If you have a love for plants but find yourself short on time or lacking the gardening skills to deal with soil, you’ll be delighted to discover that numerous plants can thrive in simple water-filled pots. This low-maintenance approach allows you to enjoy lush greenery without the hassle of traditional soil-based gardening. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 19 plants that can flourish in water and provide guidance on how to ensure their longevity.
- Pothos (Epipremnum)
- Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
- Avocado (grown from seed)
- Basil
- Chlorophytum (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Begonia
- Syngonium
- Anthurium
- Jade tree (Crassula ovata)
- Aloe vera
- Zebrina pendula
- Hemionitis arifolia
- Common ivy
- Lavender
- Monstera
- Coin plant (Pilea peperomioides)
- Philodendron
- Sage
- Spathiphyllum
Now, let’s explore how to cultivate these houseplants in water using two different methods: the root method and propagation with cuttings.
Root Method:
If you are starting with a whole plant, your first step is to remove as much soil as possible from the roots. Rinse the plant’s roots thoroughly under warm running water.
If you can’t remove all the soil, don’t worry. You can simply change the water in the pot frequently during the initial days.
Propagation with Cuttings:
For this method, you’ll need a clean, sharp knife, room temperature water, and a glass container. Take cuttings that are approximately 5-6 centimeters long from the mother plant. Make the cuts just below a node (the point on the stem where the leaves emerge), and ensure that you disinfect the knife.
Fill the glass jar with room temperature water, leaving a few centimeters of space at the top. Insert the cuttings into the jar, making sure that the nodes are completely submerged in the water.
Place the container in an area with plenty of indirect light and avoid sudden temperature changes and direct sunlight. Wait for roots to develop from the cuttings.
Fertilizing Plants Grown in Water:
In traditional gardening, soil provides plants with essential nutrients. When growing plants in water, the primary challenge is supplying these necessary nutrients. To address this, you can use a liquid fertilizer diluted in water every 1-2 months. Alternatively, if you have an aquarium at home, you can use the water from it to provide many of the nutrients your plant needs, contributing to its healthy growth.
