How do plants drink water?

Plants absorb water from the soil through tiny root hairs, which give the roots a large surface area. The water then travels upward through narrow tubes called xylem that run from the roots to the leaves. The main force lifting the water is transpiration, the evaporation of water from tiny pores in the leaves, which creates a pull that draws the connected column of water upward. Water molecules stick to one another and to the tube walls, allowing this column to be pulled up even in very tall trees. Along with the water, plants take up dissolved minerals they need to grow.