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To understand what transpiration is and its importance to plants, we should also understand about photosynthesis, which we all know as the process by which plants make their food. In photosynthesis, the main instigating factor for food production to take place is the green coloring matter of plants known as chlorophyll. Its leaves will open up the tiny pores in order to absorb the beneficial effects of sunlight.

The union between chlorophyll and sunlight will create a need for carbon dioxide coming from the Earth’s atmosphere. But nature has a way of maintaining ecological balance because the atmosphere will give the plants the carbon dioxide it needs, only if the plant will trade off its oxygen in the process. In order to do this, the plant has to go through the process of transpiration.

Transpiration is when water will be drawn out of the entire plant body so that the individual water molecules, hydrogen and oxygen will be released as water vapors on the surfaces of the plant’s leaves. Consequently, these vapors will enter the atmosphere and release the oxygen given off by the plant. The atmosphere on the other hand, will release the carbon dioxide that the plant needs to complete its photosynthesis or food production.