Too much water drowns.
by Maryam Imogen Ghouth
Yet, windstorms force trees to grow.
We must ache to rise.
Plant physiology research shows that while water is essential for growth, excessive water can drown a plant by suffocating its roots. Conversely, mechanical stress from wind and storms can actually stimulate stronger, deeper root systems and sturdier trunks. This paradox mirrors human adversity—it can foster growth, while overprotection can hinder it.
Further reading:
‘Waterlogging stress in plants: Unraveling the mechanisms and impacts on growth, development, and productivity’, 2024, Manghwar, H., et al., Environmental and Experimental Botany, available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2024.105824
‘Mechanosensing and Plant Growth Regulators Elicited During the Thigmomorphogenetic Response’, 2021, Telewski, F.W., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, available: https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2020.574096
Author bio:
Maryam Imogen Ghouth is a literary artist working across written, audio, and visual poetry. Her work has appeared in several literary journals, including Sky Island and Last Leaves, and in award-winning films, such as Under the Sun. Her films, including Not Alone, have been awarded at over 30 film festivals.
Find out more at www.maryamghouth.com and follow Maryam on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/maryamghouth
Read more sciku by Maryam: ‘Rejection’ and ‘This Battle is Inborn’.