Facts on Plants Growing Bigger With Milk or Water

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is a life process plants use to create energy, grow, store food and produce. This process uses sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to convert the sun's energy to plant energy. Sunlight and carbon dioxide are taken in by plant leaves while water is taken in by plant roots. If any of these key ingredients are missing or inadequately provided, the plant is unable to perform photosynthesis. When photosynthesis is interrupted, the plant suffers damage to its overall health.

Benefits of Milk for Plants

• Milk contains nutrients calcium and nitrogen, which are found in fertilizers and are valuable to plant growth. These nutrients help build cells, make the plant stronger and more productive. The calcium also helps plants fight off viral diseases. Applied externally in a spray, milk fights fungal, viral and bacterial disease. The enzymes in milk change the pH on the surface of plants and make the environment inhospitable to mold and mildew. The added strength provided by milk for plants would be beneficial for growth, however milk contains other substances harmful to plants that often negate these benefits.

Drawbacks of Milk for Plants

• Transpiration is the process by which plant releases fluids from within. Milk contains substances that are unable to be released through transpiration. They remain inside the plant. These substances damage the plant from within as they are foreign to the plant and cannot be processed. Milk also contains a sugar called lactose, which cannot be processed by plants. This causes the plants to absorb the fluid containing lactose more slowly, leading to a decrease in fluid intake. The plant may potentially become dehydrated over time by this decreased fluid intake. The milk that is not absorbed by plant roots builds up around the plant during this time and breeds bacteria and disease in the soil.

Water for Plants

• The structure of plants' roots enable them to absorb water quickly. The water keeps plants hydrated, strong and productive. Though milk does contain water, the water in milk is polluted with sugars and fats, which plants recognize as impurities. That makes the milk in water less useful to plants. Pure water, however, is taken in by roots, processed and used right away. Water combined with a high-quality fertilizer formulated for plants is best for growing large, healthy plants.