How do you propagate your money plant in the water? How long do you need to keep your money plant in the water to thrive? What fertilizers, if any, do you need to use to make your water propagate money plant? These are the questions we will answer in this article!
Contents
How to water your money plant
Now that you know what plant propagation is, let’s get back to our beloved money plants.
Take a cutting right next to a leaf knot on the “ground” side of the vine.
To grow money plants in water, take a healthy vine – avoid brown or yellowing leaves – and cut it just below a node. Make sure the chosen stem has at least 3 nodes. Remove all leaves below the node. This is crucial so that the leaves do not decompose under water and suffocate new roots.
You will see that your money plant cup has small brown bumps forming along the vine near each node. These are aerial roots that will begin to develop once you place your money plant in water.
Place your cuttings in a vase filled with clean water and make sure that at least one or two knots of your money plant cuttings are immersed in the water. Also make sure to choose a vine cutting with at least two leaves to promote rapid growth.
How long does it take for money plant to root in water?
Place the vase in indirect sunlight in your home. New roots will germinate nodes immersed in water after about 7 to 14 days. You can place the cutting in the soil once the roots of your plant are one or two centimeters long, or you can let it grow only in water.
If you decide to let it grow in water, choose a good quality liquid fertilizer to feed your plant. Be sure to fertilize your money plant growing in water every 4 to 6 weeks.
The amount of fertilizer you use may vary depending on the instructions on your fertilizer box and the size of your plant and pot. However, as a general rule, there should never be more than a few drops. It is always better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize when growing plants in water pots. You don’t want algae build-up, which results from the presence of nutrients and sunlight.
Place your growing money plant in front of the north-facing window and use blinds to filter sunlight. Also, be sure to change the water every two weeks to make sure your plant stays fresh.
Maintenance of money plants in water
If possible, choose an opaque vase, as it will block more light and prevent algae growth. If you choose a transparent vase, you will need to clean the inside of the vase more often.
Money plants can thrive in tap water, but don’t want it to be full of chlorine. To remove the chlorine from your tap water, leave it in an open container for at least 24 hours and then pour it into your vase.
Do not use solid fertilizer to feed your money plant. A liquid fertilizer is immediately bioavailable to your plant’s roots and allows it to quickly access all the nutrients it needs.
Keeping your money plant alive in the water?
You can’t just stick your cuttings in water, forget about them for months and expect them to stay alive. Follow this checklist to make sure your money plants are healthy:
Be sure to change the water in your containers from time to time – ideally after a week or two at the most – and add water if necessary. Water eventually loses oxygen and the roots of your money plants need oxygen to stay alive! Feeding your money plant is vital! Use a high quality liquid fertilizer to feed your new baby. You can also use a mixture of water and fertilizer – water with a few drops of liquid fertilizer to fill the containers as the existing water slowly evaporates. Keep your containers clean! If you have opted for a glass container and you see algae growing in it, remove your plant immediately and wash the pot before replacing your money plant.
As long as you check it from time to time, the money plant will flourish in the water.
Do money plant grow faster in water or soil?
In short, it depends. If you give your plant a ton of nutrients in the water, it should actually grow faster in the water! But if you take care of healthy money plant in the soil and water it properly, it will probably match the growth rate of the money plant planted in water.
We already know that money plant can survive in water, but what about money plant that you have already grown in the soil? Will a plant you’ve grown in the soil survive and thrive when you try to grow it in water?
In short – yes, although it may take a little time to adapt. It will slow down if you transplant into water and you might see one or two yellow leaves and die. It is better to propagate new money plant vines in water and let them grow forever instead of transplanting an existing soil plant into the water.
However, if you can’t avoid changing the medium, make sure to rinse the soil well before putting it in water. This will allow the stems and roots to be completely free of soil, thus avoiding the risk of fungal infections.
Be careful not to damage the roots during rinsing; this will prevent the plant from adjusting to the water. Also, before placing your plant in water, carefully remove any roots that appear to be rotting – otherwise they will kill other roots.
Once your money plant is in the water, add a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide to oxygenate the water and prevent fungal infection.
Summary
If you grow your money plant in glass jars filled with water, you don’t need pumps, special fertilizers or drainage holes. Also, your plant will not grow as fast, which makes it a little more manageable if you are not the most attentive houseplant owner.
