Why do Plants need water?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Who Smarted?" Episode - Why Do Plants Need Water?

Podcast Information:

• Title: Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
• Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
• Episode: Why Do Plants Need Water?
• Release Date: January 20, 2025

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1. Introduction to Sunlight and Vitamin D (00:03 - 01:20)

The episode kicks off with the Narrator engaging listeners by highlighting the importance of sunlight. He poses a question to the audience about the benefits of being outdoors, emphasizing that sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D.

Notable Quote:

• Narrator (00:30): "Incredibly, it only takes 15 minutes of sunshine to provide you with nearly all the vitamin D that you need for the day."

The discussion then broadens to include various organisms that rely on sunlight, ultimately focusing on plants as the primary organisms that absolutely require sunlight to survive.

Notable Quote:

• Narrator (01:08): "But what's something that absolutely requires sunlight to survive? Yep, I heard a lot of you say it. Plants."

2. Plants and Their Dependency on Sunlight (02:05 - 04:39)

Sunny, the Sunflower character, joins the Narrator to explain how plants utilize sunlight. He introduces the concept of photosynthesis, detailing how plants convert sunlight into energy to produce their own food, thereby sustaining themselves and enabling growth and reproduction.

Notable Quotes:

• Sunny (02:20): "Sunlight gives plants the energy we need to make our own food, which allows us to grow and reproduce, creating more plants in a process called photosynthesis."
• Narrator (04:39): "But smartypants, how does photosynthesis actually work? What happens when the sun goes down? And is it possible for a plant to get too much?"

3. Understanding Photosynthesis (04:49 - 07:42)

Sunny breaks down photosynthesis, explaining it requires three main ingredients: carbon dioxide, water, and light. He describes how plants absorb carbon dioxide through tiny holes in their leaves and take in water from the soil via their roots. When sunlight hits the plant, it triggers a chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen.

Notable Quotes:

• Sunny (05:48): "Photosynthesis in plants requires three main ingredients. Carbon dioxide, water, and light."
• Narrator (06:08): "Have you ever seen someone watering outdoor plants with a garden hose or indoor plants with a watering can? That's why. Go on, Sunny."
• Sunny (07:14): "After sugar is created inside a plant, it gets broken down into something called chloroplasts. Think of them like the conductors of photosynthesis."

The Narrator emphasizes the vital role of oxygen produced during photosynthesis, highlighting its importance for life on Earth.

Notable Quote:

• Sunny (07:07): "Plants create oxygen... which is why plants are so important to life on Earth."

4. Fungi vs. Plants: A Brief Interlude (08:03 - 09:46)

The Narrator introduces Fungi, a character representing fungi organisms, to distinguish them from plants. Fungi explain that, unlike plants, they do not perform photosynthesis and instead obtain nutrients by breaking down organic materials like dead plants or animals.

Notable Quotes:

• Fungi (08:57): "Unlike plants, fungi don't need sunlight to grow. We get our nutrients from organic materials, like dead plants or animals that we break down with some special enzymes."
• Narrator (09:02): "Clarity. But I'm confused. You live here in the dark? I thought all plants need sunlight."

This segment clarifies the different survival mechanisms between plants and fungi, reinforcing the unique dependency of plants on sunlight and water.

5. Desert Plants: Survival Without Much Water (15:13 - 17:15)

Cactus Jack, representing desert plants, discusses how cacti survive in arid environments with minimal water. He explains that cacti have shallow, extensive root systems to quickly absorb any available water and store it in their thick stems. Additionally, the absence of leaves reduces water loss through evaporation.

Notable Quotes:

• Cactus Jack (15:40): "Cacti like me have shallow roots that sit just a few inches beneath the ground to slurp up any water we can get our hands on."
• Sunny (09:59): "If plants get too much sun, man, we get burned. But unlike you, we don't go to the store to buy sunscreen."

The Narrator poses a critical question about obtaining water from cacti during emergencies, to which Cactus Jack humorously warns against it due to the acidic nature of the stored liquid and the presence of sharp needles.

6. The Circadian Rhythms of Plants (17:15 - 18:28)

As the sun sets, the Narrator inquires whether plants "sleep." Sunny clarifies that plants do not sleep like humans but have circadian rhythms that regulate their activities, such as preparing for photosynthesis before sunrise and producing natural sunscreen during peak sunlight.

Notable Quotes:

• Sunny (17:31): "Unlike humans and animals, plants don't have essential nervous systems that tell us when it's time to go to sleep."
• Narrator (18:00): "And sunflowers are famous for following the sun."

He further explains phototropism, the growth of plants toward light sources during the day, which causes them to appear droopy at night when there is no light.

Notable Quote:

• Sunny (18:28): "The most common explanation comes from a plant behavior called phototropism... At night, plants have no light to grow towards, so they look droopier."

7. Conclusion and Credits (19:02 - End)

The episode wraps up with acknowledgments and credits. The Narrator humorously attributes his return to the cave encounter and thanks listeners, including a special shout-out to fans Oliver and Jamie from Mad River, California. The episode credits list the creative team behind "Who Smarted?"

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Key Takeaways:

• Sunlight and Photosynthesis: Plants require sunlight to perform photosynthesis, converting light into energy by combining carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen.
• Water's Role: Water is essential for photosynthesis and overall plant health. Plants absorb water through their roots, which is then used in metabolic processes.
• Adaptations in Arid Environments: Desert plants like cacti have specialized root systems and structural adaptations to survive with minimal water.
• Plant Rhythms: While plants don't sleep, they follow circadian rhythms and exhibit behaviors like phototropism to maximize light absorption during the day.

"Who Smarted?" effectively combines humor and education to make complex biological processes accessible and engaging for young listeners, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural world.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. Listen. Can you guess where I am? Did you say the great outdoors or my backyard? I'll accept either of those answers. And how great is it to be outside on a beautiful, bright, sunny day? Not only does it feel good, it's good for you. Did you know your body actually produces a vitamin when exposed to sunlight?

[Fungi]

Whoa.

[Narrator]

Any guess what vitamin it is? Is it A, B, C or D? If you said vitamin D, you're right. Incredibly, it only takes 15 minutes of sunshine to provide you with nearly all the vitamin D that you need for the day. Of course, we humans aren't the only ones who need sunlight. Who else needs sunlight? Smartypants, call out your answers. I heard some people say animals.

[Sunny]

Sure.

[Narrator]

Many animals need sunlight to stay warm. I heard someone say their solar powered calculator.

[Cactus Jack]

Sure, sure.

[Narrator]

But what's something that absolutely requires sunlight to survive? Yep, I heard a lot of you say it. Plants.

[Sunny]

Sup? Dude, you mind taking a step back? You're blocking my rays.

[Narrator]

Huh? Who said that?

[Sunny]

Down here, man.

[Narrator]

Um, all I see is a sunflower.

[Sunny]

Yeah, man, that's me. I'm Sunny. Groovy to meet you, man, but you're still jamming my light.

[Narrator]

Oops, sorry. How's that?

[Sunny]

Oh, yeah. Let the sun shine in. Appreciate it, dude.

[Narrator]

You're welcome. And it's nice to meet you, Sonny. I'm the trusty narrator.

[Sunny]

Narrator, huh?

[Narrator]

What do you narrate a podcast called who's Smarted? Say hi to the smarty pants.

[Sunny]

Sup, Smarties? I've never been on a podcast before, so this is pretty rad.

[Narrator]

The raddest. Anyway, the Smartypants and I were just talking about how humans and plants need sunlight.

[Sunny]

We sure do, man. Trees, plants, flowers. It's how we get our food.

[Narrator]

Dude, you eat sunlight?

[Sunny]

Nah, dude. Sunlight gives plants the energy we need to make our own food, which allows us to grow and reproduce, creating more plants in a process called photosynthesis.

[Parent]

Ah, of course.

[Narrator]

But, smarty pants, how does photosynthesis actually work? What happens when the sun goes down? And is it possible for a plant to get too much? Son?

[Sunny]

Good questions, my dude, and Ol Sonny here's got the answers.

[Narrator]

Great. Looks like it's time for another whiff of science on who smarted, who's smarted?

[Sound Guy]

Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted?

[Narrator]

Parents, let's be real.

[Parent]

The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's Kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next.

[Narrator]

We needed a reset.

[Parent]

But finding healthy snacks kids love that is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new who Smarted sponsors, Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap scanner is a lifesaver.

[Cactus Jack]

Just scanning scan the package of your.

[Parent]

Kids favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills, crackers, chomps, beef sticks, and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults.

[Cactus Jack]

Love that they're off the sugar roller coaster.

[Parent]

Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunch boxes or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thryv sponsors who Smarted, helping us keep making the show that you love.

[Cactus Jack]

Ready to reset with healthy snacks?

[Parent]

Go to thrivemarket.com smarted for 30% off and a free $60 gift. That's thrivemarket.com smarted.

[Narrator]

Okay, I'm sure some of you smarty pants have heard the term photosynthesis when it comes to plants, but what exactly does it mean? Sunny?

[Sunny]

Photosynthesis means putting together through light during photosynthesis, man, plants trap the sun's energy with our leaves and use it to make our food. Do you know what plants like to eat?

[Narrator]

Hey, smartypants, do you know what plants eat? Is it A, other plants, B, glucose, C bugs, or D Spaghettios? If you said D Spaghettios, then chef boy, are you wrong. Now, if you said C bugs, that's technically correct for some species of carnivorous or meat eating plants like the Venus flytrap. But the correct answer for most plants is B glucose. Glucose is a kind of simple sugar that plants make during photosynthesis.

[Sunny]

Gotta have my glucose, dude.

[Narrator]

Nice. So tell me, Sunny, how does photosynthesis work exactly?

[Sunny]

All right, check it out. Photosynthesis in plants requires three main ingredients. Carbon dioxide, water, and light. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air through teeny tiny holes in our leaves. We also need water from the soil, which we absorb through our roots.

[Narrator]

Ah, smarty pants. Have you ever seen someone watering outdoor plants with a garden hose or indoor plants with a watering can? That's why. Go on, Sunny.

[Sunny]

When sunlight hits a plant, it starts a chemical reaction breaking down carbon dioxide and water molecules to create glucose, sugar and oxygen. Gas. Not that kind of gas, dude.

[Narrator]

Sorry. Our sound guy always plays a fart sound whenever someone says gas.

[Sound Guy]

I'll stop doing it when it stops being funny anyway.

[Narrator]

Wait, sonny, did you say plants create glucose? For food and oxygen.

[Sunny]

That's right. Plants create oxygen. You know, the stuff humans breathe during photosynthesis. Man. Plants release oxygen into the air, which is why plants are so important to life on Earth.

[Narrator]

They sure are, smartypants. Be sure to thank a plant the next time you see one.

[Sunny]

After sugar is created inside a plant, it gets broken down into something called chloroplasts. Think of them like the conductors of photosynthesis. The chloroplasts break down the sugar into energy we plants use as fuel to grow and reproduce. Oh. And not only are plants good for the environment, but we smell good, too, unlike someone I know.

[Narrator]

Hey, I showered today. Or yesterday?

[Sunny]

I wasn't talking to you, dude. I was talking to him.

[Fungi]

Who, me? Over here, inside this cave.

[Narrator]

Huh. I don't remember having a cave in my backyard. Either way, I don't think I want to go in there. It looks dark and scary.

[Fungi]

What is ya, chicken?

[Narrator]

What do you think, smarty pants? Should we go inside the cave? All right, let's do it. But first, let me turn on the flashlight app on my phone so I can see. That's better.

[Fungi]

Whoa, whoa. Turn that off.

[Narrator]

Oops. Sorry. Um, do you mind if I ask? Who are you?

[Fungi]

The name's Fungi, but don't let the name fool you. I'm not that fun a guy.

[Narrator]

Clearly. But I'm confused. You live here in the dark? I thought all plants need sunlight.

[Fungi]

Technically, fungi aren't plants. We're fungi. We don't make our own food like your flowery friend over there. Although some of us look like flowers. You might have heard of my friend Mushroom.

[Narrator]

Yes, I have. Mushrooms are fungi.

[Fungi]

That's right. Unlike plants, fungi don't need sunlight to grow. We get our nutrients from organic materials, like dead plants or animals that we break down with some special enzymes.

[Narrator]

You feed off of dead plants and animals?

[Fungi]

Told you I'm not a fungi.

[Narrator]

Sunflower was right. It does smell kind of funky in here. No offense.

[Fungi]

Really, it smells fine to me. Except someone smells like SpaghettiOs.

[Cactus Jack]

Welp, gotta go.

[Narrator]

Me and the smarty pants have more smarting to do, and I'm a little afraid of the dark. Catch you later, Fungi.

[Fungi]

Much later, I hope.

[Narrator]

Okay, I'm back in the sunlight, smarty pants. The sun might be bad for fungi, but. But it's good for plants, who need the sun to survive. But can a plant ever get too much sun? What do you say, Sunny?

[Sunny]

Well, you know how the saying goes. Too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Just like humans. If plants get Too much sun, man, we get burned. But unlike you, we don't go to the store to buy sunscreen.

[Narrator]

No, a plant buying sunscreen would be ridiculous.

[Sunny]

That's right, dude. Cause we make our own.

[Narrator]

Wait, plants make their own sunscreen?

[Fungi]

Whoa.

[Sunny]

That's right. Scientists recently discovered a group of molecules in plants that protects us from sun damage. These molecules, called sinope T esters, help block ultraviolet B radiation from damaging a plant's DNA and tissue.

[Narrator]

Wow. I would save a fortune every summer if I could make my own sunscreen. Speaking of, all this sun talk's making me kind of thirsty. I could sure use some water.

[Sunny]

You could use some water? Dude, I am positively parched.

[Narrator]

Oh, here, allow me.

[Sunny]

Oh, man, I was feeling a little droopy, man. I can't go too long without water. You know, same.

[Narrator]

But do all plants, trees and flowers need water to survive? What about a plant living in a remote desert region like a cactus? Does a cactus need water to survive? The answer after this quick break.

[Cactus Jack]

Hi, guys. It's trusty. Today's episode is brought to you by Squarespace. And I need to tell you about their new design intelligence feature because it's a game changer for anyone who's been putting off creating a website. Look, I know how intimidating tech can feel, but Squarespace's AI powered design system literally transforms your basic ideas into a beautiful professional website. We've used Squarespace to build websites here at Atomic, and what I love is that it combines AI tech with their decades of design expertise. You answer a few simple questions, and it creates a fully customized site that actually looks good. No more staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. And no need to spend thousands of dollars getting a site designed for a passion project or experimental idea. Plus, their payment system makes it super easy to get paid for your services. Whether you're selling courses, booking consulting sessions, or offering downloads, they've got all the popular payment options like Apple Pay and Klarna built right in. Head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial and use code smarted to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Today's episode is brought to you by IXL Learning. You know how every child learns differently. That's exactly what makes IXL special for every family. IXL is an incredibly flexible online learning program that enriches your child's classroom or homeschool curriculum with math, language arts, science, and social studies. What I love most is how it adapts to each child's level. If your child races ahead in math but needs extra practice in reading comprehension. IXL adjusts perfectly to both situations. And here's what's really cool. Kids can explore any topic at any grade level so they're never stuck in a one size fits all program. Plus, they get instant feedback as they learn, which makes it fun. That's why parents of kids in traditional schools and homeschools have fallen in love with ixl. With IXL you will make a real research backed difference in your child's learning journey. Our listeners can get an exclusive 20% off their IXL membership when you sign up today at ixl.com smarted visit ixl.com smarted to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Narrator]

Parents, let's be real.

[Parent]

The post holiday sugar crash is no joke. Christmas cookies had my family's kids bouncing off the walls one moment, crashing the next.

[Narrator]

We needed a reset.

[Parent]

But finding healthy snacks kids love that is a struggle. So I shared one of my favorite new WHO Smarted sponsors, Thrive Market. Thrive's Healthy Swap scanner is a lifesaver.

[Cactus Jack]

Just scan the package of your kids.

[Parent]

Favorite snacks like sugary cookies or salty chips, and the scanner suggests cleaner, healthier options and instantly. Now, instead of sugar bombs, my extended family is loving simple mills, crackers, chomps, beef sticks and lesser evil popcorn. The kids are thrilled and the adults.

[Cactus Jack]

Love that they're off the sugar roller coaster.

[Parent]

Whether it's low sugar, organic snacks for lunchboxes or after school bites, Thrive has us covered. Plus, everything gets delivered right to your door. That is why I am so happy that Thrive sponsors who's Smarted, helping us keep making the show that you love.

[Cactus Jack]

Ready to reset with healthy snacks?

[Parent]

Go to thrivemarket.com smarted for 30% off and a free $60 gift. That's thrivemarket.com smarted.

[Narrator]

Now back to who smarted. All right, smarty pants.

[Cactus Jack]

True or false?

[Narrator]

All plants, trees and flowers need water to survive. Did you say true? That's right. In addition to sunlight and air, plants need water. Even a cactus.

[Sound Guy]

You talking to me, partner?

[Narrator]

Whoa. Hey, Cactus Jack. We don't want any trouble.

[Sound Guy]

Then what do do you want?

[Narrator]

The Smartypants and I just wanted to know how plants like cacti are able to survive in the desert without much water.

[Sound Guy]

Heck, why didn't you just say so? It all starts in my roots. Cacti like me have shallow roots that sit just a few inches beneath the ground to slurp up any water we can get our hands on. Our roots can also extend out sideways to help us collect as much water as possible when it does rain. It also helps that we don't got no leaves, so we don't lose much water through evaporation like other plants. No offense, sonny.

[Sunny]

It's all good, dude.

[Sound Guy]

Also, there's lots of room to store water in our thick stems. Some of us cacti can go two years without a sip of fresh water.

[Narrator]

Two years? Wow, that's a long time.

[Sound Guy]

You're darn tootin. We're as tough an ombre as they come.

[Cactus Jack]

I'll say.

[Narrator]

One more question, Cactus Jack. If a smarty pants were ever to get lost in the desert, would they be able to get water from inside a cactus?

[Sound Guy]

What you think? Cause we store water inside us, you can just crack us open and enjoy a cool, refreshing drink?

[Narrator]

Maybe.

[Sound Guy]

Yeah. Well, don't try it. The liquid cacti produce is very acidic and might give you a tummy ache or worse. That is, if we don't poke you with our sharp needles.

[Parent]

Ouch.

[Narrator]

That's good to know, Cactus Jack. What do you know? The sun is starting to set and it's getting late. I'm sure looking forward to a good night's sleep. But what do plants do at night? What do you think, smarty pants? Do plants sleep?

[Sunny]

The answer is no way, dude. Unlike humans and animals, plants don't have essential nervous systems that tell us when it's time to go to sleep. But plants do have circadian rhythms that help us tell what time of day it is. This helps us prepare for photosynthesis before sunrise and tells us when to produce our natural sunscreen during the hottest part of the day.

[Narrator]

And sunflowers are famous for following the sun.

[Sunny]

It's true. We face east to catch the sun when it rises and turn to keep facing it as it crosses the sky and sets in the west. Of course, once we get too old, we. We just chill out.

[Narrator]

But if plants don't sleep, why do some plants look like they're sleeping at night? Are they just pretending so their parents don't get mad?

[Sunny]

Not quite, dude. The most common explanation comes from a plant behavior called phototropism. This is the movement of a plant when exposed to light during the daytime. Plants grow toward the sunlight to get as much sun as possible for maximum energy. At night, plants have no light to grow towards, so they look droopier. If you see a plant looking sleepy during the daytime, try giving it some water.

[Narrator]

Sweet. Thanks for all your help today, Sunny.

[Sunny]

Happy to help, man. Uh oh, I think our friend Fungi is back.

[Narrator]

Actually, that was me. I ate too many sunflower seeds.

[Sunny]

Hey.

[Narrator]

A super special shout out to Oliver and his teacher mom Jamie in Mad River, California. Thanks for being such awesome smarty fans of who Smarted this episode. Plants was written by Brad deprima and voiced by Brandon Botany Bayless, Adam Dandelion Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Horticulture Hahn. Who's Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Carnation Komaski. The theme song is by Brian Sunflower Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.