On a hot, windy afternoon, Rocket's bean leaves droop. "Oh no! Is it broken?" he cries.
Raven checks the soil with a gloved finger. "What do you notice? The soil feels dry."
Nova circles the cup. "Water is leaving faster than it comes in," she says. "What could Rocket do?"
Rocket grabs the watering can. "Give it a drink!"
A plant wilts when it loses water faster than it gets more.
Its leaves and stems droop.
Hot weather and wind make plants lose water faster.
Damp, humid air slows water loss down.
So on hot, windy days, plants need more water.
| Weather | Water loss from leaves |
|---|---|
| hot | faster |
| windy | faster |
| dry air | faster |
| damp, humid air | slower |
Trees move huge amounts of water.
A large oak tree can give off about 40,000 gallons of water in a year.
That water goes into the air as water vapor.
It becomes part of the water cycle.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Plants need more water on hot, windy days. | ? |
| Humid air makes leaves lose water faster. | ? |
| A wilting plant is losing water faster than it gets more. | ? |
| Water from leaves becomes part of the water cycle. | ? |
On Saturday you will put a clear bag over some leaves.
You will wait a few hours, then look inside.
A good scientist makes a prediction first.
Excellent predicting! Tomorrow we put the whole water trip together, from soil to sky.