How Tomato Juice Affects Plant Growth

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is a life process completed daily by plants. This process is imperative to plant growth as it facilitates food storage within the plant and helps the plant to create energy. Photosynthesis requires three main ingredients: sunlight and carbon dioxide taken in by a plant's leaves and water taken in by plant roots. These ingredients are processed and used for growth, production and strength. If any ingredients are missing or inadequately supplied, photosynthesis becomes interrupted leading to damage in the plant's health.

Nutrients

• Tomato juice contains nutrients that aid in plant growth, disease resistance and cell building. Some of the nutrients found in plant fertilizers, such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium, are also found in tomato juice. This aspect of tomato juice would be considered beneficial to plant growth, though tomato juice contains other ingredients that negate the positive effect these nutrients have on the plant.

Acid

• Tomato juice contains citric acid that can be dangerous to plants. Plants exposed to high concentrations of citric acid or plants experiencing prolonged exposure to citric acid display visible damage. Signs include leaf damage, dehydration and withering or wilting. Plants exposed to acid for too long eventually die. The citric acid in tomato juice may damage plants from the outside when they experience contact with the substance, as well as from the inside as their roots draw the juice in and the acid damages them internally.

Salt

• Salt is not added to all tomato juice, though it is a common ingredient for flavoring and preservation of the juice. Salt is deadly to plants. A desiccant, salt naturally draws moisture from the things it comes into contact with. Salt added to tomato juice damages a plant in two ways. Salt that touches the exterior of the plant dries and withers the areas it touches. Salt taken in by the roots causes plants to dehydrate from the inside out. Though plant roots are designed to absorb as much water as possible, salt is recognized by roots as an impurity, causing any liquid containing salt to be taken in more slowly by plants. This lesser water intake also adds to dehydration of the plant.