You’ve most likely heard that talking to plants can make them healthier and grow faster. But is there any truth to these claims? This is the question we’re going to take on in this post, and you can take what you learn and try it on your own plants.
Do Plants Like You Talking to Them?
Many of you had an aunt, grandmother, or another relative that seemed to do wonderfully with all of their plants. Their soft talking to the plants as they watered, fed, and trimmed their beloved plants supposedly encouraged the plants to grow faster and stronger. Your relative was onto something, and you shouldn’t feel crazy if you talk to your plants. There’s actually a science to back up this practice.
There are dozens of studies that back up the fact that a plant’s growth is directly influenced by sound. When you expose your plants to sound at 70 decibels, there is an increased growth rate. Seventy decibels is the average conversational tone people use. Plant experiments involving exposure to music have touched on the benefits of talking to your plants, but does this mean you should start?
There is absolutely no harm to you to do so, and you may even give yourself a small boost psychologically. Spending time with your plants promotes good mental and physical health, and it’s calming.
Plants, Talking, and Science
The Royal Horticultural Society put out a study that proved talking to plants helps them grow faster. For one month, 10 gardeners read to a single tomato plant each day, and they compared the growth to a control group of tomato plants that grew in silence. At the end of the study, they found that all of the tomato plants that had sound grew taller than the control group.
Interestingly enough, the researchers found that plants that experienced women’s voices for the month grew an average of an inch taller than those plants which experienced male voices. This may not be strictly science, but it effectively ties back to the 1848 notion first hinted that plants could benefit from human sound. A German professor published “The Soul Life of Plants” to support his theory.
Benefits of Talking to Your Plants
Outside of the health benefits we touched on earlier, plants get several benefits when you talk to them. The first benefits plants get is in response to the vibration you create when you talk. This vibration influences plants to produce two key genes that make them grow.
A second benefit to your plants is that they get carbon dioxide when you breathe out and talk to them. This is a by-product of speaking, and plants use it for photosynthesis. This also helps them grow and thrive.
Contact Evergreen Landscaping Today!
Do you want to add a few plants to your landscape and see them grow and bloom? Perhaps you’re not sure which plants or shrubs would work best in your zone. Either way, we’re here to help. Browse our stock and reach out and contact us today with questions!