Technical Plant Care

How Plants Grow

Plants are like little living factories, running two main shifts every day: photosynthesis (the “charging” shift) and respiration (the “spending” shift).

• Photosynthesis is like charging a battery. Plants take in light, water, and carbon dioxide, then store that energy as sugars.
• Respiration is like using that battery to power all their work—growing new leaves, fixing damage, and making flowers.

If they store more energy than they use, they grow strong. If they spend more than they store, they weaken. The point where charging and spending break even is called the compensation point—and you always want them well above it.

Photosynthesis Basics

To “charge their battery,” plants need:

• Chlorophyll – The green pigment in leaves that catches sunlight like solar panels.
• Water – Sipped up through roots like a straw.
• Carbon dioxide – Pulled from the air, just like we inhale oxygen.
• Light energy – From the sun or good grow lights.
• The right temperature – Most indoor plants like it between 50–100°F.

Outdoors, nature usually covers all of this. Indoors, light is often the trickiest piece to get right.

Respiration Basics

Respiration is the “night shift” (though it happens day and night).

• Plants use oxygen to unlock the energy stored in their sugars.
• This fuels growth, repairs, and reproduction.
• In low light, respiration can burn through energy faster than it’s made—like leaving the lights on all night.

What Happens Indoors

Life inside is comfy, but it’s not exactly a jungle. Indoors, plants face:

• Lower light – Slows their “charging” speed.
• Steady but limited temperatures – Not always their ideal range.
• Still air – Can trap humidity and invite disease.
• A limited pantry – Water and nutrients only come from you.

If light is low, slow the watering. Less growth means less water use, and overwatering can drown roots.

Factors That Affect Plant Growth

Light – Like the plant’s paycheck.

• Too little: Skinny, stretched stems; darker old leaves.
• Too much: Leaf burn or bleaching.

Water – Like the plant’s drink and bath in one.

• Too little: Wilting, crispy edges.
• Too much: Roots can’t breathe and rot sets in.

Temperature – Like the thermostat in their home.

• Too cold: Slow growth, leaf drop.
• Too hot: Wilting, scorching.

Humidity & Airflow – Like their “skin comfort.”

• Dry air makes them lose water too fast.
• Stagnant air invites pests and fungi.

Soil & Nutrients – Like the pantry and plumbing combined.

• Bad drainage or salt buildup can starve or poison roots.

Stress Factors & Symptoms

Plants can get stressed without a single bug in sight:

• Salt Toxicity – From over-fertilizing or poor water quality; shows as leaf burn.
• Fluoride Sensitivity – Some plants (Dracaena, Maranta, Yucca) get tip burn or spots.
• Air Pollutants – Smoke, chemical cleaners, or exhaust can damage leaves.
• Water Stress – Too dry = wilting; too wet = root rot.
• Light Stress – Too little = slow growth; too much = scorch.
• Temperature Stress – Cold = yellowing and drop; heat = drying and burning.
• Chemical Injury – Sudden scorch-like damage from sprays or spills.

Practical Indoor Plant Tips

• Know your plant – Jungle types like steady moisture; desert types like dry spells.
• Match the light – Bright-light lovers go by sunny windows or under grow lights.
• Water smart – Adjust for season, light, and growth rate.
• Observe daily – Yellow leaves, brown tips, or stretching mean your plant’s trying to tell you something.
• Keep things steady – Avoid big swings in light, temp, or moisture.

Plants thrive when their “charge” (photosynthesis) is greater than their “spend” (respiration). Give them the right mix of light, water, temperature, and nutrients, and they’ll keep their battery full and your space full of life.