Book 4, Question 16
Why Do Plants Drink Through Roots?
Roots are the plant's drinking straws. Tiny hairs pull water and minerals from the soil, so the leaves can cook food in the sun. Let's follow one drink!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- Roots soak up water from the soil and carry it into the plant.
- Tiny root hairs give roots much more surface to take in water and minerals.
- Tubes in the stem carry water up from the roots to the leaves.
- Water escapes through tiny holes in leaves, and that helps pull more water up from the roots.
- The bigger the plant, the deeper its roots usually go.
- Roots also hold the plant in place so it does not fall over.
Sources: BBC, BBC, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
How does water get to the top of a tall tree?
Water escaping from the leaves pulls more water up through tubes in the trunk, all the way from the roots.