Plant Sensitivity
This time of year we (gardeners, and the like) prune everything back for the Winter. Almost every mature plant in your garden gets some sort of hair cut, be it significant or a small dead-heading. But have you ever wondered what the plants thinks of all this?
I like to assume my plants enjoy when I prune them. My roses feel refreshed when I dead-head old, spent blossoms. My boxwood is happy when it gets a swift sheering on all sides; I like to imagine it feels like its just lost 10 pounds – but not in the “I worked really hard by going to the gym” way, but more in the “I have a hot date and am starving myself except for alcohol for the next three days” way. Shearing boxwood is like cutting out carbs for a couple weeks.
So. Yeah! I think plants like to be pruned, right?
Plant sensitivity has been widely studied since the beginning of… well, studying. I guessing (since that’s what you do on a blog, as opposed to a doctoral thesis) phototropism was the first noticeable, almost tangible studying of plant sensitivity. Phototropism is a growth movement induced by light or sun, or lack there of. Pretty simple, where there is light, a plant will move toward said area. The perfect example always being – sunflowers. Even (especially) as seedlings, they tilt and stretch towards a source of heat or light. And that we get. We understand this very obvious and visual plant sensitivity. But what about simply touching a plant, speaking a certain way around them or even (here we go! off to the races…) having a certain energetic way of being around them?
Take this picture of this orchid. The fine, tiny hairs on a Paphiopedilum orchid are purely functional. The trichome have evolved to grow for a number of reasons, namely to mimic aphids – which in turn, attract aphid eating insects including the Syrphid fly, one of the plant’s pollinators. Smarty pants little orchid, no? But by simply looking at these hairs they have a connotation around them that they could possibly be for feeling something else.
Do you think this orchid blossom can feel what I’m feeling? Does she feel tickled when I touch the small hairs on her petals or the difference of when I water her with warm or cold water? Does she have a preference between Snoop Dogg or Marvin Gaye?
I say, Yes.
However, your thoughts are more important… please comment.
(Much more to come on this topic… consider this a teaser.)
26 Responses to “Plant Sensitivity”
Botanically Belize
i sort of think that they don’t “feel” in the same way we do, but they must sense and react to the assault. how could they not? we share the life force. tough love, i guess.
I have to admit I hate pruning. I have to make myself do it. I always feel like the plant has done all this wonderful creating of leaves and stems and I should just leave it alone. But here on the coast you do have to prune, unlike where I used to live in Alberta where if something grew, ( at least in our garden) you just stood back and cheered. Plus now I have a Bonsai and I’ve been given lots of hints to prune and haven’t done it. Just against my nature I guess.
Funnily enough, I was just looking at this post about the sensitive plant (http://plantaholism.tumblr.com/post/2590796557/when-the-plants-complain-about-you-being-too) right before I saw your blog entry.
I, for one, believe that plants feel.
I hope they like pruning!
Snoop Dogg or Marvin Gaye? That be the question right there. My plants can go either way. Depending on their mood. Or what they are hungry for…
Happy new year Jenn!
It’s excellent webpage, I was looking for something like this
Thanks for this nice post!
Oh good, I’m glad that’s just a teaser and we can look forward to more to come. I have no answers, though those are questions I ask all the time as well (though I wonder if my plants prefer Zeppelin or Sabbath!). This post reminds me a lot of a chapter of The Landscaping of Jays, a book by Judith Larner Lowry of Larner Seeds in Bolinas that I just read yesterday. She asks a bunch of plant people if they talk to plants, and most of their answers are hilarious, if not thought-provoking. Cut tulips display awesome heliotropism as well, even growing up to three inches even after they’ve been cut and stuck in some vase. Anyhow, thanks for the sweet post!
nice photos! plants do respond positively to loving attention — i guess im a believer. look forward to hearing what else you have to say on the topic.
ps. hilarious nat geo post. i hope your poison oak is all cleared up.
Thanks Daricia… luckily no poison oak!
The only reason this idea freaks me out is because someone somewhere did some important study of something (do you love my specifics almost as much as I do?!) and found that when people bit into vegetables there was a high pitched noise, and this person wondered if it wasn’t the vegetable screaming in pain as it was consumed.
Which totally weirded me out. Like, hardcore. So while I’m charmed at the thought of plants getting tickled, I’m somewhat less tickled at the thought of my broccoli shrieking as I devour it.
Also, you know what’s better than punching inanimate objects? Swearing like a sailor around plants.
you have beutiful flowers here. Congrats! Willow it is a doll, for sure. And I love your logo. XOXO
aloha,
what an interesting post…i have to constantly prune here since the jungle can get very large and the weeds believe me do not sleep during winter and can become killer huge weeds spreading their seed pods everywhere….i also love your macro shots – very sensitive like your posting
Always wondered about this. My father always told me to apologize to the plant when I had to do some mayor pruning or change. And I do talk to them sometimes, I think they feel more than we think.
I have seen some flowers bloom harder after a nice new one arrived. My guess, they get jealous.
I have an awesome little button that reads: “Too bad trees can’t scream”
This whole topic is super freaky and I’m loving the research… more to come. Thanks for your reply! xoxoJenn
Well, I am just THRILLED to have a new bff!! Hehe. It’s awesome we have so much in common. I love meeting new fabulous Jennifers, especially when they also love champagne and cupcakes.
Your blog is so beautiful and you write incredibly well. I am one of those people who also feel that all living things have feelings. In fact, it is something I learned way back when in Biology AP! That always struck a chord with me and makes me treat my plants at home with a lot more love…
I just wanted to comment & say that I was very impressed with the design on your blog & also your writing skills.. happy holidays!
Those flowers are so stunning and I loved reading your post..I was wondering about this the other day too:) Have a fantastic day
Kisses
My sister told me about a heartwarming item in the news about how an everyday couple employed the love of fresh vegetables to build a strong connection among the neighbors. Maybe all of us should share the joy of gardening.
Happy New Year!
Loved your article!! I will highly advise my friends to read your website
Great tip…here is one my dad likes to throw around “A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.”
Good stuff! I like your blog. You must have a lot of subscribers!
Larry King once wisely commented, “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.” That’s exactly how I feel. I am grateful to have learned something new today. – Tenis
wow…its simply a amazing post…how interestingly you have described all the points… I really like it.