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Do Plants Sleep At Night?

August 2, 2023
written by Sidra Batool

Plants do not sleep in the same way that animals do. Sleep is neurological phenomenon, and plants do not have a central nervous system or a brain.

They do not have a dedicated period of rest like animals. But they do have daily and seasonal patterns of growth and activity.

However, plants do have circadian rhythms, which are internal clocks that tell them when it is night and when it is day. These circadian rhythms control many of the plant’s activities, including photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.

At night, plants slow down many of their activities. They stop photosynthesis. They also close their stomata, which are tiny pores in their leaves that allow them to breathe. This helps to conserve water, as plants lose water through their stomata.

However, plants do not completely shut down at night. They continue to respire, which is the process by which they break down food to release energy. They also continue to grow, albeit at a slower rate.

How Plant’s Activities Change at Night?

While plants do not sleep in the same way that humans do, they do have a period of reduced activity at night. This is when they conserve energy and prepare for the next day.

Here are some of the ways in which plants’ activities change at night:

  • Plants stop photosynthesis at night, as they do not need to produce food in the dark.
  • Plants continue to breathe at night, as they still need to release energy.
  • Plants close their stomata at night, to conserve water.
  • Plant’s growth slows down at night, but they continue to grow.
  • Plant’s transpiration rate decreases at night, as they do not need to cool themselves down as much.