Cells in contact with the soil actively take up ions at the roots, creating a concentration difference. Water moves into the root xylem from the soil to eliminate this difference, establishing a steady upward flow.

The vessels and tracheids of the roots, stems, and leaves are interconnected in the xylem tissue, forming a continuous system of water-conducting channels that reach all parts of the plant.

Very tall trees face the challenge of large distances for transport systems. Despite this, plants have independently organized conducting tubes (xylem and phloem) to efficiently move energy stores from leaves and raw materials from roots.

Xylem transports water and minerals from the soil to various parts of the plant, while phloem moves products of photosynthesis from leaves, where they are synthesized, to other plant tissues.

Plants have low energy needs as they do not move and contain a significant proportion of dead cells. This allows them to use relatively slow transport systems.