The length of time a plant can survive without light can be between 4 to 20 day depending on the amount of light the plant is normally subjected to. Low light plants can go from 12 to 20 days, whereas light loving plants can merely last between 4 to 10 days before they die.

It’s a chemical process called photosynthesis and it uses the energy of sunlight to create a form of sugar from water and carbon dioxide. Without several hours of light every day, a plant will basically starve to death, regardless of how much water or fertilizer you give it.

No. Plants would not die if there is no sunlight for a week continuously. Light is primarily required for photosynthesis i.e. for production of food by plants. So if there is no sunlight plants would first try to find a source of light.

For plants to grow and survive, they need sunlight and water. Water is collected through the roots of the plant and absorbed from the soil. Sunlight is collected through the leaves of the plant to use in the process of photosynthesis to make food. Plants cannot live without sunlight and water.

7 Plants That Can Grow Well in Complete Darkness

• Dracaena.
• Philodendron (heartleaf)
• Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata, mother-in-law’s tongue)
• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema, Chi Minh ty)
• Zeezee plant (Zamioculcas, Zanzibar Gem, ZZ plant)
• Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
• Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)

ANSWER: In a strict sense, plants do not grow faster in the dark; they grow slower. However, plants seem to grow faster in insufficient light due to rapid cell elongation. In other words, they don’t grow faster, they simply stretch.

Plants, shrubs and trees use sunlight for photosynthesis during the daytime, but at night they need darkness to regenerate a key compound – phytochrome. Nighttime lighting can reduce vegetation’s ability to properly create this compound.

A: In general, you should not leave grow lights on 24/7. Plants need a light-dark cycle to develop properly. It’s believed that they truly do “rest” during periods of darkness, and probably use this time to move nutrients into their extremities while taking a break from growing.

A common problem with both indoor and outdoor plants is that they can suffer from too much sun. The sun’s rays can stress a plant’s leaves to the point of dehydration, causing the plant to lose much of its green vigor.

Symptoms of Too Much Sun

1. Color: Pigments will look washed out and bleached.
2. Burns: Leaves eventually get blotchy burns in white, yellow, or brown.
3. Texture: Over-exposure is often accompanied by signs of desiccation e.g. wrinkled, scaly, or crispy leaves.
4. Click here for more info and example photos.

While the roots of a plant take up water, they also need air to breathe. Overwatering, in simple terms, drowns your plant. Healthy soil allows for oxygen to exist in the space between particles of soil. If there is too much water or the soil is constantly wet, there is not enough air pockets.

How Can You Tell Plants Have Too Much Water?

1. Lower leaves are yellow.
2. Plant looks wilted.
3. Roots will be rotting or stunted.
4. No new growth.
5. Young leaves will turn brown.
6. Soil will appear green (which is algae)