Root hairs on plant roots help absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Scientists found that when roots are exposed to high pH levels, the root hairs grow longer to counteract the slower growth rate. Two proteins, ADF8 and ADF11, play a key role in this process by organizing actin filaments at the tip of the root hairs. Without these proteins, the root hairs become shorter and disorganized at high pH. This study shows that ADF8 and ADF11 help maintain the structure of root hairs and promote their elongation in response to high pH levels.