The Circle of Sunshine

(Newswire.net — June 19, 2018) Cheyenne, Wyoming — The sun is more than that big ball of gas in space, it’s the energy source of life on earth. The world as it is known now would be non-existent without the majestic power of the sun. No organism on earth needs the sun more than plants, after all it’s necessary for photosynthesis and plants are at the start of the ever-lasting food chain. But did you know that it takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds for a photon (ray of light) emitted to travel from the sun to earth? Earth is literally constantly getting sun rays but plants don’t mind, all they want to know is that they’ve got it as much as it is needed for them to keep feeding themselves.

“Photosynthesis is the process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to harness energy from sunlight into chemical energy,” explains LiveScience.com. “There are two types of photosynthetic processes: oxygenic photosynthesis and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Oxygenic photosynthesis is the most common and is seen in plants, algae and cyanobacteria.” 

Oxygenic photosynthesis, just as the name suggests, is the process of the plant making its own food from sunlight while producing oxygen as a byproduct as a counter balance to respiration. Essentially, plants absorb carbon dioxide from all breathing animals, humans definitely included, and reintroduce oxygen into the air to facilitate a fascinating symbiotic relationship.  

“A plant absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes in its leaves, branches, stems, flowers and roots, water from the soil through its roots and light energy from the sun to perform photosynthesis,” details Sciencing.com. “Light energy triggers a chemical reaction, breaking down carbon dioxide and water molecules and rearranging them to create sugar (glucose) and oxygen gas. Sugar is then broken down by the hardworking organelles called chloroplasts, which are most abundant in the cells of the plant’s green leaves, into energy to fuel the plant’s growth and repair.” 

Sunlight is just one part of the equation for photosynthesis, albeit an important part, it isn’t the only factor to be concerned about. Soil quality is also a big issue as one might have guessed. The 3-in-1 Soil Meter by HealthyWiser™ device measures soil pH, moisture and light exposure to provide fast and precise readings. 

“I have a hard time keeping plants alive because I either over water or don’t water enough,” shares a verified customer on Amazon. “That saddens me because I love plants! This soil meter took the guess work of water/don’t water completely away. I love it and I have a living plant to prove it. Thank you!” 

Light, water and soil composition form the basis of a healthy plant when provided in the right proportions. With this in mind, light and soil testing is a critical aspect of caring for plants all year round. The HealthyWiser™ 3-in-1 Soil Meter is the ideal tool for home gardeners and small scale farms alike as it provides data that covers all the relevant bases in plant care.