Lesson 58: Factors Affecting

the Growth of Some Plants

Prepared by:
Maria Rosalia B. Apostol
• There are four primary factors that affect plant
growth: light, water, temperature and nutrients.

• These four elements affect the plant's growth

hormones, making the plant grow more quickly
or more slowly. Changing any of the four can
cause the plant stress which stunts or changes
growth, or improves growth.
Light
• Light and temperature changes in the spring stimulate plants
to break their dormancy and grow new leaves.
• Sunlight during the summer encourages flowering and
fruiting, which in turn creates the beautiful display of flowers
or delicious vegetables from the garden.
Water
• Plants need water to survive. People are made up of
approximately 70 percent water, but plants are closer to 90
percent water, and without water, plants become stressed
and die. Even the desert cactus requires water, albeit much
less water than other plants.

• Water nourishes the plant and hydrates it. Water in the soil
breaks down and dissolves minerals and critical elements in
the soil. As the plant absorbs water through its roots, it also
transport nutrients into its cells.
Temperature
• Plants react to temperature by speeding up or slowing down
all of their life processes. Warmth encourages germination
and growth. Warmer temperatures actually trigger chemical
reactions inside the plant's cells, which speed up
transpiration, respiration, and photosynthesis.

• Plants grow more quickly during warm periods and slow

down or even become dormant during cool or colder
periods.
Nutrients
• Plants require certain basic nutrients for growth and
maintenance. There are 17 nutrients which plants need to
survive. Three of these nutrients are taken from the air and
from water: hydrogen, oxygen and carbon.

• They must be able to find the remaining 14 nutrients in the

soil. If any one nutrient is lacking, it can slow plant growth or
cause stunted growth.