What do plants need to grow?

Water

When you plant a seed, the seed needs water to get nutrients from the soil. These nutrients help the plant to grow out the ground
When the leaves grow on the plant, they need water to turn the sunlight into food for the plant
Outdoor plants get their water from the rain. You need to remember to water plants that are indoors
It’s important to give a plant the correct amount of water. If plants don’t have enough, they could die. However, they can also die if they have too much water

Leaves need sunlight to make food for the plant. This process is called photosynthesis
Some plants, like sunflowers, enjoy full sunshine while others, like ferns, prefer shaded spots
Plants grow towards the sun. You might see plants growing in funny directions and this is because they are trying to find sunlight
It’s important to keep any indoor plants in a room that gets plenty of natural light

Seeds need the right temperature to grow up through the soil and make food. They can’t be too hot or too cold
Different plants need different temperatures. A cactus needs a high temperature to grow (ideally between 21°C and 32°C), while grass prefers a lower temperature (between 9°C and 12°C).

They use holes called stomata on the underside of their leaves to take in air, a bit like when we breathe through our noses
The air contains carbon dioxide, which plants use during photosynthesis to make their own food

Soil is like a home for the plant's roots. The roots hold the plant up and help it to drink water and get the nutrients it needs to grow
There are different types of soil, some are sandy, and some are crumbly
Different plants like different kinds of soil. For example, cacti like dry, sandy soil but irises prefer damp soil
The best type of soil for planting seeds is a mixture that drains well and has lots of nutrients for the plant to grow strong and healthy