Plants have a calming effect on the mind and body.
Walking through the woods refreshes your mind and body, while filling your indoor space with plants improves air quality and helps relieve tension.
But every plant owner has asked; do plants die of old age.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, plants will eventually die.
Plants are living things with life spans as compared to animals and humans that will eventually die.
The difference is plants will not suffer pain or misery when they die unlike animals or humans. Plants have living cells and carry out life’s progression from seed, growth, maturity, and eventually death.
The lifespan of a plant depends on their species and what is considered their natural lifespan.
One species of plant can be seen as old when it’s just 12 months old while other species can live hundreds of years.
Key point: The primary reason for plants dying is that they do not receive conditions which are ideal for them to survive. To determine if and when plants die of old age, let’s first examine their life cycle, and then environmental conditions that will influence how long they actually live.
The Lifecycle Of Plants
The life cycle of plants has 7 phases.
Some plants go through the entire stage and are categorized as old plants.
Some plants in the life cycle are not able to develop correctly because of terminal degeneration of their cells and tissues, eventually dying.
Below is the complete life cycle of plants.
1. Seed
All the plants that create flowers begin from seed.
2. Germination
With the right amount of light, water, and air, seeds germinate and sprout out of the soil.
3. Growth
The germinating seeds form into long stems with branches and leaves that keep growing to mature age.
4. Reproduction
The adult plant subsequently advances to the process of reproduction.
The reproduction process of plants is either asexual or sexual reproduction.
Asexual reproduction is the process when plants who are not to be fertilized to produce seeds, make copies of itself.
Flowers such as tulips and hyacinth are examples of plants that reproduce asexually because they germinate from bulbs.
The other plants that reproduce asexually are yams, ginger, and potatoes which germinate from tubers.
Tubers serve the purpose to be left in the ground after harvest to decompose and grow as a new plant every season.
Sexual reproduction requires the fertilization of an egg to create a new seed.
Pollen from a different flower arrives to fertilize another flower from the same species.
Sexual reproduction requires two different plants to asexual reproduction.
5. Pollination
Describes the process of moving pollen by bees, or pollen described as floating freely in the air, from one plant to another.
The pollen goes into the plant’s ovary and fertilizes the plant’s cells to make the seed.
6. Seeds Spread
When seeds are fertilized, they then are carried away by the wind, by animals, or by humans, who make them grow into new plants.
7. Death or Hardening
Certain adult plants follow the natural Lifecycle and won’t live any longer and can’t reproduce anymore.
Other adult plants will no longer flower as they age and can be cut down for new vibrant, healthy plants.
Why Do Plants Die Of Old Age?
After completing their life cycle, plants die.
Plants can only live so long, even from the time of planting to the time of growth, maturation and then die.
But how long plants can live depends on a few factors. These are;
Stress
Plants will also experience stress if they do not get the right environmental conditions to survive.
If a plant does not have enough water, light, and is exposed to adverse natural conditions, it will also die prematurely.
IMPORTANT: Insects, disease, and pests will damage the cellular structures of the plant and lead to death.
Genetics
All plants possess genetic traits that give them life.
The makeup of their cells determines where and how they grow, reproduce, and live, for whatever amount of time.
A plant that is supposed to grow up and die of old age will still die of old age when given proper conditions.
Environment
For plants to thrive, the best conditions are required.
In severe climate conditions, plants die before they reach their full potential. Examples of severe weather include:
- very cold temperatures
- lengthening periods of dry weather
- very high winds
- wildfires
In a climate-controlled environment some plants can live for decades.
How Many Years Do Plants Live?
The majority of plants possess an indeterminate length of life.
Plants continue growing unless stunted by natural environmental circumstances or humans.
Plants require an encouraging environment with proper care, to live long lives.
If grown in actual conditions, they can die from natural old age.
Plants need:
- nutrient-rich soil
- appropriate water or moisture
- ample sunlight exposure
- sufficient space to thrive
Periodic trimming and pruning of dry or old leaves is important.
Proper pest control of insects or disease of the crop promotes plant life.
If performing plants in an ideal environment, plants will end up living longer.
Plants thriving in warm or tropical areas cannot be harvested and just taken for granted in cold areas.
Heads Up! Cold weather plants won’t do well in hot weather either. When some plants hit maturity, they die. Maturity and age vary depending on the plant’s genetics and natural designation.
Type Of Plants Based On Their Lifespan
Annuals
These plants are capable of completing their life cycle from seed to maturity within a single season.
Every part of the plant including the root, stem, and leaves dies as a part of their biological process every twelve months.
The plant parts that survive are the seeds that will germinate and grow their own plants the following season.
Perennials
These plants continue to grow through many seasons.
Although the exposed part of the plant dies during harsh weather, the rest of the plant continues to regenerate in good weather.
The regeneration process occurs from the root, and the root will not die.
Most perennial plants do not lose their leaves during the full season. Warm temperatures are beneficial feeding conditions for the perennial plants.
Biennials
Biennial plants take 2 yrs to finish their life cycle and reach maturity:
- In the first year, they develop leaves to shade the earth.
- In the second year, their stalks will elongate, and they will develop blooms and then seeds. All parts of the plant die off.
Can A Plant Live Forever?
No. At some point, a plant has an inevitable death.
Since it is difficult to determine their exact age, they simply die when their time comes.
Their death may be due to adverse environmental conditions we could control.
Others, however, die at their life cycle end and we can’t determine the lifespan in question.
What Is The Oldest Living Plant?
Researchers claim that the oldest living plant on the planet is Seagrass colony located in the Balearic islands of Spain.
They are said to be over 100,000 years old, and they are the oldest living plant organism on earth deep on the ocean bed.
In the wild, there is a tendency for plants to live for a long time.
In the case of the Seagrass colony, there is no environmental disturbance from animals or humans, and these conditions have not changed for thousands of years, allowing the colony to remain in its natural state.
Which Is The Hardest Plant To Keep-Alive?
Plant lovers and gardeners have recently voted the fiddle leaf fig as the hardest plant to keep alive.
The fiddle leaf fig is loved for its large, glossy, and emerald green features.
However, given too much sun it will quickly brown – yet little sun will slow the plant to a standstill.
It will take consistent watering, and just the right amount of sun.
How To Tell If Your Plants Are Dying From Age
Before your plant dies, visible signs will indicate that something is wrong.
Take time to look at your plants often and make note of any discoloration or strange growth. This will tell you that there is something majorly wrong with your plant.
Leaves
The signs of a plant that is dying can be seen on its leaves when they may become discolored.
If the leaves are yellowish, the plants may be in some state of dehydration and possibly within a few days will not survive without moisture
If the leaves are brown, wilting, have spots or blisters, they indicate an indication of a dying plant from old age or improper care.
Roots
If the roots look different it can indicate a lack of water and or nutrients.
Address these issues and the plants will respond.
Tip: If your plants are old and have finished their life cycle, you may consider cutting them back and putting in some healthy new plants.
Lifecycle of the Plants
Verify your plants lifespan before planting.
It gives you the ability to ascertain and accept when plants are dying naturally from aging.
Can I Revive A Dying Plant?
You can often save a dying plant, especially when the conditions causing the decline are within your control. These conditions are:
- Not enough water or too much water
- Not enough or too much sunlight
- Not enough nutrients in soil
- Pest or insect infestation
Final Thoughts
Do plants truly perish from old age? Yes, but only with the right care are they able to live to an old age.
There are even houseplants that have been passed down to several generations of family members.
That said, before you kill your plants when they are young, it is important that they are able to grow up in the right environment, starting from seed or juvenile offenders.