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Moving towards the light.
Moving towards the light
According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, without the conversion of solar radiation into usable energy, life would quickly cease. Plants are the only eukaryotes that have the organelles necessary for this conversion. From this chemical conversion, plants derive the necessary energy to produce auxins for growth, as well as the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen during their process of respiration.
Phototrophism, or the leaning of plants towards the light, is a response to the uneven production of auxins along stems. Directional light, that doesn't vary over time, causes the side facing the light to grow more quickly. This hormonal response causes the faster growing side of stems to bend and twist towards the light. Outside this rarely happens because the sun's radiation crosses the horizon, spreading light evenly across stem surfaces.
Sunflowers seem to defy this rule during the process of heliotrophism. However, this process is not a response to hormones, nor is it caused by uneven growth along stems.
Heliotrophism is caused by changes in turgor pressure that occur at the cellular level along the underside and base of leaves. When atmospheric moisture surrounds and enters cell walls during osmosis, plants react by turning to face the light. This process is a diurnal change, similar but opposite from diurnal wilting often seen in squash plants.
Plants growing indoors tend to show exaggerated phototrophism. When the lack of light is severe enough, the process of etoliation begins. When this occurs, plants grow unusually long internodes, coupled with a marked decrease in foliage. Also, when etoliation is initiated, plants use their stores of carbohydrates, necessary for growth, to respirate. If plants don't receive more light, etoliation can lead to death. To counteract this, you can use fluorescent lighting, or you can grow plants on a windowsill that receives light from the west.
If you have bright light indoors, you may really enjoy growing African Violets. This houseplant is considered by many to be among the easiest to grow, even for beginners. Keep the soil moist, testing by touching the surface, but not wet. After watering, be sure to empty the saucer beneath the planter, as African Violets are prone to root rot.
If you have soft lighting, you on the other hand may prefer to grow the philodendron. Philodendrons grow wild along the ground in the tropical rainforests of the West Indies. Because of the multitude of tall trees, and other plant life, being so low to the ground means these plants flourish in low light conditions. Philodendrons require very little water, and are easy to maintain.
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