Understanding "crying" plants: The secret life of guttation

You've probably noticed that water droplets appear sporadically on some leaves. It might seem like the plant is "crying," but this is actually a natural phenomenon. What should we do when we see a "crying plant"?

Although the droplets on the leaves look like our plant is suffering, these are not tears but a phenomenon called guttation. During this process, the plant can eliminate excess water from the leaves. The plant releases minerals in the droplets found at the tips of the leaves.

The appearance of water droplets is not a reason for too much concern. However, it signals that the plant is doing well in its challenging conditions. The phenomenon of guttation is more frequently observed in houseplants, but it also occurs in gardens and the natural environment. Plants secrete similar water droplets, which are often mistaken for dew.

Guttation most often occurs when we water the plant too abundantly. However, it can also happen under other circumstances, such as when the surrounding area is too humid or when there are a lot of mineral salts in the soil. In such situations, the plant tries to remove the excess water or minerals an unusual way.

Why does this happen? Transpiration, one of the key life processes of plants, involves the evaporation of water from the leaves. Mainly, this occurs through the stomata, special cells acting like millions of microscopic mouths, which breathe out water vapour. Less frequently, transpiration occurs directly through the leaf's cuticle.

The purpose of transpiration is to cool the plant, remove excess water, and help generate the force that pulls water from the roots. Whenever there's water loss, the roots immediately replenish it. In some cases, when atmospheric conditions do not favour transpiration and the soil is very moist, plants have an alternative method of dealing with excess water. Simply put, if we overwater the plant and high humidity is maintained in the room, guttation can be expected to occur.

The guttation process is a kind of emergency exit for plants. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to whether freshly watered leaves have water droplets. If so, try not to overwater them.

When water droplets freely fall from the leaves, guttation does not negatively affect the plant. The problem arises when the liquid lingers on the plant for a longer time, which can lead to mineral salts and sugar deposition, leaving spots on the leaves. However, guttation benefits some plants, such as strawberries, because it allows calcium to be transported to higher parts of the plant.

It is worth remembering that guttation differs from a plant's " crying." The latter term is most often used to describe the exudation of plant juices, which occurs after cutting the stem or damaging the trunk. Root pressure pushes out these fluids containing water, mineral salts, and sugars. In the spring, plants such as birches or maples may leak plant sap intensively after pruning branches or damaging the trunk.