How to Collect Water From Plants

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This is a method of collecting drinkable water. Plants constantly respirate water vapor. The intent of this technique is to collect and condense plant-respirated water vapor. In essence, plant-respirated water vapor may condense against a sealed plastic bag, then drain to the lowest point. This method can be useful as a survival skill or just for a science experiment to see what happens.

Steps

1. Encase the living tip, top or branch of a growing plant within a plastic bag. Cover as much of the live plant as the bag can accommodate. Ensure that the plant is intact, alive and growing. Neither a dead plant, nor a dormant plant will respirate water vapor. With a severed branch, prospects of collecting water are limited, unless you are dealing with succulents such as cacti.
2. Secure the opening of the bag around the branch, stem or trunk. Make certain that the seal is as airtight as possible. For example, tie with string over multiple layers of the plastic bag. Envision a living, leafy branch within an unpressurized, sealed balloon. This is your objective.
3. Ensure that some aspect of the plastic bag is lower than the (hopefully) airtight seal.
4. Ensure that the plastic bag and plant can bear the weight of any collected water.
5. Wait for 4-5 hours. Depending on the type of plant, surface area of the enveloped leaves, local conditions and the air-tightness of your seal, there may be about 1 cup of water in the bag.

Tips

• The bigger the bag the better, provided your collection system can sustain the weight of the collected water.
• Unlike photosynthesis, plant respiration does not depend on light: it occurs at night as well as during the day.
• Plant respiration: C6H12O6 + 6 O2 => 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy
• As long as water is collected regularly, and air within the bag refreshed, any likelihood of suffocating the plant is remote.
• Don't tie the bag around the plant too tightly, or else it might kill the plant. But make sure that the seal is airtight.

Warnings

• Do not use poisonous plants.

Things You'll Need

• A plastic bag without perforations (not zip lock). A zip lock bag presents more challenge in creating an airtight seal
• A piece of string, or other means to secure the seal
• A live plant with leaves

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