What does a healthy root system do for your plant?

Like humans, plants need water and nutrients to survive. Above ground it is easy to see your plants develop. The roots of your plant absorb nutrients from the soil. They then transport these to the stem of the plant. From there, the nutrients spread within the plant, which starts growing as a result. This eventually leads to flowers and fruits. That is why healthy roots are important. But exactly what happens underground?
Healthy roots

There are some terms that help you properly understand what happens underground:

Healthy root formation in plants

After the germination of a seed the plant starts forming roots. During the first stage of growth, the plants invests a large amount of energy in developing roots. First a main or tap root grows. This tap root curls deep into the soil where it searches for water and nutrients. Next, lateral roots form. Rootlets will eventually grow from these. Because roots are the base of your plants, it is important to stimulate their production and growth as much as possible. This can be done by using a root promotor like Power Roots. A healthy root system is white and has a lot of lateral roots and rootlets.

Avoid overwatering plants 

Irrigation has a major effect on the development of roots. When a plant receives water too often it becomes lazy. Therefore, because of this you should never water a plant while the soil is still too wet. In this case, a plant no longer uses its energy to develop new roots. Additionally, roots in moist soil are more susceptible to destructive fungi. These can spread rapidly in a moist environment. This can lead to root rot. If this happens, the lowest leaves will begin to wilt and the roots will turn brown. The growth of the plant also stagnates. Avoid overwatering plants and go for healthy plant roots.

Abundant root system for better quality

A plant with an abundant root system can absorb more nutrients. Plants use nutrients for their growth and development. This includes the creation of new healthy roots and leaves, the growing of the stem and the production and development of fruits. A plant is considered vital when a lot of nutrients are supplied and drained well. In this scenario, the plant also creates a dynamic immune system. The brix value of the plant will rise. This means the sugar level and quality increase. It also makes insects lose interest in the plant.

Nutrient absorption by plant roots

The nutrients that the plant absorbs comes from multiple sources. Plants use both organic and mineral nutrients. Organic nutrients can not be directly absorbed by plants. Instead, soil life digests organic substances and transforms them into inorganic or mineral nutrients. This can be absorbed directly by your plants roots. As such, mineral sources can be absorbed by plants without intervention by soil life. Plagron not only offers organic base nutrients, Alga Grow and Alga Bloom, but also mineral base nutrients Terra Grow and Terra Bloom.

Rhizosphere

The rhizosphere is the area directly in between the soil and the roots of the plant. This area is approximately 1 mm wide. In the rhizosphere some of the most important processes of the plant take place. Here, microorganisms give off vitamins, antibiotics and natural plant hormones. Your plant uses these for its growth and development. In return, its roots exude water, glucose and amino acids for the microorganisms. This fluid is also called exudate. In this way, plants and microorganisms share a symbiotic relationship.

The pH within the rhizosphere is controlled by the plant itself. It does this by absorbing nitrogen in various forms. When the pH value is too high, the plant absorbs nitrogen in the form of ammonium. This makes the rhizosphere more acidic and lowers the pH value. If the pH value is too low, the plant absorbs nitrogen in the form of nitrate. This makes the rhizosphere more basic and increases the pH value.