Can Plants Really Grow Better During a Full Moon?

Can your houseplants really grow faster during a full moon? Learn the truth behind this mysterious plant care story, and perhaps even try it yourself!

Written by Roelof Jan Elsinga

Posted on: 19-04-2025

Last updated on: 18-04-2025

Okay, I know what the titles sounds like. This can't be real, or is it? You might have heard about lunar gardening before and wondered if the full moon can actually make your plants grow faster and healthier. Or is there something else to lunar gardening?

Let's explore this topic a little further and see if this is actually real. These are the topics we're going to look at:

First, we'll look at what lunar gardening is, and then we're going to dig a little deeper into the science, and whether your Monstera, snake plant, or pothos really feel the pull of the moon.

What is lunar gardening?

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Lunar gardening is actually a lot more straightforward than it sounds. It sounds mystical, but lunar gardening is nothing more than planning your plant care routine around the phases of the moon.

So what does this look like in practice? Well, it could look something like this:

1. New moon: You start to plant seeds or small plants
2. First quarter: You promote leaf and stem growth for your plant
3. Full moon: You repot, fertilize and water your plants
4. Last quarter: You prune your plants and keep them neat

As you can see, the term "lunar gardening" is quite mystical, but at the same time, it actually gives you a very clear plant care schedule. It's actually quite a good routine. By following it, you regularly fertilize, prune, and water your plants. Don't repot your plants every cycle though, that's much too often!

The Full Moon theory

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Besides the practical plant care schedule, why do people think the full moon is the best time in the cycle to grow your plants? Well, the story goes like this:

The moon affects the tides of the sea, so it must also affect the moisture in the ground. During full moon, the moisture is pulled toward the top of the soil. This soil is perfect for germinating seeds and helping small plants and cuttings grow.

The full moon also helps the moisture inside the plant more around more, so the plant can make better use of any fertilizer you've added to the soil.

And last but not least, a full moon means more light, even during the night. This influences the growth of your plants.

But that's the story. Is there any truth to these claims? Let's find out!

What science says (and doesn't)

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Unfortunately, there is very little scientific evidence that the moon has any impact on your plant's growth. There is also no peer-reviewed research that proves the moon has any influence on the water flow and nutrient absorption in the plant itself either.

But that's not all, because a 2020 review in the Agronomy Journal found no consistent link between the phases of the moon and plant growth.

So there is no proof the moon alone does anything for your plant's growth, that doesn't mean your plant doesn't respond to the light and dark cycle. Sunlight and indoor lighting does have a real effect on how your plant grows. You can read more about that here: What is the difference between direct, indirect, and low-light sunlight for plants?.

Try it yourself: A full moon experiment

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Let's say you don't believe me and you're skeptical about the science, why not see for yourself what the moon does to your plants? Here's how you can give this a real try:

1. Get two identical plants and place them side-by-side in any spot in your house
2. Water and fertilize one only of them during full moon for 1–3 months
3. Care for the other plant on a more conventional schedule
4. At the end of your experiment, compare growth, leaf color, and health.

Even if you don't see a difference during this time and your plants seem to look identical, it's a really fun way to give you something new to do with your houseplants.

If you do see a difference, and you really enjoyed the experiment, you could have just found your new plant care routine that works well for you and for your plants.

Should you care about lunar gardening?

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While the science hasn't (yet) proven that lunar gardening does anything for your plants, there is also no harm in giving it a try. As I mentioned before, following the phases of the moon for your plant care routine can have a real benefit: You have a schedule to stick to for your plant care routine.

Also, it does sound quite cool, doesn't it? "I take care of my plants by following the phases of the moon".

Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.