Can Plants Communicate?
By AMY ROGNLIE
A friend recently told me that houseplants can sense their caretaker’s presence from a mile away. What? First, the term “caretaker” connotes something more, well, human. And secondly … well, let’s just say that I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing, though if true, I should probably be spending more quality time with my little green darlings than I do.
At any rate, I decided to delve into the topic. Apparently, besides the folks who believe that plants can sense their human’s “energy” from miles away, there have been some serious scientific studies done on the topic, and not only on houseplants.
Amid a wash of online discussion forums, ridiculous YouTube videos and questionable websites, I came across titles like these: “Can Plants Sense Their Owner’s Presence?” or “Plants Have Feelings, Too” or my favorite, “Do Plants Know What You Are Thinking?” For the record, I certainly hope they don’t know what I’m thinking. That’s a little bit too creepy for me.
Anyway, I digress. Apparently, there has been quite a bit of serious research done on this topic over the years. In a quick search, I found articles in scientific and agricultural journals, and I even watched a fascinating video about an experiment that involved placing sensors on the leaves of corn plants.
Apparently, the corn plants emitted noises that were imperceptible to human ears but were able to be picked up by the sensors. For example, when the corn plants needed to be watered, they made a particular sound, different from the “distress” sounds brought on by disease or threat by insects, etc. The researchers suggested that in the future, farmers could rely on such information to provide personalized care for their fields of crops.
Well, I could be on board with that, but my spider plant getting excited when I’m still driving home from work? That’s a bit of a stretch, though it is kind of fun to imagine all my houseplants doing an inaudible happy dance or emitting mysterious silent chirping noises as I pull into my driveway. And I do know that some folks swear by talking to their plants. Hey, it can’t hurt, right?
In truth, we do know way more about these things than we used to, thanks to advances in science, technology, and research. For example, it is proven that plants respond to light, vibrations, sounds, and even smells. It is also well known that some plants grow better when they are planted next to each other.
So, what is the moral of this story? Know your plants. Okay, maybe not like “Hey, how was your day, Walter?” But do get acquainted with your plants and their needs.
Whether you are buying an African violet from the grocery store or planting a vegetable garden, take time to understand each plant’s requirements as far as water, soil and light. It will make a difference in your leafy friends’ lives, whether they recognize you as their caregiver or not.
These days, garden centers do a pretty good job of providing at least rudimentary information for the outdoor plants and seeds that they sell. For houseplants, do a bit of research online. There is a plethora of entertaining material online including video series to help you learn about your plants, both indoor and outdoor. Your plants will thank you. Literally. Just not audibly.
