Why do the leaves on many trees turn to show their lighter undersides soon before it rains?
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Hello
Well plants absorb water from all area's of the plant and not just the root system. There are barometric pressure differences in the air before it rains and the tree's pick up that pressure change and the leave curl and turn in a manner of speaking to show the underside because it absorbs more water then the top. The top sides of leaves have coatings over them to protect them from transpiration (the loss of water from heavy winds). The undersides are more exposed hence the reason most sucking insects (scale, mites, mealy bugs) suck from the bottom instead of the top. So there you have it.
Greenman
To catch the rain.
Because the undersides will show when the wind picks up, and the wind frequently picks up right before it rains.
They do this as a preventative measure. I've worked at a nursery and we're taught never to water the leaves or flower petals if at all possible.
If they get wet then the sun beats down, they can easily become sun-scorched and die.
Also, fungus can grow on the leaves when watered causing dead if the plant isn't treated.
Always water the base of a plant because the roots will take in 95% of the water.
That's how the old folks knew it was going to rain, and here I thought my granny was psychic.
its just the wind
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