A plant makes its own food
Nobody feeds the money plant. So where does its food come from?
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The idea
A plant makes its own food, mostly in its leaves. It needs three things.
- Carbon dioxide, a gas from the air.
- Water, from the soil.
- Sunlight, for energy.
Carbon dioxide and water are raw materials. Food is made from them. Sunlight gives the energy.
The food is glucose, a sugar. Oxygen comes out too. Extra glucose is stored as starch.
Step 1 of 3
- Three things arrive: air, water, sunlight.
- Air and water go in as raw materials. Light gives the energy.
- The leaf builds food from them. Food comes out.
Roots also take in minerals dissolved in water. Dissolved means mixed into water, too small to see. Minerals help a plant grow.
Watch out!
A packet of plant nutrients holds minerals. Minerals help a plant grow. The leaf still makes the glucose.