SYMMETRY IN YOUR PLANTS

Nancy Robitaille

It is not difficult to get symmetry in each of your plants. Look in the center and see three small leaves.  Sometimes one or two leaves may be very tiny.

Now look in the second row of leaves and picture three more leaves.

The third row of leaves completes three triangles which magically all together make a circle.

Continue with the symmetry counting the three leaves.  Remove surplus or baby leaves which will mess up your symmetry.  One reason to keep excess leaves is when the plant is weak and needs the extra leaves for making food for the plant.

An easy way to see the three leaves in each row is to use small pieces of paper to cover other surrounding leaves so you can see the triangle better.

If you begin early enough, that is, when the plant is just a plantlet, the plant will continue making its triangle of leaves for each row it produces.

 Diagram courtesy of Pauline Bartholomew's " Growing to Show"

Return to Newbie's Nook