Instead, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a type of scent called a kairomone, from their flowers, leaves and roots. Each compound is different, but they provide signals to nearby plants and other organisms to provide specific information or to warn them of a possible attack.
So how do they do it? Plants communicate through their roots by secreting tiny amounts of special chemicals into the soil all through the plant's root zone - what scientists call the rhizosphere. These chemicals, called root exudates, send signals to every other living thing in the root zone.
Plants Communicate Using Chemicals and Sound
Plants do not just move randomly; they move in a purposeful manner. Plants move to detect key information about their environments, to respond appropriately, and to communicate this information to other plants, using easily understood signals.
There are two main types of threat-detection mechanisms in plant cells—the ability to recognize distinctive chemical patterns that signify an invader, such as components of a bacterial cell, and the ability to recognize a disruption caused by invading pathogen.
Through root systems and common mycorrhizal networks, plants are able to communicate with one another below ground and alter behaviors or even share nutrients depending on different environmental cues.
Plants respond to the vibrations of nearby sound which turns on two key genes inside of them that influence their growth. Plants also increase photosynthesis production in response to carbon dioxide, which is a by-product of human speech.
“But some research shows that speaking nicely to plants will support their growth, whereas yelling at them won't. Rather than the meaning of words, however, this may have more to do with vibrations and volume. Plants react favourably to low levels of vibrations, around 115-250hz being ideal.”
Botanists have long known plants are capable of sensing their environments and responding to them. They can grow differently in response to shade or drought, or release noxious chemicals to fend off predators, even as a caterpillar is mid-way through chewing on a leaf. [Our podcast, Undiscovered, is BACK.
Given that plants do not have pain receptors, nerves, or a brain, they do not feel pain as we members of the animal kingdom understand it. Uprooting a carrot or trimming a hedge is not a form of botanical torture, and you can bite into that apple without worry.
Plants have been found to have sensations that help them react to threats to their survival and other events in the environment, and to send chemical alarm signals to each other in a form of communication. Scientists have discovered that trees communicate to each other through an underground network of roots and fungi.
Generally, houseplants should not touch each other. Science has discovered they can feel touch, so if touched by another plant it can cause a genetic defense response that reduces growth. Alongside this, houseplants that touch could become more easily infested with pests.
By nature, plants are designed to be highly adaptable to their environments. This means that, yes, they do indeed hear what is happening around them.
A Silent Language
A pool of research has shown that plants release into the air a huge array of VOCs – volatile organic compounds – that allow them to communicate with other plants, micro-organisms, and insects. These messages can be sent continually – or just in response to key events.
Plants can sense and react to more aspects of their environments than we can, and they maintain bustling social lives by communicating with each other above and below ground. They also interact with other species.
Plants thrive when they listen to music that sits between 115Hz and 250Hz, as the vibrations emitted by such music emulate similar sounds in nature. Plants don't like being exposed to music more than one to three hours per day. Jazz and classical music seems to be the music of choice for ultimate plant stimulation.
Plants communicate underground with other organisms as well. They call on certain fungi and bacteria for help when there are not enough nutrients available. Plants do this by secreting very small quantities of certain substances. The micro-organisms release nutrients for the plant and get energy-rich sugars in return.
They conducted all sorts of experiments with plants – playing music, talking to plants, vibrations, etc. But their findings were discredited. Now fast forward nearly 50 years, and it has never been scientifically proven that plants have feelings.
Don't Waste Your Emotions on Plants, They Have No Feelings, Grumpy Scientists Say. A tree falls in the woods; but whether or not anyone hears it, the tree has no regrets. Nor does it experience fear, anger, relief or sadness as it topples to the ground.
New studies show that plants react to threats much in the way that fear motivates people and that plants can reduce depression and lead to longer life spans.
Your plants really dislike when you touch them, apparently. A new study out of the La Trobe Institute for Agriculture and Food has found that most plants are extremely sensitive to touch, and even a light touch can significantly stunt their growth, reports Phys.org.
The outer layer of a plant—analogous to our skin and also called the epidermis—is the first defense to keeping pathogens out. The epidermis itself is shielded by additional layers on certain plant parts: bark on a tree, a waxy cuticle on leaves. Plants also produce chemicals that are toxic to pathogens or to insects.
Like animals, plants respond to stress in a variety of ways; studies suggest that plants may release smelly chemical compounds or change their color and shape in response to drought and bites from hungry herbivores.
Instead of talking to the trees, try cuddling your favourite geranium. While flowers and other members of the plant kingdom seem not to complain when we pinch their buds or step on them, they are fully aware of what's happening and rapidly respond to the way they're treated, scientists have discovered.
Sessile – or stalkless – plants evolved to be incredibly sensitive to their environment in order to survive. Research into their awareness has revealed the incredible ways plants sense their environment: from "hearing" their predators, "smelling" their neighbours1and even "mimicking" the shapes of their plant hosts.
Ikea claims every other variable was exactly the same. The experiment was real and Ikea says the results speak for themselves. Plenty of people are skeptical of the experiment, but IKEA® aims to take the show on the road as a way to teach more children in schools about the effects of bullying. Was That Fake?