Why do plants need to breathe?

Without the proper level of oxygen, life as we know it today would not exist. Plants, like the rest of living beings, also breathe; if they did not, their cells would die and, consequently, their roots, stems and leaves would dry up.

Have you ever wondered why plants need to breathe? We know that they do it in order to stay alive, but how and in what do they use oxygen?

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How do plants breathe?

leaves of a plant

Throughout the day and night, the leaves absorb oxygen from the air through the stomata, which are openings on their surface, and through another series of openings in the bark of the stems, called lenticels, and also through the root hairs (roots) . Thus, even if deciduous plants run out of leaves at some time of the year, they can continue to breathe. In doing so, they absorb oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

The respiration of plants produces the so-called transpiration or loss of water, which is what ends up being water vapor. However, when they are thirsty they keep their stomata closed so as not to lose the precious liquid. Unfortunately, if the situation lasts too long, the leaves will end up drying up hopelessly.

Can you have plants in the bedroom?

amaranth leaves

One of the most common myths is the one that says that you cannot have plants in the bedroom because they steal our oxygen, which is not true. For it to be really dangerous we would have to have the room full of plants , as if it were a jungle.

The amount of oxygen a plant needs is much less than what our bodies need to keep us alive. So we can be and breathe with total peace of mind.

Did you know why respiration is important for plants?

Why do plants need to breathe?

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