At Music Custodian, we’re always curious about how music intersects with the world around us—especially when it comes to climate and environmental sustainability. One surprising area of interest? Plants and sound.
You’ve probably heard the old idea that “talking to your plants helps them grow.” But is there any truth to that? Can plants really respond to sound—or even music? And if so, could this have real-world applications for the environment?
Let’s explore what science actually says, and how sound might play a role in creating a greener, more sustainable future.
Do Plants Respond to Music or Sound?
Short answer: not in the way we do—but yes, they do respond to sound.
Plants don’t have ears or brains, so they don’t “hear” music like we do. But research shows they can sense sound vibrations, especially within certain frequency ranges.
For example, a 2018 review in Frontiers in Plant Science found that when plants are exposed to sounds between 100 and 1,000 Hz, it can influence their growth, hormone levels, and stress responses. These are the same frequencies found in many everyday sounds—and even in music.
But here’s the catch: most of these studies use pure tones or controlled sound frequencies, not full musical tracks. So while it’s fascinating that plants respond to sound, we can’t say for sure that your houseplants prefer Mozart to Metallica—not yet, anyway.
Can Plants Actually “Hear”?
Not in the way animals do, but yes—plants sense and react to vibrations in their environment.
One groundbreaking study from the University of Missouri found that when a plant hears the sound of a caterpillar chewing on a leaf, it kicks up its natural chemical defenses. But if you play random sounds or remove the vibrations, the plant doesn’t respond the same way.
This shows that plants can recognize specific vibrations that matter for their survival. Scientists call this growing field plant bioacoustics, and it’s opening up some exciting possibilities.
Do Plants Make Sound?
Yes! And this might be one of the coolest recent discoveries in plant science.
In 2023, researchers in Israel discovered that stressed plants—like tomato and tobacco plants experiencing drought or damage—emit ultrasonic “clicks”. These sounds are far too high-pitched for human ears, but special microphones can detect them from a few meters away.
The clicks differ based on the type of stress, which suggests that plants might be “communicating” their state to the environment, or at least signaling changes in their internal biology. It’s like plants have their own secret sound language.
So What Does This Have to Do with Climate and Sustainability?
At Music Custodian, we’re not just fascinated by how sound affects nature—we’re asking how music and acoustic science can support environmental solutions.
Here’s how sound could help drive sustainability:
1. Listening to Plants Could Help Farmers Save Resources
If we can “hear” when a plant is stressed, farmers and conservationists could respond faster and smarter—using less water, fewer pesticides, and fewer chemicals. That’s good for crops, ecosystems, and the climate.
Imagine farms that tune into plant sounds in real time, using sensors to guide irrigation or protect against pests—all without guesswork.
2. Sound Could Prime Plants to Grow Stronger
Some studies show that playing certain sound frequencies to plants may boost their resilience to drought or disease. In the lab, sound has triggered stress-response genes in rice and Arabidopsis plants. If these effects hold up in the field, they could help reduce dependency on chemicals in agriculture.
We’re still a few steps away from applying this widely, but it’s a promising area of research.
3. Soundscapes Could Help Us Monitor Nature
In soundscape ecology, researchers use microphones to track biodiversity and ecosystem health by recording natural sounds—like bird calls, insect chatter, or even stressed plants.
This could help scientists monitor forests, wetlands, and reforestation projects without needing to physically disturb the habitat. It’s non-invasive, cost-effective, and scalable.
What About Music?
Glad you asked.
While plants don’t enjoy music like we do, that doesn’t mean music has no place in environmental work.
Music can:
- Inspire communities to care for nature
- Raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity
- Create soundscapes that support ecological design, like calming sonic environments in rewilded areas or urban green spaces
In other words, music can still be a powerful tool for connection and change—especially when paired with science.
Final Thoughts
Plants don’t jam to jazz or vibe with vinyl, but they do respond to sound. As science uncovers more about how plants emit and perceive vibrations, new opportunities are opening up—from precision farming to sustainable design.
At Music Custodian, we’re excited to explore how sound and music—grounded in real research—can support the fight for climate resilience and ecological harmony.
Let’s keep listening to nature—and maybe, just maybe, it’s listening back.
