My sister and I are in disagreement on whether or not sunlight/light needs to be able to hit the top of the soil of a plant. It started because she told me she needed to extend her hanging planter because the sunlight from the window wasn’t touching the plants soil. I started crashing out and tried to explain to her that the leaves are what need the light. She was adamant that I was wrong and that she has read that the soil also needs light. She mentioned she read it while reading up on Hoyas and string plants. I think she is wrong because even seeds can grow with water and light alone. Plus, I have plenty of water propagated plants that roots are completely covered from light. So, please, end this debate: does light need to hit the soil?
by FosterToyya
14 Comments
The plants usually need to be able to “see” the sky & get sunlight on their leaves. So yes, I agree with you.
The charitable interpretation is that light hitting the soil makes it warmer and helps it dry out quicker thus reducing the chance of root rot. But no, the leaves are what use the light for photosynthesis I can’t think of a single reason the soil needs photons
No the soil doesn’t need to see the sun per se. But for the hanging basket, it would work better if the center of the pot (where the soil is) gets sun light. If it doesn’t it’ll be bald in that area.
Your sister is correct, the pot should be lowered
Soil does not need sun. BUT the leaves close to the soil do. If theu were mine, I’d lower them so the top of the plants get sun.
Soil don’t need light.
All plants are different? My clematis want their soil blocked from the sun. But generally just the leaves want it. Unless its a birch but then that’s a tree so.. ..every plant is different!
I think she’s a bit mistaken in that it needs to hit the soil. What she really means is that in order for a string or viney plant to have a full appearance on top, the sun needs to hit the entire plant, not just the dangling vines. The soil technically doesn’t need light, but most plants should be in an area where light hits the entire plant, including the soil. There are of course plants where the soil should be guarded against sunlight. But most of the time light should be hitting every part of the plant. The soil doesn’t require light, but good lighting should cover to the base of the plant in most cases.
No, but it needs to hit all leaves, and there tend to be leaves on the soil surface if a plant is being properly cared for.
>She mentioned she read it while reading up on Hoyas and string plants.
Where did she read it? Was it a reliable, trustworthy source?
In nature, the sun rarely hits the soil. The soil is covered with vegetation and leaf litter. Bare soil tends to be unhealthy soil. Obviously in houseplants you can have bare soil (though generally what you have isn’t soil, it’s soil-free potting mix). But you never *need* bare soil.
Also, for what it’s worth, some light is hitting the surface of the soil in your picture. The white ceiling is reflecting lots of light (though probably not the best light for photosynthesis).
No
Tell your sister, “You don’t even need soil.”
Someone needs to go back to elementary school science class because what lmao
https://preview.redd.it/0wkvkm0r43zf1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c25615325e9d30cb8f23905c53fa6458abb32210
My solution is to use magic🪄 to let the plants see the light.
All my guests are amazed.
No. Any sun loving the plant needs the sun on the leaves to photosynthesize. Sun on the soil will just dry it out faster.