What happens if you water a plant with boiling water?

Question

I presume that's bad. So what is the maximum temperature a plant can handle?

Answer 1

Look at it this way. What happens if you drink boiling water? something bad. The way i see it, this goes for the same as plants. My guess is anything over 50C would be bad

Answer 2

Only use boiling water if you're planning to eat the plant, because it will soon be dead.

The maximum temperature a plant can handle will vary from one kind of plant to the next.  Some plants like warmth and some don't.  The maximum air temperature where it naturally occurs would be a good maximum to put on the water temperature as well.

Answer 3

you will get a bald plant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

The maximum temperature a plant can handle dependa on the plant.  Same for cold.

Boiling water is WAY above what most plants can handle,  unless they naturally grow next to hot springs, volcanic vents above ground or at the ocean bottom.

The reason is that the proteins and enzymes and just about all other organic molecules have developed fir more "moderate" temperatures.  Above 120 `F some begin to break down.  By 150`F most proteins have become denatured (changed in some way so they can't do the chemical reactions they were meant to do.)  I think the temperature for pasteurization to kill microorganisms in products like milk is about 160` F.

Now, if you'd asked about microbial life instead of plants, that would be different.  It is common to find them living in boiling water near volcanoes, and at undersea volcanic vents.  Even certain microbes in the dirt in your back yard can live through hours of boiling in a pressure cooker (which makes the boiling temperature even higher.)  They are more adaptable than plants.