Songs to Help a Plant Grow

Overview

Growing up, I had one of those grandmothers who had lots of beautiful house plants. I will never forget the sight of her leaning over to talk and sing to them as she watered them. Grandma swore that talking to them helped them grow and stay healthy. While your philodendron may not understand what you are saying, it turns out that talking or singing to your plants really may help them grow.

Plants Absorb Carbon Dioxide

Plants need carbon dioxide to grow. When you talk or sing to a plant, you breathe out carbon dioxide from your body, which the plant can absorb. Talking or singing to a plant is also good for you because in turn, the plant expels oxygen that humans need. However, you would have to spend hours per day talking or singing to your plants. You would also need to be very close to them for them (and you) to benefit. The idea of talking to plants came about in 1848, when German professor Gustav Fechner wrote that plants, like humans, benefited from being showered with attention and talk. Other studies tried to prove that soothing music was beneficial to plants.

No Clear Answers

No one is really quite sure whether talking and singing to plants helps them grow. While many scientific studies have been made, there are no clear answers. However, proponents of the theory swear that forming a symbiant relationship with your plants, meaning a close, long-term relationship between two different species, benefits both the plant and the person caring for the plant.

Soothing Music For Your Plants

Soothing music seems to be most beneficial for plants. Just like infants, singing lullabies to plants may help them grow. Come in close contact with the plant as you are singing. Songs with lots of "h" sounds in them, that cause you to expel the greatest amount of carbon dioxide, will be the most helpful. In her book "The Sound Of Music And Plants," Dorothy Retallack wrote that plants subjected to soft, soothing music grew faster and healthier, and that they actually leaned toward the source of the music just as plants lean toward the source of sunlight. Conversely, Ms. Retallack noted that playing loud, violent music, like hard rock, caused plants to actually lean away from the music source and to wither and die.