Читать книгу Creative Terrariums - Enid G. Svymbersky - Страница 9

Plants create their own food through a process called photosynthesis. In the Greek language, photo means “light,” and synthesis means “to combine.” Plants combine water and carbon dioxide and use the energy from the sun to create their food. Plants have tiny openings in their leaves called stomata which open to collect carbon dioxide from the air. The water molecules from the roots and carbon dioxide from the leaves are then transported to the plant’s chloroplast cells where sunlight is collected. Here food is created for the plant in the form of sugar (glucose). Oxygen is a byproduct of this process (it’s lucky for us that it is) and at night the plant releases oxygen into the air through the process of respiration. Because it’s not polite to disturb plants during respiration, if you must add water to your terrarium or water your houseplants in general, try to do it in the morning.

CRISPY BROWN LEAVES

Q: What does it mean when leaves, especially along the edges, turn brown and crispy?

A: From what we know about transpiration and evaporation, water from the leaves is evaporating faster than the plant can transport water from the roots to the leaves, leaving them to dry out and lose their vibrant color. Your plants could be suffering from the soil being too dry, the air being too dry, or getting too much sunlight. Prune crispy leaves to allow the plant to focus its energy on healthy foliage.