What was previously regarded as either a myth or an eccentric gardening practice may now have scientific support: phytoacoustics, the science that explores the relationship between plants and sound, has proven that this can affect the development of crops.

The results of several studies on the effects of sound on plants are, to say the least, fascinating. Get ready to discover what’s behind this phenomenon, what kind of music your cannabis plants prefer, and how you can become the DJ of your own grow.

Can Plants “Hear” Music?

Plants do not process sound as we do (they don’t have ears), yet they are exceptionally sensitive to their environment. It has been proven that they can indeed “feel” the physical vibrations that sound waves produce in both the air and the substrate. And this vibratory perception is the key to everything.

Already in the early 20th century, a scientist named Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose proved that plants produced measurable responses to external stimuli. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that this debate became popular thanks to the controversial book “The Sound of Music and Plants” by Dorothy Retallack, a music professor at the Colorado Women’s College (USA).

Although Retallack’s experiments lacked rigorous scientific control, her conclusions sparked an idea: plants exposed to classical music grew lush, while those “listening” to hard rock wilted.

Today, modern science has taken over with much more accurate studies that explain the mechanisms behind this phenomenon:

• Stimulation at the cellular level: Sound waves cause the plant’s cells to vibrate, which may accelerate the movement of the cytoplasm (the fluid within the cells), a process known as protoplasmic streaming. To put it simply, it’s like a massage at the cellular level that enhances circulation and the transport of vital nutrients and components.
• Opening of stomata: Stomata are tiny pores on the surface of the leaves through which the plant “breathes”, absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen. Various studies have shown that certain sound frequencies cause stomata to open more, which enhances photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. More CO₂ means more energy and, therefore, more vigorous growth.
• Gene activation: A study by the National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology of South Korea (2007) discovered that sound could literally activate or deactivate genes in plants. The research team exposed rice plants to different frequencies, documenting that frequencies of 125 Hz and 250 Hz activated genes that improve the response to light and growth (such as rbcS and Ald), while frequencies above 500 Hz didn’t have such a positive effect.

The Perfect Playlist for Your Cannabis Grow: What Music is Best for Your Plants?

Now that you understand the science behind the assertion that music helps plants grow and develop, it’s time to discover the musical preferences of your beloved grow.

If you want to apply this technique correctly, you’ll need to forget about your personal tastes: your cannabis plants don’t care whether you prefer Mozart or Cypress Hill. They only benefit from the physical characteristics of sound: the frequency, amplitude (volume), and consistency of the vibrations.

The Favorite Genre of Plants: Classical Music

Due to its acoustic properties, this genre is highly recommended by experts. Works by Bach, Vivaldi, or Mozart feature complex harmonies and fall within a frequency range (usually between 200 Hz and 600 Hz) that has proven to be beneficial. Their vibrations are consistent and harmonic, without sudden changes that could cause stress.

Alternatives: Jazz and Sounds of Nature

If classical music is not your thing, you can achieve the same results with soft jazz, chillout music, or ambient music. Just like classical tunes, these offer smooth and consistent vibrations.

In fact, you can even play the same relaxing tracks you would use for meditation, in addition to sounds of nature (birds singing, the murmur of a stream, the wind among the trees, etc). These have been the natural soundtrack that plants have co-existed with for millions of years, so they’re a safe bet.

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Music to Avoid: Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

According to Retallack and the science of vibrations, music with very aggressive rhythms, excessive volume, and discordant frequencies can generate a vibrational chaos that could be interpreted by the plants as a signal of environmental stress (similar to a violent wind). And we all know that stress isn’t usually the best ally for your cannabis grow to give its best.

How and When to Play Music to Your Cannabis Grow

Would you like to try the potential benefits of music on your cannabis plants? Putting this into practice is quite easy:

• How long? Playing music 24/7 isn’t necessary. Most studies suggest that a period of 1 to 3 hours per day is more than enough to generate a positive effect.
• When is the best time? The best time is during the light cycle, when your cannabis plants are in full metabolic activity (photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, etc.) and can make the most of the stimulation through sound vibrations.
• Volume: It’s important not to play the music too loud. A moderate volume, similar to that of a conversation (between 70 and 80 decibels) is perfect. Remember: it is the subtle vibrations that work.
• Where to place the speakers: Try to distribute the sound as evenly as possible. Avoid placing a speaker next to a single plant, for instance. If you use a stereo system, place the speakers on both sides of the grow to create a surround sound field.

Beyond Music: What If I Talk to My Cannabis Plants?

While the content of your words is irrelevant to your plants, the soft vibrations produced by the human voice, along with the carbon dioxide released during speech, can provide a modest yet beneficial contribution to the process of photosynthesis.

However, don’t expect significant improvements: beginning a monologue in your grow room so you can have a good vent might be more of a psychological benefit to you than to your plants.

Phytoacoustics shows us that sound is another tool in the arsenal of the modern grower. Far from being a myth, controlled exposure to certain musical frequencies can improve the assimilation of nutrients, enhance photosynthesis, and ultimately contribute to healthier and more vigorous growth.

However, you must approach this technique from a realistic perspective. Music is a booster but it doesn’t work miracles and will never replace the fundamental pillars of a good grow: high-quality lighting, a living substrate, the best nutrients, and rigorous climate control.

Try adding music to your indoor or outdoor grow as a finishing touch which offers an opportunity for experimentation and can potentially improve your results.

And now, please give us your opinion. Would you dare to try it? Which song do you think would be the perfect anthem for your grow? Leave your playlist in the comments!

And remember: while your plants enjoy music, make sure they have everything else they need. Stop by La Huerta Growshop and find everything you need to make your harvest a resounding success!

Bibliography:

1. Bose, J. C. (1902). Response in the Living and Non-Living. Longmans, Green, and Co.
   Jeong, M. J., et al. (2007). Sound waves generated by plants provoke distinct physiological reactions in other plants. Communicative & Integrative Biology.
2. Retallack, D. (1973). The Sound of Music and Plants. DeVorss & Co.
   Hassan, S. E. D., et al. (2012). The effect of sound waves on the growth, development and productivity of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum). Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology.
3. Gagliano, M., et al. (2012). Towards understanding plant bioacoustics. Trends in Plant Science.
4. Hou, T. Z., & Mooneyham, R. E. (2002). Effects of sound wave on the yield of cucumber, tomato and colored pepper. Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Physical Agriculture, PR China.
5. Jeong, M. J., et al. (2014). Sound frequencies induce flowering. BioProject, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accession: PRJNA243355.
6. Gagliano, M., Grimonprez, M., Depczynski, M., & Renton, M. (2017). Tuned in: plant roots use sound to locate water.
7. Oecologia, 184(1), 151-160. Veits, M., Khait, I., Obolski, U., Zinger, E., Boonman, A., Goldshtein, A., Saban, K., Seltzer, R., Ben-Dor, S., Estlein, P., Kabat, A., Peretz, D., Ratzersdorfer, I., Krylov, S., Chamovitz, D., Appelbaum, L., Yovel, Y., & Hadany, L. (2019). Flowering plants respond to pollinator sound within minutes by increasing nectar sugar concentration. Ecology Letters, 22(9), 1483-1492.