For healthy growth, plants need several essential resources and suitable conditions. Sunlight provides the energy required for photosynthesis, while water supports important processes inside the plant. Air supplies carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and oxygen for respiration. Plants also require essential mineral nutrients, which they usually absorb from the soil or growing solution. Soil can provide support, water, air, and nutrients, although some plants can grow without soil when these requirements are supplied in other ways. Time is also important because plants need time to germinate, grow, flower, and produce. In this lesson, you will explore how these requirements work together.