How Roots Get Water

Roots are plant parts that grow underground. They have two main jobs that help plants survive. First, roots take in water and minerals from the soil. Second, they hold the plant firmly in place so it does not tip over when wind blows or rain falls.

Roots can absorb water because they have special features. Tiny root hairs grow out from the main roots like little threads. These root hairs work like straws that suck up water from the soil. Root hairs are so small you need a microscope to see them clearly. Because there are thousands of root hairs on each plant, they create a large surface area—the total amount of root touching the soil. More surface area means more water can enter the plant at the same time.

Different plants have different root systems. A taproot is one thick main root that grows straight down deep into the ground. Carrots and dandelions have taproots. Fibrous roots are many thin roots that spread out in different directions near the soil surface. Grass and corn have fibrous roots. Both types of roots anchor the plant and absorb water, but they do it in different ways depending on where water is located in the soil.

Interesting Fact: A single rye plant can grow over 14 billion root hairs in its lifetime! If you lined them all up end to end, they would stretch for thousands of miles.