Is it true or not that music helps plants grow? 🪴

Can you imagine your plants swaying their leaves to the rhythm of Beethoven or Chayanne? An article in El Economista reveals that a recent study suggests music could be the secret fertilizer your green friends need to grow happier and stronger. The idea is that sound vibrations, like those of a guitar or a good bass, stimulate plant cells, increasing their nutrient absorption and metabolism. Researchers like biologist Daniel Chamovitz suggest that certain genres, like classical music, could generate waves that plants “feel” in their own way, almost like a sound massage. So, if your garden looks lusher after a Mozart session, believe me, it's not just your imagination.

Your choral garden 🎙️

Now, science is still testing this theory. The article admits that the results aren't definitive, and some experts believe the effect could be more about the vibrations than the plants' musical taste (spoiler: they don't have Spotify). However, experiments like those at Annamalai University in India have shown that plants exposed to sounds of 50-400 Hz grow up to 20% more than silent ones. Coincidence or green magic? The key could lie in how sound moves the air and improves photosynthesis. While scientists debate, you can try it yourself: put a playlist in your pots and see if they dance, or at least grow to the beat.

Reference:

• El Economista. (2024, October 5). Study suggests that music helps plant growth. https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/arteseideas/estudio-sugiere-musica-ayuda-crecimiento-plantas-20241005-728780.html

• Retallack, D. L. (1973). The sound of music and plants. DeVorss & Co.

• Chivukula, V., & Ramaswamy, S. (2014). Effect of different types of music on the growth of mung beans (Vigna radiata). Journal of Plant Sciences, 9(3), 78-84. https://doi.org/10.3923/jps.2014.78.84