competing plants, also shuts down seedling growth when its chemical signaling is cut off via a sealed box.

Bizarre experiment shows how talking to plants can see them thrive

Students in Dubai were asked to speak in very different ways to two identical plants for 30 days. While one plant was showered with compliments, the other heard an abusive voice.

Can plants really get upset? Bizarre experiment sees students ‘BULLYING’ one flower and praising another – and the difference between the two after 30 days is astonishing (but could it all be a hoax?) – When Prince Charles once admitted that he likes to talk to his plants to help them grow, the comments were met with derision. However, the green-fingered royal might actually be right if the results of a new experiment are to be believed. Furniture goliath Ikea asked a group of school children to talk to two plants in very different ways; one nicely and one with a slew of bullying, hateful comments. . . and the results may leave you wondering if the world’s gone mad. Scroll down for video Two of the students involved in the project at the GEMS Wellington Academy at the Silicon Oasis school in Dubai listen to the sweet nothings being piped into the plant’s box ‘You, you’re nothing more than a little green weed!’ One of the plants in the experiment was subjected to taunts throughout the 30-day experimentFor 30 days, two plants, kept in identical conditions with the same amount of light, water and fertilizer, were displayed at the school in Dubai. Children were encouraged to record both negative and positive comments including playground taunts.

Probing Question: Does talking to plants help them grow?

pIn a 1986 interview, England’s Prince Charles discussed his gardening habits, commenting “I just come and talk to the plants, really. Very important to talk to them; they respond.”/p.

As to another popular theory, that plants respond to the carbon dioxide produced by human speech, Marini isn’t buying it. Carbon dioxide levels do influence the rate of plant photosynthesis, he explains, but “people would have to speak to their plants for at least several hours a day to enhance photosynthesis enough to influence plant growth. “

“There isn’t a lot of research in this area,” says Rich Marini, head of Penn State’s horticulture department, “But there is evidence that plants respond to sound. ” In fact, plants react readily to a host of environmental stimuli, as the ability to respond to changing environments is vital to their survival. Explains Marini, “Wind or vibration will induce changes in plant growth. Since sound is essentially vibration, my guess is that vibration is causing a response.

Houseplants can instantly improve your health and happiness

That whole succulent trend? It’s healthy.

Video advice: Bully A Plant: Say No To Bullying

Plants have feelings, just like people. So, what happens when you feed one plant with compliments and another with negative remarks? Watch how we got students involved in a social experiment to raise awareness on the effects of bullying. #SayNoToBullying

A Beginner’s Guide to Decorating With Plants – Why Indoor Plants Make You Feel BetterThat whole succulent trend? It’s healthy. Plants such as orchids, succulents, snake plants and bromeliads emit oxygen at night, making them perfect plants for the bedroom. Leonie Freeman / Hardie Grant BooksJuly 13, 2017, 2:27 PM UTC / Updated July 13, 2017, 2:27 PM UTCHouseplants are good for your health — and not just for their visual beauty. Why? They essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. This not only freshens up the air, but also eliminates harmful toxins. Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 per cent of air toxin in 24 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood — making them perfect for not just your home but your work space, too. At work, place plants, especially those with broad leaves, on your desk; they will help regulate humidity and increase levels of positivity — seeing greenery and nature help us feel more relaxed and calm, which in turn benefits your every day mood.

21 Quotes about Planting Seeds for Spiritual Growth – There’s something about seeing things grow, about seeing them sprout up from seemingly nowhere at all. Read these quotes about planting seeds, because it’s always the season to sow a little good karma. To love better. To be in charge of your own life. To be part of all the beauty you’d like to see grow.

“An ordinary favor we do for someone or any compassionate reaching out may seem to be going nowhere at first, but may be planting a seed we can’t see right now. Sometimes we need to just do the best we can and then trust in an unfolding we can’t design or ordain. ” — Sharon Salzberg.

IKEA Asks People To Bully This Plant For 30 Days To See What Happens, And Results Are Eyeopening

Bully a plant, a live experiment with two IKEA plants and with thousands of children, to help to raise awareness around Anti-Bullying Day on 4th May in the Middle East.The live experiment involved IKEA taking two of its very own plants and installing them at the school, where one plant was fed compliments and words of encouragement, while the other was verbally bullied with hateful words. The students were encouraged to record their own voices to share their love with the first plant and give words of criticism to the second, either first hand or via social media interaction.

• What would happen if you bullied a plant for 30 days straight?
• IKEA decided to test it out to help raise awareness around Anti-Bullying Day on 4th May in the Middle East
• They placed two of their plants in a school
• Where one plant was fed compliments and words of encouragement
• While the other was verbally bullied with hateful words
• Both plants were treated strictly the same
• They both received the same amount of water, sunlight and fertilizer
• The end result speaks for itself
• Watch this video to see the experiment in detail:
• Here’s what people had to say about the project

Bully a plant, a live experiment with two IKEA plants and with thousands of children, to help to raise awareness around Anti-Bullying Day on 4th May in the Middle East. The live experiment involved IKEA taking two of its very own plants and installing them at the school, where one plant was fed compliments and words of encouragement, while the other was verbally bullied with hateful words. The students were encouraged to record their own voices to share their love with the first plant and give words of criticism to the second, either first hand or via social media interaction. After 30 days, the results spoke for themselves – while the complimented plant continued to thrive, the bullied plant was visibly struggling, and looking dull with droopy brown leaves. Both plants were treated strictly the same: with the same amount water. Exposed with of sunlight, water and fertiliser. The only difference being, we said words of criticism to one plant, and words of encouragement to the other, for a span of 30 days.

77 Plant Quotes About Those Green Friends

We always marvel mother nature and plants are a big beauty of it. Both loving and caring for plants is essential as it is for people, which is why famous people have wisely made their own statements.

You can’t not marvel mother nature and plants are a big magical beauty of it. Aren’t they simply remarkable with the scent of soil bringing you closer to life? It is the entire process of planting seeds and seeing the miraculous outcome that will not only brighten your daily life but teach you many aspects of it, such as planting anything kind or of goodness and just letting it grow. The splendor and exquisiteness of such green and colorful elegance in your garden, inside your home or in forests, is a reminder of breathing and life and many renowned personalities around the world coincide with it. Both loving and caring for plants is essential as it is for people, which is why famous people have wisely made their own statements. Continue reading to find a a wonderful selection of quotes from poets, novelists, song writers and more to share with friends, family and loved ones so to be inspired and learn from nature. Contents1 Best Plant Quotes2 Planting Seeds Quotes3 Inspirational Plant Quotes4 Tree Planting Quotes5 Funny Plant Quotes6 Famous Plant Quotes7 Poetic Quotes About PlantsBest Plant QuotesLike people, plants respond to extra attention.

Plant Experiment: Words And Growth

We did a plant experiment by exposing beans to famous speeches. Here are the results and how you can reproduce the experiment yourself!

Hi! I’m Andreea. My interest in plants and gardening all started after I moved and got a little tree as a gift from a friend to decorate my new home. Taking care of the little one was new and exciting, and I soon started researching about how to create a good environment for plant growth, what plants go best indoors, and my collection started growing and growing.

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Our experiment

Words have power. They encourage, heal, comfort, criticize, hurt; it all depends whether you choose to use them for good or evil. They affect adults, children, and plants alike. This week on You Had Me At Gardening we explore how plants react when exposed to different types of rhetoric, more specifically how plant growth is affected. For that reason, we chose the famous speech I have a dream of Martin Luther King and a speech by Adolf Hitler. We conducted the plant experiment using bean seeds as they’re known to grow quickly.

Environmental Factors Affecting Plant Growth

Plant growth and geographic distribution are greatly affected by the environment. Either directly or indirectly, most plant problems are caused by environmental stress. Environmental factors that affect plant growth include light, temperature, water, humidity, and nutrition.

Mg commonly is deficient in foliage plants because it is leached and not replaced. Epsom salts at a rate of 1 teaspoon per gallon may be used two times per year. Mg also can be absorbed by leaves if sprayed in a weak solution. Dolomitic limestone can be applied in outdoor situations to correct a deficiency.

• Germination
• Crop quality
• Photosynthesis and respiration
• Breaking dormancy
• Fertilizers
• Nutrient absorption

Environmental factors that affect plant growth include light, temperature, water, humidity, and nutrition. It is important to understand how these factors affect plant growth and development. With a basic understanding of these factors, you may be able to manipulate plants to meet your needs, whether for increased leaf, flower, or fruit production. By recognizing the roles of these factors, you also will be better able to diagnose plant problems caused by environmental stress.

#46 The Mind is a Fertile Garden

“The mind is a fertile garden – it will grow anything you wish to plant – beautiful flowers or weeds. And it is with successful, healthy thoughts or negative ones that will, like weeds, strangle and crowd the others. Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind, for they are the weeds that stra.

We waste a lot of time on the anticipation of suffering, and this act actually causes us more suffering. If you’re always guarding against any kind of suffering, you are guarding against the ability to learn and grow. We often go into these thoughts automatically, and part of the practice is to plant the good seeds into fertile mind, make a practice of putting the right things in your mind.

Become aware of your negative thoughts. Know what they are, think about any place in your life where you are struggling. Take anything you are having negative thoughts about and make a list on a piece of paper. Then on the other side of the paper take the time to write the negative thoughts as positive ones. Example: Change “I don’t have enough money” to “I am in the process of finding a way to make more money. ” Or whatever the positive version of that negative thought is, and then you can return to this list to affirm what you want. Allow yourself to be in the process of attaining what you want and revisit this list once in the morning and once at night. This will help shift everything.

Plant Doctor: How to Save a Dying Houseplant

Where do I find more information about caring for my houseplant? – You saw a plant you loved in a shop or nursery. You brought it home, and for months it warmed your heart. But then it started to decline. What are you doing wrong? Is it dying? Can you save it? For answers, we talked with the plant doctor: Christopher Satch, who has a master’s degree in botany from Rutgers University, teaches plant science at the New York Botanic Garden, and is involved with the Manhattan Orchid Society and the American Orchid Society. Oh, and he’s also the plant scientist for The Sill, which has two shops in Manhattan and ships houseplants nationwide. As the plant doctor, Chris fields calls and email from people seeking advice about ailing houseplants; he also dispenses knowledge during weekly drop-in clinics at The Sill’s Upper West Side shop. The best way to keep a plant happy, he says, is to learn what it wants before you buy it—and only buy plants that suit the conditions you can offer. If you live in a ground-floor apartment with little light, say, don’t get a plant that will only thrive with tons of direct sunshine.

Video advice: What Do You Do If a Plant Shipment Has Bugs? // What Did You Give Your Mom for Christmas? // Recap ��

The Impatient Gardener – https://bit.ly/3INCW1m

Do positive words affect plants?

The results showed that positivity in the environment and words had a significant positive effect on plant growth . Plant seeds under the influence of the positive words had a higher germination rate, and these plants grew taller, larger, and healthier than that in negative environment.

Do plants get affected by words?

Despite many different scientific studies on this theory, there's still no conclusive evidence that talking to plants helps them grow or, if it does, why it helps. ... Other researchers believe that talking to plants may stimulate growth because of the carbon dioxide produced when people exhale as they speak.

How can you encourage plants to grow?

10 Ways To Encourage Growth Of Plants

• Preparation Is Key. The key to growing plants the right way is to make sure that the soil is prepared properly before you start planting. ...
• Use The Right Fertilizer. ...
• Soak Seeds In Tea. ...
• Grow Seedlings Inside. ...
• Spice It Up. ...
• Talk To The Plants. ...
• Coffee Grounds. ...

Does positive affirmation help plants grow?

"The best thing people can do to help their plants grow is provide them with light, water, and mineral nutrition ," says Marini. While the studies suggest that sound may spur plants to faster growth, there is no definitive evidence that a gift of gab will turn you into a green thumb.

What are the power of words?

Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble .” Think of the power we wield and the impact we can make if we become more intentional about encouraging our sponsored children.

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Speak Kindly

Words have power. Those three words speak volumes. But the manner in which you express yourself carries even more weight.

In 2018, IKEA conducted an experiment involving children and plants. Their goal was to see the impact of words on living things. They set up two identical plants in a school building and invited children to offer words of kindness to one and words of insult to the other. The two plants received the same amount of light, food and water for 30 days. While the plant that received kind, loving words was thriving at month’s end, the bullied plant was droopy and wilted.

As Karen Salmansohn has said, “If speaking kindly to plants helps them grow, imagine what speaking kindly to humans can do.”

Words have power. Our words become our children’s inner voices. Likewise, our words affect those around us in ways we might never be able to fully understand. They also have the immense power to affect our perception of ourselves.

Speak kindly. Speak softly. Spread love.

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IKEA Bullying Experiment Promotes Fraud and Fragility

Corporations are unwittingly promoting counterproductive anti-bullying messages..

Posted May 17, 2018 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• How to Handle Bullying
• Take our Anger Management Test
• Find a therapist to support kids or teens
• An anti-bullying IKEA ad featuring plants tries to demonstrate the effects of harsh words. Instead, it promotes fraud and fragility.
• The "harmful words" message against bullying is problematic in that people don't think of themselves as bullies, while others can be sensitive.
• To reduce bullying, we need to get back to the timeless wisdom that enhances resilience.

This past week, Swedish furniture giant IKEA made its contribution to antibullyism (my preferred term for the anti- bullying cause), the iconic social movement of the 21st century. It publicized a video of a social science experiment that is deceptive and will end up intensifying the very problem it is intending to solve.

The corporate world loves to show that it is contributing not only to the wealth of its stockholders but also to the betterment of the world. The safest cause to support is the universally popular antibullyism, readily embraced by people of all races, religions, nationalities, sexual orientations, and political persuasions. We all naturally detest our bullies and would like society to rid us of these evil beings lurking among us. As long as a corporation declares its anti-bullying stand, its tactics will be applauded.

Corporations are not experts in solving the bullying problem

The problem is that the corporations of the world, like the orthodox, academic field of bullying that informs their anti-bullying activities, haven't figured out the solution to bullying. Knowing of no good alternative, they continue to engage in well-intentioned but counterproductive anti-bullying tactics that fuel the international bullying epidemic.

Half a year ago, Burger King , aided by its formidable advertising know-how and budget, made headlines throughout the world with a video, based on a social science experiment carried out in a Burger King joint, promoting the idea that bystander intervention is the solution to bullying. But not only has research failed to demonstrate that bystander intervention is a reliable solution to bullying, the Burger King experiment actually corroborated that victims cannot rely on bystanders to save them from bullying.

Following suit, IKEA entered the anti-bullying arena by disseminating its own advertising-agency-driven anti-bullying social science experiment . In a school in the United Arab Emirates (yes, the anti-bully virus has been spreading to the entire world), one potted plant is subjected to a non-stop recording of complimentary, supportive statements while an identical plant is subjected to an insulting, hostile recording. After 30 days, the complimented plant has flourished, while the bullied plant has wilted.

Promoting fraud

There are two major problems with this video campaign. One is that it promotes fraud.

Bias and even outright fraud in scientific research are all-too-common phenomena that have been decried extensively in recent decades by academia and the major news media. Bias and fraud impede the search for truth and have plagued the social sciences in particular because it is difficult for researchers to be truly objective about the behavior and motivations of their own species. Bias and fraud are even more prevalent when the researchers have vested interests — such as money, professional prestige, and tenure — in the results of their research.

The IKEA experiment was rigged, as most of the commenters on Youtube astutely observed. It was not carried out by an impartial research team but by an advertising agency hired to create a powerful social service product to enhance the IKEA image. The results of the experiment needed to be dramatic and to be guaranteed in advance. As some commenters noted , Myth Busters has already tested and dispelled the hypothesis underlying the IKEA experiment. The following is the summary of the Myth Buster findings :

Seven small greenhouses were set up on the M5 Industries roof. Four were set up with stereos playing endlessly looping recordings (as having the MythBusters actually talk to the plants could contaminate the samples with their expelled carbon dioxide): Two of negative speech, two of positive speech (Kari and Scottie each made one positive and one negative soundtrack), a fifth with classical music and a sixth with intense death metal music. A seventh greenhouse, used as a control sample, had no stereo. The greenhouses with the recordings of speech grew better than the control, regardless of whether such talk was kind or angry. The plants in the greenhouse with the recording of classical music grew better, while the plants in the greenhouse with the recording of intense death metal grew best of all.

The plants didn't care whether they were complimented or insulted. They just liked sound. And they liked intense death metal the best.

While few people would encourage fraud in research, IKEA is doing precisely that. They are trying to convince us what we should do based on fabricated results. Is that ethical? Do we want researchers to publish phony results in order to impose their pre-determined conclusions upon the rest of society? If IKEA can get away with it — in a film purporting to promote moral behavior — and even be applauded for doing so by the public, why shouldn’t the rest of us engage in deception ?

Promoting fragility

The second — and bigger — problem with the IKEA video is that it promotes emotional fragility, feeding the growth of the bullying epidemic.

If the IKEA video would prevent bullying and misery while promoting resilience and happiness , one might argue that the virtuous ends justify the deceptive means. But instead, the IKEA video will accomplish the opposite.

In a saying often attributed to Einstein, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

The goal of the IKEA ad is to reduce bullying by raising awareness of the deadliness of insults. The assumption is that if kids only knew how harmful negative words were, they would stop using them and schools will become bully-free, happy places.

But there is nothing new about this tactic. It’s been the most basic and time-honored message of antibullyism. It's behind the popular "crumpled paper" bullying exercise . It's behind the almost universal condemnation of the traditional slogan, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me,” and its replacement with, “but words can scar me forever/words can kill me.” This message has been intensifying the bullying epidemic. Sending the message out again, using plants as the victims of bullying in a slick, expensive video, is not going to turn a counterproductive message into a productive one.

Two reasons for the failure

There are two reasons for the failure of the "harmful words" message to reduce bullying. One is that people don’t think they are bullies. Humans have an amazing ability to justify their negative behavior, to see themselves as the "good guys" and others as the "bad guys." When we insult someone, we have convinced ourselves that the person deserves the insult. We are even likely to see ourselves as a victim of the one we are insulting, which is why we are insulting them. That’s why people, including ardent anti-bullying advocates, are so ready to insult Donald Trump while engaging in the very behavior they condemn in him. It's why so many people leave personally insulting comments to my articles that threaten their beloved beliefs about bullying. So when kids hear the message of how harmful words are, they rarely think it means they need to stop insulting others, but that others need to stop insulting them . Thus, the message falls on deaf ears.

And here is the second reason.

Why do kids become victims of verbal bullying, that is, of repeated insults by the same individuals? It’s because they get upset by insults. This has been understood by wise humans from time immemorial, and it’s the idea underlying the "sticks and stones" slogan. It’s also behind the axiomatic statement attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, expressing a basic tenet of cognitive behavior therapy : “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” [Sticklers for the accuracy of quotations, please read this . It seems that a reporter created the concise saying from something a bit longer than what Ms. Roosevelt said. The concise version has stuck.]

It is practically impossible to continue insulting someone who isn’t getting upset by the insults. If you are not sure of this, watch my video titled “The Idiot Game.”

You can also try it out for yourself. Ask someone to insult you and not to let you stop them. First, get angry and insist they stop. Then do a second trial and calmly let them insult you all they want. You will experience the vast difference between your two opposing responses to insults.

The solution to bullying is therefore paradoxical. If you try to stop people from insulting you, they want to continue . If you permit them to insult you, they feel foolish and frustrated and want to stop .

But what are kids being taught today? That insults are so destructive that not only can they hurt people, who are capable of comprehending the nasty words, they can even kill brainless plants that aren't. Kids are being taught that others can, indeed, make them feel inferior without their consent.

When kids believe the meme that they have no choice but to be hurt by insults, what happens? They get terribly upset when insulted. And what happens when they get terribly upset? They get insulted even more! They become victims of relentless verbal bullying.

And that’s why the bullying epidemic has been growing during the very period that society has been teaching kids how harmful insults are.

Until we go back to teaching the meaning of the original "sticks and stones" slogan, we will increase the emotional fragility of our children and the number of victims of relentless bullying — kids who are suffering terribly and may even contemplate violence against others and/or themselves.

If IKEA truly wants to spend its public service money to reduce bullying, it needs to stop relying on the enfeebling teachings of antibullyism and get back to the timeless wisdom that enhances resilience.

IKEA executives, if you are reading this article, please have your social advocacy division contact me. I will put your corporation on the right track.

An honest experiment that reveals what works

If children want a bullying experiment that doesn't require fraud to reveal what works, they can conduct the one I have posted here. If it is carried out by a child that is being verbally bullied, s/he will learn the solution. And if a student conducts it with all classmates as subjects, s/he will transform the entire class. Bullying will drop dramatically and the students will become resilient to insults. You can find the experiment here : School Science Experiment on Bullying and Freedom of Speech .

Izzy Kalman is the author and creator of the website Bullies2Buddies.com and a critic of the anti-bully movement.

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IKEA “Bully a Plant” experiment shows eye opening results

We’ve heard this before — “Talk to your plants and they’ll grow healthier”. IKEA UAE took it a step further in a “Bully a Plant” experiment to raise awareness around bullying. What happens to a plant it if gets bullied? That’s a question we want answers to.

It took two of its own Dracaena plants and installed them at the school. Both plants were played looped voice recordings but one received compliments and the other was verbally bullied with hateful words. The children took part in recording the compliments and negative words.

After 30 days, the bullied plant started to show signs of wilting. The complimented plant flourished.

As a control, both plants received the same treatment — the same amount of water, sunlight, and fertilizer. The only difference was the words they received.

Pretty amazing, right?  Watch the video of the IKEA Bully A Plant experiment in full below.

I was a fat kid growing up and had my share of hurtful words. I’m dead set against bullying and I love the message this experiment conveys.

But I did feel a little skeptical about the “science” behind the experiment. Do plants really have the same senses as human beings? They may be alive but can they understand words? Some commenters have called this experiment pseudo-science. Or a mere coincidence? Purely anecdotal?

IKEA Will Pay You Real Money To Work In Its New Virtual Roblox Store

Another experiment  (by Mythbusters) shows that plants have primary perception. And do react to being hit and abused when tracked on a polygraph machine. Which reminds me of my grandma’s advice — “If a fruit tree is not bearing fruit, wave an axe at it and threaten to chop it down.” And lo and behold, the impotent tree bears fruit the next season. I kid you not.

So, perhaps the age-old advice to talk to your plants really has merits. What do you think?

In the meantime, I’m going to talk nicely to my succulents.

Related: See IKEA hacks for plants

To answer your question Pu, I believe the intention of the word is what counts. When you are angry your energy can be perceived by another person, animal and probably plants as well; the same happens when you are happy. There are so many things that we don’t understand and comprehend, because we only use our 5 senses, but animals, plants, minerals, etc might have other senses that we don’t know or that we don’t understand. I read a study case by Japanese Dr. Masaru Emoto, in the 1990’s he performed a series of experiments observing physical effect of words, prayers, music and environment on the crystalline structure of water. Emoto hired photographers to take pictures of water after being exposed to the different variables and subsequently frozen so that they would form crystalline structures. I can’t find the article, but maybe you can. Here is a short video I found on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au4qx_l8KEU the results are incredible.

When are they going to reverse the treatment and see what happens to the healthy plant then? Then I’ll start believing.

You can plant any two seeds, give them the same amount of light, water and fertiliser and watch them grow differently. Look at any vege garden…do all the broccoli, potato, cabbage, etc plants look exactly the same? No. Individual plants grow at different rates, even if they are the same type of plant. What’s happened here is that one of these plants was from a seed with a healthy, vigorous growth habit and the other was from a seed that was slower and less healthy. The problem here is what statisticians call the ‘sample size’. It’s way too small. They needed to plant 200 seeds in a field. Then bully the 100 on one side and compliment the 100 on the other side. If the 100 bullied plants had wilted, I’d have been impressed. This teacher in the UAE is not thinking clearly. What sort of message would the kids have got if these two seeds had been reversed when they were planted? The bullied one would have thrived and the complimented one would have shrivelled. How would he have explained THAT to the kids???

This only shows the current state of education and how receptive people have come to pseudoscience. That also goes into the direction of Mythbusters and “yeah everyone can be a scientist”. Really? Plants feel bad because you say mean words… As a science teacher in th school I would bring the class together to take a real skeptical view at this “experiment”.

I still hope that Ikea reveals soon that this experiment was a presentation about how easy people believe in fake news and hoaxes. That would be a good lesson.

Have you tested this study yourself? Would you just have your students gather around and be skeptical, or would you “As a science teacher” do the science and test it yourself? Labeling it fake news because your skepticism doesn’t mean that you’re right. It just means that you yourself are spreading fake news by labeling the study that and never actually doing the work to prove that it’s fake. Sounds like your science class can use more science experiments so they can actually make a difference. A true scientists isn’t just skeptical they use that to skepticism to try to see if that study is false. Then present their study and make their case and allow people to decide what’s FAKE NEWS or not. SCIENCE!

Great experiment! Please IKEA, mention the name of the doctor who spent his life researching water and the effects of sound on it. He had a great number of experiments like this, with same results.

Dr Masaru Emoto. (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvzsjcBtx8 .)

Kind regards, Martijn

My parents had a pecan tree that hadn’t borne nuts in 10-20 years. My grandmother came to visit, and said we should “wire” the tree, meaning wrap a strand of wire around the trunk. It wasn’t too tight, but definitely was in contact with the trunk. She also said it would “scare” the tree, and sure enough, the next year we had nuts. So maybe there’s something to the old wives’ tale. Glad I’m not the only one with a grandmother who had strange cures!

Let’s put this succintly: FFS!

I wonder if volume was taken into account here. Bullying words can be louder, more staccato. Positive language incorporates calmer, more pleasant audio wavelengths. I wonder if the plants are just responding to the shapes of the vibrations they’re being subjected to.

How could this possibly be true. Plant have no understanding of language.

“Mean” words are only mean because we give them that meaning.

Just like how “Darling” has somehow become a derogatory to woman all over the western world recently. I doubt that plant was going to die from being called darling all day.

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Top 17 Plant Science Experiments: Exploring Plant Growth

Join us as we embark on a journey of scientific exploration, unveiling the wonders of plant life one experiment at a time.

We have selected the best plant-related science experiments for this collection. These hands-on, educational activities are suitable for students of all age groups and not only satiate our curiosity about the natural world but also anchor our understanding of ecology and biology.

Let’s get started, and hopefully, this botanical journey will inspire a lifelong appreciation for the marvels of mother nature.

1. Grow Your Own Plants

This experiment offers an immersive learning experience, allowing students to witness firsthand the stages of plant growth, understand the requirements for healthy development, and observe the effects of various environmental factors.

2. Chlorophyll Paintings

“Chlorophyll Paintings” offers an innovative and artistic approach to plant science experimentation that both students and teachers should explore.

This unique experiment combines the worlds of biology and art, allowing participants to create captivating masterpieces while exploring the wonders of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for a plant’s green color.

Learn more: Chlorophyll Paintings

3. Color Changing Flowers

This experiment provides an excellent opportunity to explore the process of water uptake in plants and how it affects the distribution of pigments within the flowers.

Learn more: Color Changing Flowers

4. Low-Prep Flower Dissection

“Low-Prep Flower Dissection” presents an accessible and engaging plant science experiment that is ideal for both students and teachers seeking hands-on learning experiences with minimal preparation.

This experiment offers a fascinating glimpse into the intricate anatomy of flowers and the functions of their various parts.

Learn more: Low-Prep Flower Dissection

5. Acid Rain Science

“Acid Rain Science” presents an impactful and relevant plant science experiment that offers valuable insights into the environmental effects of acid rain.

Students and teachers should engage in this experiment to understand the detrimental consequences of pollution on plant life and ecosystems.

6. Reveal a Plant’s Vascular System

“Reveal a Plant’s Vascular System” offers an exciting and enlightening plant science experiment that allows students and teachers to explore the hidden wonders of a plant’s circulatory system.

Learn more: Reveal a Plant’s Vascular System

7. Make Oxygen at Home

Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, a vital component for supporting life on Earth.

This experiment offers a unique opportunity to understand the connection between plants, photosynthesis, and the oxygen we breathe.

8. How Water Travels Through Leaves

Students and teachers should engage in this experiment to gain a deeper understanding of how plants absorb and distribute water, while also exploring the concepts of transpiration and the importance of water in plant survival.

Learn more: How Water Travels Through Leaves

9. Growing a Bean Plant

By following simple steps, participants can cultivate their own bean plants and observe the stages of germination, root development, and leaf growth.

This experiment offers an excellent opportunity to explore plant anatomy, photosynthesis, and the importance of environmental factors for healthy plant growth.

10. Easy Seed Sprouting

“Easy Seed Sprouting” offers a simple yet rewarding plant science experiment that students and teachers should embrace to witness the wonder of seed germination and plant growth.

Learn more: Easy Seed Sprouting

11. Leaf Color Chromatography

By conducting this experiment, participants can explore the fascinating world of pigments and chromatography, gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse hues present in plant leaves.

12. How to Revive Any Dying Plant

This experiment offers a hands-on opportunity to understand the factors influencing plant health and to develop skills in plant care and problem-solving.

By exploring various techniques such as adjusting watering schedules, providing appropriate light exposure, and optimizing soil conditions, participants can revive and rejuvenate struggling plants.

13. Make Your Own Fun Light Maze for Plants

By constructing a maze using various light sources, participants can investigate how plants respond to different light conditions and orientations.

14. How Plants Breathe

By engaging in this experiment, participants can gain a deeper understanding of how plants exchange gases and respire, just like humans and animals.

Through this experiment, students will discover the importance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in plant metabolism and growth.

15. The Color-Changing Celery Experiment

This experiment provides a unique opportunity to witness the movement of water and the transportation of pigments through the xylem vessels of celery stalks.

16. Growing Seeds in Eggshells

This experiment not only promotes sustainable practices by repurposing waste materials but also provides an opportunity to explore the principles of seed germination, root development, and plant nutrition.

Learn more: Growing Seeds in Eggshells

17. Make a 3D Flower Model with Parts

By constructing a three-dimensional model using various materials, participants can explore the different parts of a flower and their functions.

Learn more: Make a 3D Flower Model with Parts

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5 Easy Plant Experiments That Kids Can Do At Home!

Fun STEM Activities 03/31/2022 8 minute read

“What do plants need to grow?” “Where are the places trees can thrive and flourish?” “How do minuscule seeds transform into mighty oaks?”

The above are simple questions to ask your child if you want to pique their curiosity about plants. Conducting hands-on and sensory experiments helps illustrate big concepts like responsibility and sustainability in a manner that kids appreciate.

Kids are natural explorers and truth-seekers, so they won’t stop wondering until they understand how the world works, in this case, plants! Here we have 5 easy plant experiments they could try to build the foundations of a child’s understanding of plants.

Note: if you’re not a big fan of running to the store to buy some materials, the PlantExplo Science kit contains every tool your child needs to perform 10 unique plant experiments (other than the ones we’ll discuss here today!)

In any case, here are the 5 fun plant science projects!

5 Stay-at-home Science Experiments with Plants 

1. salad leaf flavoring experiment.

The first plant experiment is pretty simple; try to quiz your child by asking if they could change the flavor of a plain old salad leaf. But here’s the clincher: No dressing allowed!

This plant science experiment deals with a familiar concept in plants called capillary action, or the process of how water and nutrients are transported from the roots underneath the ground up to the leaves.

Here are the things you’ll need:

3 Lettuce leaves (of similar sizes)

3 beakers or cups

Instructions:

Fill three beakers or cups with water until half-full.

In one beaker, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt. In another, dissolve half a teaspoon of sugar. Leave the last beaker unaltered, as this will serve as the control setup.

Place one lettuce leaf in each of the beakers and make sure the shoot is dipped into the liquid.

Leave the setup for 5-6 hours, and then taste the lettuce leaves afterwards. Do they taste different?

The leaves will exhibit a slight change in taste depending on where they are submerged: One will lettuce leaf will be sweet, another a tad bit salty, relative to the one dipped in water.

Explanation:

In the experiment, the lettuce absorbed the water from the shoot up to the leaves in a process called capillary action — the same process that facilitates the root’s absorption of water and other nutrients from the ground up to the different parts of a plant.

2. What are the hidden colors of leaves?

It’s easy to consider how some kids may think leaves are green-colored because it’s what our eyes can see. But other colors are hiding underneath leaves, and this is one of the plant experiments to reveal all of them!

Cup or beaker

Scissors 

Filter paper or kitchen paper towel

Directions:

Take 1-2 leaves from a plant or tree and grind them using a mortar and pestle to make a paste.

Mix equal parts of water and alcohol in a beaker. Add the paste to the solution and stir until the clear mixture changes color.

Cut the filter paper to make long strips (about an inch thick).

Dip one end of the strip into the solution while the other end is taped outside of the beaker. Make sure no more than 3-4 cm is dipped in the mixture.

Let the setup sit still and return after a few hours, and ask your child to describe what they see.

The solution will slowly seep up the filter paper revealing 2-3 different colors: green, yellow/orange, and sometimes red.

The color of leaves is caused by the different pigments found in them. Chlorophyll is the pigment giving leaves their distinctive green color. Carotenoids are yellow/orange pigments. Unlike these two pigments present throughout the year, anthocyanins are red pigments only produced by plants around autumn, which explains the reddish hue of leaves around that time.

3. Pinecone experiment

If you have pinecones in your area, this might be a fun plant experiment to wow your child. They’ll see firsthand the ability of pinecones to move in response to the environment.

An open pinecone

Thread or string

Any small weighty object

A clear mason jar (where the pinecone and object can both fit)

Pick an open pinecone and tie a string on one of its scales. Knot a small weighty object like a bolt. 

Place the pinecone-string-bolt inside the clear mason jar. Fill the jar with water until full. The idea is that the pine cone must remain submerged in water, hence using a weighty object.

Wait for 5-10 minutes and observe the magic.

The scales of the open pinecone would seal shut by the end of the experiment.

The closing and opening of a cone's scales are caused by the swelling and shrinking of the cone's plant cells. This open-close mechanism is a dispersal mechanism of pine trees. When the weather is dry, the pinecones open to reveal the seeds dispersed by the strong winds. While if it’s rainy, the cones close since seed dispersal is difficult.

4. Flower dying activity

How amazing would it be if we could design our own flowers from scratch? Unfortunately, we can’t, but at least there are plant experiments that can help us transform white petals into colors of our choosing without using any paint.

Flower cuttings with white-colored petals like chrysanthemums, gerberas, or carnations

Gel food coloring

Pour water into the mason jar until almost filled

Dye the liquid with any gel food color of choice

Submerge the stem of the flower cutting into the jar, leaving the flower head exposed

Leave it for several hours, and then observe how the petals look

Result: 

The petals will adopt the color of the solution.

We’ve mentioned above the concept of capillary action, which is the pulling of water and nutrients from the bottom up to the different parts of the plant. The same principle applies in this activity. 

5. Transpiration in action

Transpiration is one of the most basic processes that plants undergo and is often described as their cooling mechanism. If your child loves cooling off on a hot day by drinking a smoothie, plants have their ways to chill too! 

The transpiring process is invisible to the naked eye, but we’ll make it visible in this plant science experiment!

A plant in your garden

A Ziploc bag

Let your child choose a plant in your garden (preferably with several branches).

Place the Ziploc bag over a branch of the plant such that the Ziploc covers the part, and then seal the bag.

Expose the chosen plant to sunlight.

Observe after a few hours. What does the bag look like?

There should be water droplets condensing along the insides of the Ziploc.

Transpiration is the process of releasing evaporated water from microscopic pores called stomata along the backside of a leaf. When the environment gets too hot, leaves open up this pore allowing water to evaporate, cooling the plants. Essentially, it’s like their own version of sweating.

The plant experiments above are some of the best home experiments you could do to teach children a thing or two about plants. And you might awaken their inner botanist when you engage in the listed activities. Understanding plants is becoming increasingly important in today’s urbanized and techno-centric era, especially as we seek renewable energy and green technology sources!

We hope you have fun doing them!

Our PlantExplo Kit Has it All!

You can do many fun plant experiments at home, but sometimes, you’ll need to outsource some materials from the store to get them. If you don’t like driving for material errands, why not get a science kit that packs everything your child needs? 

TheSTEMkids’ PlantExplo kit has all the materials your kids need to conduct 10 exciting experiments. Feel free to read more about it and check our other science gadgets !

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Breaking news, students insult plants in unique anti-bullying experiment.

Ikea got a load of children to record insults — and play them back at plants in a bizarre experiment.

The retailer wanted to stress just how harmful bullying can be by staging the live test at schools across the United Arab Emirates.

Audio messages were recorded and then played on loops for 30 days. Half the plants were taunted with insults while the others were played compliments.

All the plants were given the exact same amount of sunlight and water.

In a video highlighting the results, one message says: “You look rotten.”

Another says: “Are you even alive?”

But the compliments include, “I like you the way you are,” and “You’re making a difference in the world.”

Incredibly, the plants which got played the negative comments withered after 30 days while the ones played compliments remained healthy.

One pupil said: “As the weeks passed, I started noticing that the one was being bullied started to droop.”

Thomas Nelson, teacher and head of house at GEMS Wellington Academy in Dubai, a school that participated in the initiative, said: “It has raised the profile massively of different forms of bullying and the effects that bullying can have on people.”

But gardeners have also been impressed by the study. It has long been considered a myth that saying nice things to plants help them grow.

One green-fingered YouTuber posted: “It’s true that if you talk to your plants and even sing to them, they grow better and are healthier. I know so because I have done the same experiment on my own plants.”

Alana Schetzer of the University of Melbourne wrote online: “Plants may not have eyes, ears or a tongue, but their skin can perform many of the same functions… [They] can respond accordingly.”

Mindful Littles

Making Compassion a Habit

Planting Seeds of Compassion for Yourself & Others

Planting seeds and caring for them as they grow is a wonderful way to practice compassion for another living thing. In this activity, saying a positive affirmation before planting the seeds and as we care for them helps us practice self-compassion, too.

Seeds contain everything they need inside themselves to grow, but like all living organisms, they require consistent care to thrive. By helping a seed grow, children experience first hand the power of compassion. Combining this activity with a positive affirmation, children can strengthen their self-compassion muscle as well.

• Small packet of flower or herb seeds
• Potting soil
• Small peat or terracotta pot
• Small bowl to put your seeds in 
• Seeds of Compassion Tracker (use this chart to observe the plant’s growth and practice your positive affirmation)

How To Do It

• Think of a positive affirmation you’d like to say. This can be as simple as “I am grateful” or “I am peace.” Write your affirmation in your Seeds of Compassion Tracker
• Place half the soil in the pot
• Empty seed packet into a small bowl. Take a pinch of seeds and scatter on top of the soil
• Cover the seeds with soil until the pot is filled
• Give your seeds some water, being careful to give the plant just enough water to make the soil slightly damp
• Place your pot on a windowsill or near a window where it can get moderate sunlight
• Check on your plant each day, watering as needed, and record any changes you see. Each time, practice saying your positive affirmation. 
• When your plant is as big as your pointer finger, plant it in the ground for others to enjoy or gift it to a friend, family member, or neighbor to spread compassion around your community!
• What changes do you notice in your plant?
• How are you like a plant? 
• What does it feel like to care for another living thing?
• How do you feel about your plant? 
• How do you feel about yourself now that you’ve nurtured your plant?
• What if your plant doesn’t grow? What does that feel like?

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Dissect a Flower STEM Challenge

May 1, 2024 By Emma Vanstone 2 Comments

Find out how to dissect flower s and learn about their structure with this simple hands-on dissection activity and other exciting plant experiments for kids . Dissecting a flower is a great way to visually show the different parts of a flower, which can be hard to picture from a diagram in a book.

What you need to dissect a flower

Any flowers with large parts work well, for example:

Paper plates or sheets of cardboard

Magnifying glass – optional

How to dissect a flower

Lay a flower out over a paper plate, tray or sheet of cardboard. Try to identify the different parts.

Label areas of the different parts of a flower on the piece of cardboard or paper plate and match the dissected pieces to the correct label.

Try to find the following flower parts:

Root – carries water and nutrients from the soil to the plant and keeps it anchored in the ground.

Petal – often brightly coloured to attract insects.

Leaf – uses energy from sunlight for photosynthesis , creating oxygen and sugars for the plant to use for energy.

Pollen is a fine powdery substance containing male reproductive cells. It is produced by the anthers of seed-bearing plants.

Stem – a plant stem transports water and nutrients from the soil to the rest of the plant. The stem supports the leaves and flowers, allowing them to be raised above the ground to be in the light.

Flower Dissection Challenge

Try to find a stigma and anther and an ovule and ovary. A lily is a good flower for identifying these parts.

What is pollination?

Pollination is when pollen from the anthers ( male part ) of one plant lands on the stigma (female part ) of a plant of the same type. The stigma is sticky so that the pollen can attach to it easily.

Pollen can be carried by wind or insects. Once it has landed on the stigma of a plant, it travels down a tube where it fertilises the ovules, which then become seeds.

What is Fertilisation?

Fertilisation is when the male cells from the pollen connect with female cells from the ovules.

What is germination?

Germination is when a seed starts to sprout and grow. One way to demonstrate this is to grow a  bean in a jar   to discover the conditions needed for a seed to germinate.

Which are the best flowers to dissect?

Anything with large parts works well. Lilies are great, but watch out for pollen stains. Tulips, daffodils, and iris flowers also work well.

More Plant Science Experiments

Find out why leaves change colour in Autumn .

Build a plant growth model from LEGO .

Learn about transpiration using white flowers and food colouring. The colour of the petals will change as the food colouring is transported up the stem and into the petals.

Try growing new plants from tissue cuttings .

Have a go at growing a multi coloured cress caterpillar . Can you guess how we made the leaves different colours?

Create a 3D model of a flower showing the different parts.

Learn about transport in plants with a capillary action science activity .

Can you think of any more plant experiments for us?

Suitable for Key Stage 1 Science

Identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees.

Observe and describe how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants

Find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy

Key Stage 2 Science

Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants

Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

September 30, 2015 at 5:37 am

Oh I just love these ideas Emma

April 02, 2016 at 9:02 am

Oooh.. this reminds me of a science experiment we used to do when we were kids. We did exactly the same thing except we used Hibiscus because they were plentiful at home (but exactly the same idea, it’s much easier to identify the parts).

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Does speaking kindly to plants really help them grow.

Could speaking kind words to your plants actually help them grow? The practice may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. We dug into the research to find the roots of this interesting claim.

The Connection Between Plants, Words, and Health

The concept of speaking to plants to help them grow may have its origins in an experiment made famous by Masaru Emoto, a Japanese author, researcher, and alternative medicine practitioner. In his experiments,   Emoto and his colleagues   found that water exposed to positive thoughts and words would form aesthetically beautiful ice crystals when frozen. Contrarily, water exposed to negative thoughts and words (as well as pollution, for that matter) formed "ugly" ice crystals when frozen.

While Emoto's experiments have had their fair share of   criticism —including concerns over whether the experiments were properly controlled to reduce the risk of bias and other types of confounding—the potential implications of his findings are significant. We only have to remember that the human body is up to 60% water to realize how impactful our thoughts, beliefs, and words can be on our health.

Plants, meanwhile, contain even more water— up to 90% . And interestingly, research suggests that they're more sensitive to their environment than we may realize.

For example, a   2004 study   published in   Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces   found that a sound of about 1.4 kHz can stimulate endogenous growth hormone production in chrysanthemum plant cells. This may trigger seed germination and better plant growth overall. For reference, 1.4 kHz falls   within the normal range   of the human speaking voice.

In 2007,   a team of South Korean researchers   found that playing music at about 70   decibels (comparable to a normal conversation) activates two genes that play a role in plant photosynthesis. The researchers also found that a higher sound frequency would elicit greater gene activation. In other words, sound induced an epigenetic effect on the plants that could potentially boost growth. (This is relevant to human health, by the way, as a growing body of epigenetic research shows that negative emotions and   stress can trigger changes in an organism's DNA   which may contribute to the development of chronic disease.)

Finally, as reported by the BBC and other news outlets, a month-long study by the Royal Horticultural Society found that tomato plants grew faster if they were able to "listen" to recorded male and female voices. Recordings were played through headphones that were positioned directly onto each tomato plant's pot, and all the tomato plants in the experiment were exposed to the same surroundings (soil, care routine, and so on). In the study, female voices triggered greater growth than male voices. The exact mechanism behind this observed phenomenon is still being investigated, but many researchers propose that the vibrational energy from sound has a beneficial impact on plant cells.

Of course, there may be a simple and even more elegant explanation as to why speaking kindly to plants seems to boost their growth:

Plenty of researchers and horticulturists suggest that people who offer verbal affection to their plants are probably more likely to care for the plants in other important ways—such as by remembering to water them, give them light and fertilizer, and tend to them attentively.

Speak Up: Why Talking to Plants May Boost Your Health, Too

Keep in mind that speaking kindly to our plants is probably good for   us , too.

For example, we know that   smiling may boost a person's mood , even   if the smile is initially posed. And a   2015 study   published in the   Journal of Physiological Anthropology   found that interacting with an indoor plant may reduce psychological and physiological stress. The researchers suggested that actively interacting with plants (transplantation, in this study) suppresses the stress-related sympathetic nervous system, reducing blood pressure, and promoting "comfortable, soothed, and natural feelings."

So go ahead: sing and talk to your favorite plants! It's quite possible that your verbal interaction may support trigger mechanisms in plant biology that promotes growth—and at the very least, the practice could make you smile and help you feel better.

https://www.thespruce.com/should-you-talk-to-your-plants-3972298

http://www.cochlea.org/en/hear/human-auditory-range

http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3551

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412094728.htm

https://www.scientificexploration.org/docs/22/jse_22_4_radin.pdf

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fbul0000194

https://news.psu.edu/story/141343/2008/08/25/research/probing-question-does-talking-plants-help-them-grow

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160118-can-your-plants-really-hear-you-if-you-sing-to-them

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5703247/Bizarre-experiment-shows-talking-plants-thrive.html

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How Wee Learn

Out of the box learning ideas, playful art, exploring nature, and simple living - that is How We Learn!

Plant Science Experiments

May 28, 2024 by Sarah Leave a Comment

In this blog post, I’ve gathered my favorite plant science experiments, from sprouting seeds to discovering how light, water, and soil influence plant growth, to flower and leaf experiments, and beyond.

These hands-on activities will cultivate a deeper appreciation for the environment and inspire your child to embrace curiosity and get their hands dirty—literally!

Free Printable Seed Growth Tracker

Before we get into all of the plant science experiments, you’ll want to grab your FREE Seed Growth Tracker. This page is perfect for recording observations as you watch your seeds grow!

Plant Science Experiments with Seeds

Sprout Seeds in a Mason Jar – The “mason jar and paper towel method” of seed germinating is perfect for comparing and tracking how seeds grow!

Do Seeds Need Their Seed Coat to Grow? by Gift of Curiosity – What is the purpose of a seed’s coat? Is it really needed? Find out with a seed germination experiment!

Light and Plant Growth Experiments

How Plant Growth is Affected by Light by Life with Moore Learning – Discover how light affects a plant’s growth with this simple set up.

Maze Potato Plant Experiment by 123 Homeschool 4 Me – Now that you know plants need light to grow, how can we have some fun with that knowledge?! Make a maze! This is such a neat one to watch as the plant makes it’s way through the maze to reach the light.

Water and Plant Growth Experiments

What Liquid is Best for Growing Seeds? Experiment by Lessons for Little Ones – Discover what type of water is best for growing seeds with this plant experiment! Little ones can make predictions and track each seed’s growth. 

What Solution Keeps Flowers Fresh Longest? by We Have Kids – With the last experiment, you found out what kind of water helps plants grow, but what helps cut flowers stay fresh?

Soil Experiments

Soil Erosion Experiment by Life is a Garden – This soil experiment is so cool! Kids will learn how plants and their roots help to protect soil from eroding.

What Soil Type is Best for Growing Seeds? by STEAMsational – Which type of soil is best for growing your plant? It may not be the one you think!

Learning About Leaves

Why Do Leaves Change Color? – Have you ever wondered why leaves change color? With just a few simple supplies, you can learn about chlorophyll and how leaves change color in the fall.

How Do Leaves Breathe? by KC Edventures – Did you know that leaves breathe!? For this experiment, all you will need is a bowl of water and a leaf. Easy peasy!

Flower Science Experiments

Reveal a Plant’s Vascular System by Tamara Horne – You’ve likely seen experiments where you plop cut flowers into vases filled with water dyed different colors. Well, if you happen to have a highlighter and a black light, you can take that experiment to a whole new level!

Dissecting Daffodils to Explore Pollination by Sloely – Explore all of the different parts of a plant by dissecting one!

What Happens When You Submerge a Dandelion? by Mud and Bloom – Have you ever tried dipping a dandelion in water? You would think those fragile little seeds would fall right off, considering how easily they blow away in the wind, but… well, you’ll just have to try it!

Which of these plant science experiments are you excited to try!? My kids are super excited to try out the maze experiment!

If you’re ready to dive into learning all about seeds and plants through fun, hands-on activities, I encourage you to check out my Seeds and Plants Family Unit Study. You’ll learn about the different types of plants, seed anatomy, photosynthesis, pollination, plant adaptations, and so much more!

Seeds and Plants Family Unit Study

https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-seeds-and-plants

I hope your week is off to a wonderful start, my friend. Take care, and don’t forget to water your plants!

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Plant Kindness

Plant Kindness ™ is an experimental platform intended to inspire random acts of kindness using plants. Show your gratitude for what’s thriving in your life by sending a houseplant to someone in need of joy.

Each month Horti randomly gifts 5 plants and the rest are gifts from generous strangers like you.

Much like the wind that carries seeds to pollinate the earth wherever they happen to fall, we want to disperse the seeds of generosity among strangers with the best gift we can think to give. Nature itself is an experiment in unpredictable encounters, so we’re matching up gifters and nominees.

Plants make the best gifts because they are a calming, cheerful reminder of our deep connection to nature and the wild beauty that we crave on the other side of our human-made confines. Not only are houseplants scientifically proven to be therapeutic companions that uplift mood, sharpen focus and give purpose, they are sustainable and require little more than a bit of sunshine and weekly watering, which is a relaxing weekend routine.

Sponsor a Plant

Gift a plant to a stranger. Maybe your life is in full bloom and you want to pay it forward to someone else. Share your gratitude by gifting a plant to a random nominated person. You can leave a message or any other information you'd like to share with the recipient in the "order note" in the checkout cart, and we will send you a confirmation when the plant ships out. We won't share any other information.

Prices are subsidized and include expedited shipping.

Nominate Someone

Please fill out this nomination form and let us know why you need a little plant love in your life right now. And share this page with friends, family, colleagues, or others who might need a botanical pick-me-up. If you are selected at random, we’ll send you a burst of green to brighten-up your world, courtesy of Horti or an anonymous gifter.

More Details

The Plant Kindness program is an experiment. It will continue to evolve as we learn. Please help us by sharing your feedback and spreading the word.

Your information won't be shared outside of our organization, unless you choose the option of sharing your details with the recipient. You may receive promotional emails from Horti.

The plants we send may vary from the product image. The product image is mostly a representation of the two options that are available for gifters—a plant with a clay pot or a plant without a pot.

Recipients are selected at random. Each month Horti sends 5 plants and any others are gifted by strangers. Horti makes a small profit from this program, but we have lowered our margins to drive our real goal of spreading plant love to people who need it most.

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The Sowing Kindness Project

Sometimes it’s just a small act of kindness that plants a seed of hope. A seed that can grow and blossom and could eventually even help to make big changes in a person’s life. It’s with that in mind that today, I’m launching a project that has been germinating for some time now: the Sowing Kindness Project.

I started Garden Therapy as a way to build a community around a hobby that I love, gardening. My hope was that I would find others out there who love gardening as much as I do, and whose lives it has impacted as much as it has mine. Now, many years later, we have a large community of readers, contributors, authors, and friends who come together to celebrate better living through plants. And it seems that now more than ever the world needs us to spread a little of that joy to others.

Often the time when these seeds are planted is in childhood. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends help shape who we become through their guidance and love. I didn’t have the family support that I needed as a child, but throughout my life there were people who, through a series of small gestures of kindness, helped me more than they can ever know. A kind word from a teacher when I wasn’t used to hearing them. A welcoming hug when I was abandoned. A bag of groceries when I was hungry and unable to afford food. A roof over my head when I didn’t have one. These small things took root and changed me for the better.

All those years ago, that kindness planted a seed. And those seeds shaped who I am today. It’s a big part of why I volunteer as a Master Gardener to teach children gardening. If even just a little bit of what I teach them plants a seed of hope, I feel like I’m passing on the gifts that were passed on to me.

This year I was happy to open the Garden Therapy shop as a way to continue to deliver our shared passion for creativity and gardening. Between January and April, I added eight lovingly created Garden Therapy Seed Collections in collaboration with GardenTrends , each one with a unique gardening theme and a DIY element. These are great kits for starting a garden, to give as gifts, and to give the gift of garden therapy to yourself.

This month we’re going to kick it off with where we all begin—as kids! We will be giving away one of the Kids’ Garden Collection which includes:

• Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherries ( Physalis spp .) seeds
• Lil Pump-Ke-Mon Pumpkin ( Cucurbita spp .) seeds
• Baby Bottle Gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria ) seeds
• Dragon Tongue Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) seeds
• Candyland Red Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) seeds
• Candy Cane Red Pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) seeds
• Parisian Carrot ( Daucus carota subsp. sativus ) seeds
• Cucamelon ( Melothria scabra ) seeds
• Kids’ garden tool set and carry bag with a trowel, mini rake, hand fork, and watering can

What Can You Do?

• Nominate someone to get the Kids’ Garden Kit . Do you know of a young gardener who would love to grow some fun vegetables this year? Or perhaps a struggling parent who could use a fun activity to do with their kids this summer? Maybe there’s a school program that’s looking for plant donations? Or a church, after-school, or preschool group that would enjoy learning to grow their own food? Let me know who they are in the comments section of this post and on June 15 I’ll pick someone randomly to send the kit to.
• Give yourself or someone else an eBook from the Garden Therapy bookstore . 10% from the sale of every eBook from today until June 15th, 2018, will be going to the UBC Intergenerational Landed Learning Program  fund. This is a wonderful program that supports teaching, learning, and research that unites elders, younger adults, and school children in learning with and caring for the Earth. Participants grow, tend, cook, and share food at UBC Farm and explore the connections among human and non-human communities, places, and local environments. This program is at risk of shutting down after 15 successful years and I hope we can help!
• Spread the word! The more people who care about the sowing kindness project, the more good we’ll be able to do. So please spread the word by sharing this project on social media, with your gardening club, or with your friends and family.
• Be kind . More than anything else, think about how you can sow kindness everyday. From letting someone in traffic, to saying “hello” to a stranger, to offering a compliment to a friend. You never know how these little gestures will grow. Who knows? Spreading kindness may end up growing like wildflowers in your neighborhood!

Contest Rules

Leave a comment by June 15 th , 2018, nominating whoever you think could use some kindness . It can be a person, a group, or yourself. I fully support the idea of nominating yourself if you could use some love. That takes a lot of strength to do!

The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email. Only leave a comment if you are aware of and agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy here . This contest is open to residents of the continental US and Canada, except Quebec and where prohibited. This contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Connie!

More from the Sowing Kindness Project:

• Sending Love When it’s Needed Most
• Punny Printable Sympathy Cards for Plant-Lovers

Share this post:

I would love to have these gardening tools to help our grandkids become more interested in our small garden and plants we have. I think learning skills in a garden are great and relaxing.

My daughter loves to dig in the dirt, and is forever asking me to help her plant something, or to make a mystery packet of seeds so she can be surprised. I nominate my lovely daughter, Jade.

I nominate and admire my little one, who loves saving the butterflies, bees and all animals and greatly cares about the earth @ age 5! Thank you for this giveaway! :)

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing and good luck in your new gardening adventure.

Hi Stephanie, I really enjoy reading your newsletter, a little garden calming in my in box. I wanted to let you know about a wonderful gardening program in the downtown east side here in Vancouver. I work at Watari, a support service for individuals and families. We have a Latin American Oitreach Program, that has embraced gardening as a means of building community and growing food for the folks we support. A former square of land in Strathcons Park that was filled with blackberry brambles is now producing a bounty of vegetables. Volunteers faithfully tend the beds all summer long, starting early in the spring to begin seed propagation. Inventive raised beds have been made with found materials. Scrounged perennials are adding colour. And the food they cook up after harvest, oh my! Come visit us sometime to see again how gardening can bring people together and better our lives, green on, Jill

Thanks for sharing, Jill! Please email me and we can chat about it more. I have some seeds to donate to you. It sounds wonderful.

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Yes, plants go through ‘puberty’

By Laura Baisas

Posted on Aug 23, 2024 9:10 AM EDT

3 minute read

Deposit Photos

It may not be defined by acne and mood swings but plants actually go through their own kind of puberty too. Called the vegetative-to-reproductive transition , it only happens over the course of a few days. Plants slow down their leaf growth to develop reproductive organs instead. 

Now, a team of scientists has identified the genetic changes linked to why plants go through these developmental changes at different rates. The discovery is detailed in a study published in the August 2024 issue of The Plant Cell .

[Related: Build a garden that’ll have pollinators buzzin’ .]

“In some ways, plant and human growth is very similar: everyone experiences it in their own unique way,” Daphne Ezer, a study co-author and computational biologist at the University of York in England, said in a statement . “Our study uncovered specific genetic changes that could control the timing of plant developmental transition, paving the way for future improvements in crop uniformity and quality.”

The dramatic physical changes during this puberty-like process are important to both farmers and consumers. It kicks off a process where the nutrients in the leaves are diverted into the plant’s reproductive organs. These nutrients eventually make it into the plant’s fruits and grains. 

For animals, well-timed plant development means that food is more nutritious . Farmers have tried to breed crops to be as uniform as possible–but just like in humans–puberty happens at different ages in individual plants.

To take a closer look into the factors that influence the timing of this transition, the team in this new study grew Arabidopsis thaliana . This type of wild mustard is most similar to Brassica crops including broccoli and cabbage. The team selected Arabidopsis thaliana because the species has been inbred over several generations to create an almost genetically identical pool of seeds . They grew the plants in conditions where the soil, temperature, humidity, and light were as consistent as possible. 

Even in these highly controlled conditions in a laboratory, the plants began to show signs of their developmental transition on different days . The plants all had the same chronological age, but they were at different points on the road to plant “puberty.” 

When roughly half of the plants had undergone their transition, the team measured their genetic activity. The researchers used RNA sequencing and the pseudotime inference algorithm on the leaves to pinpoint the specific genetic changes that correlated with the timing of this developmental change. More study of these changes could lead to a better understanding of what is going on behind the scenes to jumpstart plant “puberty.”

[Related: These meat-eating plants are masters of deception .]

The team also observed that the plants began the process of killing their leaves before the visible reproductive structures were visible.

“Remarkably, we also found that plants are starting to redirect nutrients from their leaves to their flowering structures even earlier than we anticipated,” said Ezer. “To supercharge the nutritional value of crops, farmers might need to pay attention to these hidden processes happening well before any visible signs of the vegetative-to-reproductive transition.”

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