I read that some plants can actually hear running water

I was looking up info on root growth for my tomato plants last week and found this study from the University of Western Australia. It said pea plant roots can sense the sound of water moving through pipes or soil, and they will grow toward that sound. They played recordings of water for them in a lab. That just blew my mind. I always thought plants just grew toward moisture they could feel, not something they could hear. It makes me wonder about all the tiny sounds in my garden that I never notice. Now I'm thinking about the pipes under my house and if my plants are listening to them. Has anyone else come across research about plant senses like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

singh.uma6d agoMost Upvoted

Whoa, that's wild! I mean, I read about that study too, but idk, it seems like a big jump to say they "hear" like we do. It's probably more like they feel the vibrations from the water moving through stuff. I guess the roots just react to that shaking in the soil, not really listening to it.

leo_kelly6d ago

You ever wonder if my houseplants are judging my shower time? Like, the roots are all tuned into the pipes, and I'm just standing there wasting their precious water vibes. Makes me feel a little guilty, honestly. Maybe I should play them some nice river sounds or something.