Talking to Plants
By Seed SistA, Kaz
Growing up, I was surrounded by the lush, aromatic embrace of my grandmother’s deeply loved and cherished garden. Watching her grow her own medicine garden and tend to her plants, she would refer to them as her little ones, carefully stroking their leaves and singing or humming to them. She explained that plants love the vibrations of sound, and that they could feel our intentions and love.
As a child, I believed this was the norm, that every household had plant kin that were part of the family and were cared for with diligence and love. Every summer’s day, we’d water the garden, whispering words of encouragement to the roses, singing lullabies to the apple tree, and sharing secrets with the towering poplars as they shook their leaves in the breeze. It never occurred to me that talking to plants might be considered unusual.
A Prince’s Ridicule
That bubble burst when Prince Charles made the national news when he was ridiculed for admitting he spoke to his plants. The media’s mockery was swift and merciless. It was 1986, I was 11. He made the remarks during a TV interview, where he mentioned talking to his plants and said they respond to him. The British press were relentless with their scorning and continued to poke fun at him for several years.
The derision reflects the values of our capitalist society that highlights the distinction between humans and nature, which are both nothing but resources in the cultural view. The emphasis is on exploiting nature and humans for economic gain.
What a stark contrast to the animism that grandma modelled. Animism sees all entities—plants, animals, rocks, rivers—as sentient. Historically, this shift began during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. The scientific advancements of the era brought immense progress, but they also promoted a mechanistic view of nature. Plants and animals were no longer seen as living beings but as resources to be catalogued, studied, and exploited. This perspective seeped into the collective consciousness, distancing us from the animistic traditions of our ancestors.
However, the tide is turning…
The latest scientific research into plant consciousness is beginning to validate what many indigenous cultures have known for centuries. Studies reveal that plants are capable of complex behaviours: they communicate through chemical signals, exhibit memory, and can even learn from experience. These findings challenge the long-held notion that plants are passive, insentient beings.
Researchers, like Monica Gagliano, have demonstrated that plants can hear and respond to sounds, while Suzanne Simard’s work on the “Wood Wide Web” shows that trees communicate and share resources through an intricate network of fungal connections. This emerging science supports the idea that plants have a form of consciousness, even if it is fundamentally different from our own.
Plant consciousness and behaviour:
- Electrical Signalling: Researchers have discovered that plants use electrical signals to communicate internally. Like the nervous systems in animals, these signals help plants respond to environmental stimuli. A notable study by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that the Venus Flytrap generates electrical impulses when its hairs are touched, triggering the closing of its trap.
- Chemical Communication: Plants release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to communicate with each other and with other organisms. For example, when attacked by herbivores, some plants emit chemicals that attract predators of the herbivores. Research by the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology has shown how corn plants release VOCs in response to caterpillar damage, attracting parasitic wasps that lay their eggs in the caterpillars.
- Memory and Learning: Monica Gagliano’s research has demonstrated that plants can exhibit a form of memory and learning. In her experiments, she found that Mimosa pudica plants, which close their leaves when touched, could “learn” to keep their leaves open when they realised that repeated touching was not harmful. This behaviour persisted for several weeks, suggesting a type of long-term memory.
- Root Communication: Suzanne Simard’s pioneering work on the “Wood Wide Web” revealed that trees and plants communicate and share resources through complex networks of mycorrhizal fungi. These fungal networks connect the roots of different plants, allowing them to exchange nutrients and chemical signals. Simard’s research showed that older, larger trees (often referred to as “mother trees”) can distribute resources to younger seedlings, promoting forest health and resilience.
- Plant Defences and Behavior: A study published in the journal Nature found that plants can detect the sound of caterpillars chewing on their leaves. In response, they increase the production of chemical defences. Researchers at the University of Missouri demonstrated that Arabidopsis plants exposed to the sound of caterpillar feeding vibrations produced more mustard oils, which are compounds that deter herbivores.
- Plant Cognition:In a controversial but fascinating study, Stefano Mancuso and his team at the University of Florence investigated the behaviour of climbing beans. They found that the plants could “sense” the presence of a support pole from a distance and grow towards it, suggesting a form of sensory perception and directed growth.
- Environmental Memory: Research published in the journal Oecologia highlighted that plants can retain a form of “environmental memory” to better adapt to changing conditions. For instance, after experiencing drought, some plants were observed to alter their future growth and water usage patterns in anticipation of similar conditions.
These studies challenge the traditional view of plants as passive organisms and suggest that they possess a sophisticated array of behaviours that allow them to interact with, and adapt to their environment in complex ways. As the field of plant neurobiology continues to grow, it is likely that we will uncover even more about the remarkable capabilities of plants.
The Need for Talking to Plants
So, why is it socially unacceptable to talk to plants or hug trees?
It boils down to deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and the prioritisation of economic efficiency over ecological harmony. Engaging with nature on a personal, emotional level is seen as frivolous or eccentric because it doesn’t fit into the profit-driven paradigm that dominates our society.
Yet, as we face escalating environmental crises, reconnecting with our animistic roots becomes more crucial than ever. Embracing the idea that all life is interconnected, and worthy of respect can inspire a more sustainable, compassionate approach to living on this planet.
It’s time to move beyond the ridicule and reclaim our heritage—speaking to plants, hugging trees, and recognizing that our well-being is intertwined with the health of the natural world.
In this rapidly changing world, where the old ways are being re-examined through the lens of new science, it’s clear that talking to plants isn’t just for eccentric princes. It’s a reconnection with a deeper truth—a truth that our ancestors lived by and that modern science is beginning to understand.
These blog articles are herbal education resources, produced by the Seed Sistas. Gain insights and join us in the evolution of healthcare, please do leave a comment or question. Wellbeing empowerment for all…
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