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Do you have to have soil to keep plants alive2007-11-24 23:11:23

I have a few plants that are just in the gravel and have been for a few days, they seem fine so far, how long can they live with no soil, no co2, but a shitload of light?

Answers:

No, but it will depend on the plant. Some types should have their roots completely out of the water, and some do better as floating plants.

If you have fish, they do respire, so they take in oxygen and give off CO2 for your plants. They have easy access to water, of course, and the main minerals plants need (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, calcium) are supplied by the fish food and water you add to the tank (which is one reason it's not good to use distilled water), and your fishes' wastes. One mineral that's usually in short supply, though, is iron. It helps if you use an aquatic plant fertilizer that contains this to prevent the leaves from yellowing.

The light is needed for photosynthesis, but also for movement of water containing minerals through the plants. As photosynthesis occurs, and oxygen is given off, more water is needed for the process to continue. The water is used in the plan's cells and is split into hydrogen and oxygen with the oxygen being released through the leaves, and the hydrogen going to carbohydrates or cell structures. Think of this as water being pulled through the plant to make these (or to be released), and the water molecules being connected to each other through their chemical bonds - as one molecule is used, the rest get pulled along, which means more water (and all the nutrients in it) is constantly being pulled (absorbed) into the root system. As long as the lights are on, this is what happens.

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No. Hydroponics is where plants are grown entirely in liquid nutrients. They can live forever.

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soil? aquarium plants dont need soil.