Sheila Stafford

Did you know that plants require a lot of the same things you do to grow and survive? In How Plants Grow for Kids, you will learn about four of the main things plants need to grow. These "core four" elements are soil, sunlight, air, and water. What do each of these things do for plants? Lets find out!

Plants will find most of the nutrients they need in the soil. These nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen is what causes the leaves of plants to be green. Phosphorous contributes to the overall health and strength of the plant and its root system. Potassium helps the plant fight off diseases. Soil also supports the plant and helps prevent it from falling over.

The next element is sunlight. The sun produces energy through the light that plants can use to make food. The leaves are the part of the plant that makes this process, photosynthesis, happen. Without this process, plants would not be able to survive. However, too much or too little sunlight can be harmf