How Do Trees Grow? Cool Tree Growth Facts Your Kids Need To Know

Tree growth occurs in two ways: primary growth and secondary growth.

The growth that increases the height and length of the root and shoot tips is called primary growth. When growth happens in thickness and in a tree's branches, it is called secondary growth.

Trees play a crucial role in the biosphere. Trees grow with the help of water and nutrients present in the soil. There are a total of 60,065 tree species worldwide.

Red maple is known as one of the most common species of deciduous tree.

Cambium is the name of the tissues which are responsible for the secondary growth of stems and roots. The main function of the cambium is to increase the growth of the xylem and phloem.

Trees grow through the production of new cells; these places where cell division occurs are called meristems. A meristem is a zone of intense activity under the bark of the tree. Meristem is where all new cells are formed and expand.

After you have read about the role of new cells in a tree's growth, do check how do telescopes work and how does rain form.

How does a tree grow? Step by step stages

The life cycle of a tree consists of four stages. These are seed, sprout, small plant, and adult plant. The process starts when the seed gets planted in the soil, and with the help of water and the sun, growth happens.

Let's see how a plant grows step by step.

In the life cycle of a plant, the first stage is a seed. When the seed is planted in the soil, warmth and moisture is necessary as it leads to swelling in the seed, causing a split in the skin.

A tiny root that sprouts out from the seed grows in a downward direction. The role of this root is to collect water and minerals from the soil and anchor the seed so it can start the process of turning it into a tree.

After some time, the sprouts grow and develop into the stem of the plant. Too much or too little sun or water could harm the growth. There is always a fear of stems getting eaten by insects or animals when the leaves start growing. Another factor that could break the growth is fire.

The next step is the sapling. In this stage, the seed continues growing but has not achieved complete maturity. Saplings can grow quickly. As they are unable to reproduce at this stage, they are still not considered full-grown trees. You could compare the growth of a seed turning into a sapling as a child turning to a teenager.

When the plant has finally reached the stage of maturity and grown fully, it marks the final stage in the life cycle of a plant. When the tree grows fully, it can reproduce by forming seeds. These seeds are later turned into fruits or nuts. As the tree reaches its adult stage, the trunk becomes wide.

Do trees grow from the top or bottom?

Grasses are known to grow from the bottom to above the ground. So even if they are cut from lawnmowers, grass blades remain unharmed.

A tree grows in the opposite way. Trees grow from the top; a tree grows outward at the same time. Tree shoots have specialized cells in their ends which form areas called meristems. The process of trees growing taller and limbs growing longer takes place from locations by meristems.

These meristems are responsible for the lateral growth of trees, that is, increase in diameter. The increase in the girth of a tree is caused by a thin layer of cells that are present under the bark of a tree. Apical meristems, which are located at the branch tips, increase the height of a tree.

What are the stages of tree growth?

The stages of a tree's growth can be broadly classified into four parts.

At infancy, it is known as a seed. A seed grows into a tree when it is sown in the soil.

It absorbs moisture and nutrients from its surroundings. It develops into a tiny shoot, growing a small shoot and developing a small root into the soil to help to absorb minerals better from the soil and provide support. This process is known as germination.

The germinated seed then forms a couple of leaves and a tiny stem; this stage is called the stem. The stem then develops into a sapling. The sprout grows and develops but it is not big enough to be called a tree yet.

Then it grows further and ultimately becomes an adult tree.

How long do trees take to grow?

Trees grow by producing new cells in certain places like the trunk, roots, and branches.

Some trees species become mature at 100 years of age after being planted in the ground. It is impossible to know the exact lifespan of trees or how long trees take to grow, but we can give an approximate answer depending on these factors.

The germination of the seed. The initial stage of growth of trees from seeds in the ground takes about one to three weeks.

Usually, trees grow from seeds, but some of them grow from a process called budding. It is an asexual process of producing new organisms, where the bud is made from the parent's body. Water is an essential component at this stage.

Seedling and sapling. This stage takes six months to several years.

Some trees take a longer time to finish the sapling stage than others, like an oak tree. The seedling is a process of a seed growing taller and healthier as roots expand. Protecting the seed from factors like animals, temperature, humidity, water, and nutrients during this stage is necessary.

Maturity of a tree. Finally, when the tree has started bearing fruits or (for some species) attained a height of 10 ft (3 m), it gains maturity. For trees with a shorter life span, it takes 2-10 years to produce fruit. The production of the first acorn in an oak tree takes about 20-30 years. 

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