We all know that plants “live” but do they die as well? And if so, why? Only time will tell. But for now, the answer to this question is, yes. To fully explore what it means for a plant to die of old age, we must first examine how plants grow and mature over time.
Most plants have indeterminate growth, meaning they keep on growing until they are killed by something else – usually weather or humans. However, there are some plants that have determinate growth. Determination means they stop growing when they reach maturity and do not grow any further.
In other words, plants do eventually die after they matured. But unlike animals, plants do not have a set age or size where they are considered “mature” or even “old.” Instead, the term “mature” is relative to the environment of the plant and is influenced by environmental cues such as available light and water sources. If conditions are right, they just keep growing with almost no limitations.
Can a Plant live forever?
Depending on the type of plant it is, some plants can live a very long time often referred to as Perennials (Plumstead) which means that there is a life cycle of more than two years. However, most plants are annuals meaning that they live for two years and then die. The difference in the life cycle is a genetic characteristic and can be determined by the environment in which the plant grows.
Environment matters more when it comes to the longevity a plant lives, under optimal circumstances, a plant can live for a long time. How long a plant’s life is influenced by the environment in which they are grown. Plants like sunflowers can live up to 30 years
As long as they have enough water, light, and nutrients to grow, plants do not have an upper limit on how long they can live if grown under optimal conditions. However, the lifespan of a plant depends on several factors such as the quality of care given to the plant and whether it is maintained correctly.
Factors that affect how long plants live
The major factors that determine the life span of plants are genes, age, environment, and biotic and abiotic stress.
Genes
Plants have a set of instructions that are passed down from one generation to the next. It affects how they develop, grow, and overcomes environmental stress.
These genetic instructions are called genes. Just like humans, plants have two sets of genes – one from their mother and one from their father. The two sets of genes blend together to give each plant its own unique genetic makeup of traits.
Age
Age is a major factor in determining the lifespan of plants because they have an indeterminate growth pattern. This means that they will grow until something kills them, like weather or people.
When a plant dies it is not a result of aging but rather, it is usually killed by another factor such as weather or people. There is no set point at which the plant “dies” and stops growing (Plumstead).
Environment
Plants that are grown in a controlled environment will have a healthier life span than those that are grown in an uncontrolled environment.
An example of this is that plants grow faster in the spring and summer than they do during the winter and fall. This is true because plants do not have to fight against extreme weather conditions to grow or go through periods of dormancy due to cold temperatures (Plumstead).
Biotic/Abiotic Stress
The amount of stress plants have to go through can affect their life span. Plants that are exposed to harsh conditions like being eaten by animals, pests, or insects, or grow in dry soils with little water and sunlight will die quicker than plants that are grown under optimal conditions with plenty of resources available (Plumstead).
Humans have the ability to influence how long a plant lives. This is commonly seen when people decide to try to keep a plant alive after it has died. It can also be seen when people try to prolong the life of a plant that has been killed.
Which plant lives the longest?
Bristlecone Pines (Pinus Longaeva) is the oldest known plant known to live 4,852 years. This tree grows in only two locations on earth, both in the White Mountains of eastern California.
This ancient pine is still alive today as a tree, but it also grows underground as a root system. Although all other plants die after they finished growing, this plant’s lifespan is roughly indefinite, perhaps because it is protected from predators by the harsh conditions of its environment.
Final Thoughts
With proper care, most plants can live for decades. Some plants, like the Bristlecone Pine and other plants with a similar growth strategy, can live for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Plants are constantly under stress from their environment. It is important for their survival that they be able to respond to this stress in several different.
One method of responding to stress is to build up toxins inside the plant that will eventually kill it but deter predators such as insects if they taste it first.