5 things plants need to grow Page 1192

Plants are simple folk: give them sunlight to power photosynthesis and they’ll turn carbon dioxide into lunch like tiny green chefs.

Add water so cells stay turgid and nutrients can flow, but don’t drown them unless you’re cultivating regret.

They also need air (CO₂ and O₂) for photosynthesis and respiration, plus nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements—from soil or fertiliser.

Round it out with the right temperature and space—room for roots, not a shoebox—then let time do its quiet, leafy thing.