How Redwood Trees Drink Fog

SciShow Kids

In this episode of SciShow Kids, host Jessi and her puppet friend Sam the Bat explore a fascinating botanical mystery: how giant redwood trees survive in California during the dry season when there is very little rainfall. The video begins with Sam confused about how these massive plants get enough water to survive when the ground is dry, challenging the common understanding that plants only drink through their roots. This sets the stage for an engaging scientific investigation into plant adaptations. The video introduces key biological concepts including stomata (tiny holes in leaves), water vapor as a gas, and transpiration (plants releasing water). It then reveals the unique adaptation of redwood trees: 'reverse transpiration.' Through clear animations and analogies, students learn that redwoods can open their stomata to absorb water vapor directly from the coastal fog, effectively drinking from the air. This explains why these trees thrive in foggy coastal environments despite low rainfall. This resource is highly valuable for elementary science classrooms as it bridges multiple topics: plant anatomy, states of matter (liquid vs. gas), and environmental adaptations. It encourages critical thinking by modeling the scientific process—asking questions, forming hypotheses, and using observation to find answers. Teachers can use this video to introduce microscopy (looking at stomata), the water cycle, or the specific ecosystem of the Pacific Coast redwoods.