why do some plants grow better in the shade than in the light?

niyaaaah

why do some plants grow better in the shade than in the light?

really stuck with this question, please help me!

:tsr:

Reply 1

x ShaM x

Plants grow “better” in shade… do u mean that the leaves grow bigger? If that’s what you mean then it could be because the leaves of those plants can grow bigger without losing water through evaporation as they are not in direct sunlight. They would need bigger leaves to produce the same amount of glucose through photosynthesis as the ones in direct sunlight so they would need to increase their surface area. Hope I helped!]

Reply 2

Kinkerz

Well sunlight can dry out plants, dehydrating them. Without water, they photosynthesise inefficiently and therefore do not grow very well. So in the shade, the retain more moisture and therefore photosynthesise better.
Obviously light is needed for the light-dependant reactions, but even in the shade, some light can be absorbed.

Reply 3

anyarian

over time plants adapt to their susoundings (natural selection, etc)
so in some places, where there isn't a lot of light, a plant is able to photosynesthise at maxium rate, because they have the correct amount of light. i think if these sorts of plants are exposed to more light, the rate of photosynthesis actually decreases. not sure why though.

also, i heard (on QI! love it!) that with beetroot, what can be done is, they have it exposed to light (artificially) for however many months on end, without a break.
then, they keep it in total darkness, and it grows really fast, because it is only usuing its stored energy for growth and respiration, it doesn't have to use any for photosynthesis. apparently the rate of growth in this situation is huge, you can hear it creaking as it grows, or something.

Reply 4

thatkidd

Because they don't like the sun very much.

Reply 5

Nabo

Plants need water for the process of photosynthesis. So in dark water doesn't dry out in dark it absorbs sunlight but too much of sunlight can dry the plant.

Reply 6

Nabo

Plants need water for the process of photosynthesis. So in dark water will become moisture. It absorbs sunlight but too much of sunlight can dry the plant.