Good Growing Tunes: How Plants Respond to Music

Music has a profound effect on our well-being. But did you know that tunes also impact plants? Experiments conducted in the open field and under greenhouse growing conditions with different levels of audible sound frequencies found that plants love to get their groove on!  

Growing to Different Beats

Plants don’t have ears and aren’t hearing the music like humans do, but they are picking up the vibrations they sense in the environment. It’s believed that specific sound frequencies, particularly those around 432Hz, can impact cellular function in plants. This frequency has long been associated with the earth’s natural vibrations and is thought to resonate well with all living organisms. For plants, it means an optimized environment for photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. Low-frequency sounds, such as those produced by bass-heavy music, mimic thunderstorms, which have been found to promote root growth and overall plant health. 

What Kind of Music to Play for Plants?

Different types of music influence plants differently. Classical music, for example, has been shown to enhance plant growth and development. In Italy, the owners of Il Paradiso di Frassina vineyards have been experimenting with music for ten years. Listening to Mozart made the vines grow bigger and towards the source of the sound.

Other studies have found that classical music improves plant nutrient and water absorption.

While gentle music may benefit plants, the opposite is true for heavy metal or rock music. Loud, aggressive sounds can impede plant growth and damage plant cell walls. Sound waves strong enough to impact plant structure can cause stress, slow growth, or even lead to plant death.

Researchers at the University of Missouri found that certain plants can respond defensively to loud noises. For instance, the herb cress produces defensive chemicals when it interprets sounds that resemble munching caterpillars.

How to Incorporate Sound in the Garden

By incorporating the right sounds into the garden and your plant care routine, you may enhance their physical health and contribute to their overall well-being. Healthier plants with better growth patterns are more apt to produce tastier fruit and stronger immune systems.

One way to do this is to establish a 12-hour music routine for your plants. Position an audio source in the same room as your plants, keeping the volume low. Play the music at the same time each day to develop a rhythm that your plants can respond to. 

Find playlists specially curated for plants on YouTube and Spotify, or have fun and make one yourself!