Question

Do plants respire all day and night or only at night?

Answer 1

Plants respire all the time because their cells need energy to stay alive, but plants can only photosynthesise when they are in the light. The diagrams summarise what this means for the overall release of carbon dioxide or oxygen from plants. Remember that respiration uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide.

Answer 2

plants respire both day and night...but during the day their respiratory activity is shaded by photosynthesis... so only at night is their respiration prominent. otherwise they respire every second..just like us!