Find out what plants do at night. There isn’t enough light at night for plants to photosynthesize. Instead, they use starches they have stored during the day to survive the night. Plants have biological clocks that tell them how much starch to release throughout the night to themselves. Plants also require oxygen at night.
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Tonight — and yes, it is night — I’m going to talk to you about plant nightlife: what plants do when the lights are off. It may not sound very exciting, but it’s actually quite fascinating.
Plants use light as energy through a process called photosynthesis. At night, even if there’s moonlight or a nightlight, there isn’t usually enough light for photosynthesis to continue — unless you’ve got full spectrum lighting running all night.
So, what do plants do at night?
During the day, plants store energy in the form of starch. At night, they dole out that energy to themselves gradually based on how long the night will be. They have biological clocks that help them regulate energy use according to the expected length of darkness.
Some plants will droop at night — that’s perfectly normal. Don’t worry. It’s simply a response to the lack of photosynthesis. Others, like members of the Maranta (Prayer Plant) and Calathea families, will fold up their leaves into a “prayer” position to conserve energy. I’ve included links below for videos featuring this beautiful Calathea and tips on growing it.
Even if your plants are in darker rooms, they instinctively know it’s night and behave accordingly. When photosynthesis stops, plants still need energy to function. They do this by breaking down stored starches using a small amount of oxygen they saved up during the day.
To continue breathing and maintaining metabolism, plants absorb oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide at night. Thankfully for us, they produce around 10 times more oxygen during the day than they consume at night — so no worries there!
When the sun rises — or your artificial lighting comes back on — plants resume photosynthesis, start storing energy again, and scrub the air of CO₂, producing more oxygen for you.
So tomorrow morning, why not greet your houseplants with a cheerful “Good morning and thank you!” Maybe even ask how their night went.
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FAQ: What Do Plants Do at Night?
Do plants sleep at night?
Plants don’t sleep like animals, but they do enter a period of rest. They stop photosynthesizing and begin breaking down stored starch for energy.
Why do some plants droop or fold at night?
Some plants droop or fold their leaves at night to conserve energy when they’re not photosynthesizing. This is especially common in Calathea and Prayer Plants.
Do plants produce oxygen at night?
No, plants primarily absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide at night. However, they produce much more oxygen during the day than they consume at night.
How do plants survive without light at night?
During the day, plants store energy as starch. At night, they slowly use this energy to maintain basic functions like respiration and metabolism.
Can artificial light help plants at night?
Yes, full spectrum artificial lighting can extend light availability, but most plants benefit from a natural cycle of light and dark to regulate their biology.
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