how do plants know which way is up and down

In a plant cell, gravity pulls them to the "bottom," and once they find a resting place, they can send signals to neighboring cells in the plant essentially saying, "OK guys! We now know where Down is. Those of you that need to go down (root cells), go this way!

1. How do roots know which way to grow?
2. How do plants sense gravity and orient themselves?
3. How do plants grow upwards?
4. Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?
5. Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?
6. What happens if you plant a seed upside down?

How do roots know which way to grow?

If they come across some obstacle, they feel their way around it until they come to a point where they can grow again. The roots do this through a self-reinforcing chemical cycle. A protein at the tip of the root hairs, called RHD2, produces free radicals that stimulate the uptake of calcium from the soil.

How do plants sense gravity and orient themselves?

Gravity perception is important to plants because they need to send their roots downwards towards water and nutrients and their shoots upwards towards light. Plants are known to detect gravity using statoliths, which are small starch-filled packets that settle at the bottom of gravity-sensing cells.

How do plants grow upwards?

Paul - Plants grow upwards because they're trying to get to the light to begin photosynthesis, but mostly germinate underground where there's little light to follow. And so, the plants actually use gravity to tell it which way is up. They will grow upwards even in complete darkness.

Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?

Scott believes that pointing the seed in the right direction (meaning with the root in the down direction) when planting will improve germination rates and vigor of the plant. ... No matter how a seed is planted, the root will orient itself towards the pull of gravity in the downward direction.

Can plants grow in pots if they are sideways or upside down?

Growing plants upside down isn't a new concept. Those inverted tomato systems have been on the market for a while and work okay with good cultivation and watering practices. An upside-down garden allows you to grow in smaller spaces and keeps plants out of the soil where pests, like cutworms, can ravage them.

What happens if you plant a seed upside down?

Whether a seed is sown upside down, right side up or on its side, it has the ability to position itself so stems grow upward and roots grow downward. Seeds contain growth hormones that respond to gravity and rotate the seed to the correct orientation.