How do plants you buy at the store, stay alive in just water, and no dirt? Also, why are some plants supposed to get direct sun? Thanks!

the plants are already being put in mineral water. It isn't the dirt that helps the plant it is the minerals that help it grow.

How the plants survive when they are in shops

These plants get the light they need either through a window or from a lamp that mimics the kind of light coming from the sun.

what else can plants live in instead of soil

I have an air plant it is a specific kind of tropical plant that lives off of air moisture and a bit of water I give it. It has no roots, although it can develop feelers that allow it to latch onto branches.

How long can a plant survive without water?

Depends on the plant. For example, some cacti can go two years, but some flowers can't go a week without it.

Does a plant need soil to live?

Plants don't require soil to live if you have access to water with the correct nutrients for plants in it. That's why lotuses live in mud/muddy water, it's because mud is full of nutrients that the lotus needs, so the lotus will do better in the muddy water as opposed to just water (without minerals, obviously)! Some plants need soil, however. They may be able to survive a period of time in water with their food, but succulents and cacti need to be transferred to soil after water propagation. Maybe you would find it interesting to research more into this? Anyways, hope this answers your question. Ask more if you need to, there's always somebody on Khan Academy that can help!

how do plants stay alive

The sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide make sugars which the plant consumes to stay alive.

Do humans use the sugars in plants to turn into sugar for candy skittles?

no most sugar's are made in labs.

can plants live with a light bulb right next to them.

Yes, you can use most regular light bulbs to help grow your indoor plants

Chlorophyll is a naturally-produced chemical that helps in the photosynthesis process by, in fact, absorbing the photons (sunlight) used to rearrange atoms, as said in the second point. It also is actually a pigment, giving plants their green color!

Main content

Course: Middle school biology - NGSS > Unit 3

Lesson 1: Photosynthesis in organisms

Photosynthesis in organisms

Google Classroom

Review your understanding of photosynthesis in organisms with this free article aligned to NGSS standards.

Key points:

Many organisms make their own food through photosynthesis. Plants, algae, and some unicellular organisms do photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is powered by energy from sunlight. This energy is used to rearrange atoms in carbon dioxide and water to make oxygen and sugars.
Carbon dioxide and water are inputs of photosynthesis. These inputs come from the environment.
Oxygen and sugars are outputs of photosynthesis.
- The oxygen is released into the environment.
- The sugars can provide chemical energy. This energy can be used by the organism to live and grow. The sugars can also be used to build the organism’s structures, or they can be stored for later use.
Photosynthesis is usually carried out in chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are cell structures that contain molecules called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps capture light energy.

Photosynthesis is powered by energy from the sun. Carbon dioxide and water are inputs of photosynthesis. Oxygen and sugars are outputs. Image created with Biorender.com.

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Amelia Kiedrowski
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Amelia Kiedrowski's post “How do plants you buy at ...”
How do plants you buy at the store, stay alive in just water, and no dirt? Also, why are some plants supposed to get direct sun? Thanks!
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- Biology BOSS
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Biology BOSS's post “the plants are already be...”
  the plants are already being put in mineral water. It isn't the dirt that helps the plant it is the minerals that help it grow.
  Comment on Biology BOSS's post “the plants are already be...”
  (56 votes)
jasper.irvin
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to jasper.irvin's post “what is chlorophyll”
what is chlorophyll
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- Seth | Flightsong
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Seth | Flightsong's post “Chlorophyll is a naturall...”
  Chlorophyll is a naturally-produced chemical that helps in the photosynthesis process by, in fact, absorbing the photons (sunlight) used to rearrange atoms, as said in the second point. It also is actually a pigment, giving plants their green color!
  Comment on Seth | Flightsong's post “Chlorophyll is a naturall...”
  (48 votes)
18866dxbp
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to 18866dxbp's post “How the plants survive wh...”
How the plants survive when they are in shops
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- Johanna
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Johanna's post “These plants get the ligh...”
  These plants get the light they need either through a window or from a lamp that mimics the kind of light coming from the sun.
  Comment on Johanna's post “These plants get the ligh...”
  (18 votes)
Lynette
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Lynette's post “what else can plants live...”
what else can plants live in instead of soil
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- L Latimer
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to L Latimer's post “I have an air plant it is...”
  I have an air plant it is a specific kind of tropical plant that lives off of air moisture and a bit of water I give it. It has no roots, although it can develop feelers that allow it to latch onto branches.
  Comment on L Latimer's post “I have an air plant it is...”
  (11 votes)
TOMMYA
Posted a year ago. Direct link to TOMMYA's post “How long can a plant surv...”
How long can a plant survive without water?
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- Mimikyu222
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to Mimikyu222's post “Depends on the plant. For...”
  Depends on the plant. For example, some cacti can go two years, but some flowers can't go a week without it.
  Comment on Mimikyu222's post “Depends on the plant. For...”
  (14 votes)
Sarah
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Sarah's post “This says, "Photosynthesi...”
This says, "Photosynthesis is USUALLY carried out in chloroplasts." What are some examples of it being carried out in something else?
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big T
Posted a year ago. Direct link to big T's post “Does a plant need soil to...”
Does a plant need soil to live?
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- cyuutekat
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to cyuutekat's post “Plants don't require soil...”
  Plants don't require soil to live if you have access to water with the correct nutrients for plants in it. That's why lotuses live in mud/muddy water, it's because mud is full of nutrients that the lotus needs, so the lotus will do better in the muddy water as opposed to just water (without minerals, obviously)! Some plants need soil, however. They may be able to survive a period of time in water with their food, but succulents and cacti need to be transferred to soil after water propagation. Maybe you would find it interesting to research more into this? Anyways, hope this answers your question. Ask more if you need to, there's always somebody on Khan Academy that can help!
  Comment on cyuutekat's post “Plants don't require soil...”
  (11 votes)
CorneliusP
Posted a year ago. Direct link to CorneliusP's post “how do plants stay alive”
how do plants stay alive
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- whispingwillow
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to whispingwillow's post “The sunlight, water, and ...”
  The sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide make sugars which the plant consumes to stay alive.
  Comment on whispingwillow's post “The sunlight, water, and ...”
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Max100
Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to Max100's post “Do humans use the sugars ...”
Do humans use the sugars in plants to turn into sugar for candy skittles?
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- William
  Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to William's post “no most sugar's are made ...”
  no most sugar's are made in labs.
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Gioooooo
Posted a year ago. Direct link to Gioooooo's post “can plants live with a li...”
can plants live with a light bulb right next to them.
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- dplongs
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to dplongs's post “Yes, you can use most reg...”
  Yes, you can use most regular light bulbs to help grow your indoor plants
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  (5 votes)