Background Information

• “Does human verbal interaction with plants affect

their growth?”
• Non-scientific anecdotal evidence claims that
plants that are “talked to” grow faster.
• Two possible reasons.
• Several scientific studies have already
researched this phenomenon.
 Why Does This Happen?

• The scientific theory: excess carbon dioxide

and/or vibrations from sound waves.

• The metaphysical theory: plants respond to

human emotional cues
 Research
• Music Genre study by students at Miami
University (Wichman).
• South Korean study: playing Beethoven for rice,
“plant genes that can 'hear'” (Fleming).
• Prince Charles talked to plants (Stevenson).
• “Positive Music” (Robertson).
• Mythbusters episode.
 Experiment Planning
• Hypothesis: “If a plant can receive a significant
amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and vibrations
from a human voice, this surplus can contribute to
better than average growth.”
• Prediction: “Therefore, the 'Yelling' groups should
exhibit more growth than the 'Whispering' groups,
which, in turn, should exhibit more growth than
the excess-CO2-deficient music groups.”
 Marigolds
• Genus Tagetes, 56 species, (e.g.
Calendula, Lucida, Minuta).
• In the Sunflower (Asteraceae) family.
• Dicot with pinnately compound
leaves.
• Usually orange flowers, can vary
from gold to red.
• Native to the Americas, naturalized
around the world.
Marigolds
 Test Groups
• Group A: Control
• Group B: Whispering
• Group C: Yelling
• Group D: Recorded
Music

• 5 potted marigold
seedlings per group
• 10 minute treatments
daily (Mon-Thurs)
• Planted 2/1/11,
• Finished Trials 3/7/11.
 Variables
• Controlled Variables: amount of sunlight, water,
seeds per pot, dirt, size of pot, time period.
• Experimental Variables: sound exposure, carbon
dioxide exposure.
• Measurement Criteria: vertical growth (cm) over
time (weeks), number of leaves/buds (at end).
 Group A: Control
Plant # Height Height Height Height # of
(cm) on (cm) on (cm) on (cm) on leaves
2/7/11 2/14/11 2/28/11 3/7/11
1 0.9 1.8 2.7 2.5 6
2 1.7 2.0 3.2 3.0 6
3 n/a 1.4 2.1 3.1 6
4 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.2 6
5 n/a 1.2 2.0 2.6 5
Average 1.30 1.66 2.46 2.68 6
 Group B: Whispering
Plant # Height Height Height Height # of
(cm) on (cm) on (cm) on (cm) on leaves
2/7/11 2/14/11 2/28/11 3/7/11
1 1.5 1.7 2.6 3.4 6
2 n/a 0.6 1.3 2.5 6
3 1.4 2.0 2.7 1.6 6
4 0.8 1.2 2.8 3.6 6
5 1.2 1.6 3.3 3.5 6
Average 1.23 1.42 2.54 2.92 6
 Group C: Yelling
Plant # Height Height Height Height # of
(cm) on (cm) on (cm) on (cm) on leaves
2/7/11 2/14/11 2/28/11 3/7/11
1 1.8 2.0 n/a n/a died
2 0.9 1.8 2.5 3.0 6
3 1.8 1.9 3.3 3.8 6
4 1.7 3.0 4.5 4.7 6
5 0.6 2.0 2.3 2.4 6
Average 1.36 2.14 3.15 3.48 6
 Group D: Recorded Music
Plant # Height Height Height Height # of
(cm) on (cm) on (cm) on (cm) on leaves
2/7/11 2/14/11 2/28/11 3/7/11
1 0.7 1.5 2.2 2.3 6
2 n/a 1.6 2.0 2.2 6
3 n/a 0.8 1.7 1.8 6
4 1.4 2.3 3.4 3.8 6
5 n/a 1.0 2.0 2.0 6
Average 1.05 1.44 2.26 2.42 6
 Analysis
• Did our hypothesis pass the test?
• Contradictions?
Vertical Growth over Time
4

3.5

2.5
Height (cm)

Control (A)
2 Whispering (B)
Yelling (C)
Music (D)
1.5

0.5

0
2/7 2/14 2/21 2/28 3/7

Time (week)
 Comparing Studies
• Music Genre study by students at Miami
University (Wichman).
• South Korean study: playing Beethoven for rice,
“plant genes that can 'hear'” (Fleming).
• Prince Charles talked to plants (Stevenson).
• “Positive Music” (Robertson).
• Mythbusters episode.
 Room for Improvement
• Better sunlight position
• Consistent watering/treatments
• Faster growing plant species?
• Emotional/metaphysical aspect
Any Questions?
 Works Cited
• Fleming, Nic. "Beethoven can help crops grow more quickly." The Telegraph,
30 Aug 2007. Web. 24 Jan 2011. <
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3305158/Beethoven-can-help-crops-gro
>.
• "Exploding House ('Talking to plants' segment)." Mythbusters. Discovery
Channel: 16 Nov 2004. Television. 24 Jan 2011. <
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMiVNPXR5qw>.
• Robertson, Don. "About Positive Music." DoveSong, 5 Oct 2005. Web. 24 Jan
2011. <http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/plant_experiments.asp>.
• Stevenson, Alexa. "Probing Question: Does talking to plants help them grow?."
Physorg, 4 Sep 2008. Web. 24 Jan 2011. <
http://www.physorg.com/news139763645.html>.
• Wichman, Maggie, et al. "final 1 Plant Stimulus Project." Miami University, 11
Dec 1998. Web. 24 Jan 2011. <
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/nsfall98/FinalArticles/final1PlantStimulusProjec.htm
>.