Flowers are put in water, plants in a pot. This is the most common way. But some plants can also be grown in water! This method is trendy and shows another side of plants. Want to know which plants grow in water and how it works? We explain it to you in this article.
Contents
How to grow plants underwater?
Aquaculture, or hydroculture, is a horticultural technique that is oriented towards soilless cultivation, a way of growing plants without soil, directly in water with a nutrient solution added. It is a very practical technique, requiring almost no watering, low maintenance, no messy handling of soil or potting mix and less risk of disease (no rotting soil).
You can choose to move a plant from the soil to a water-filled pot, or simply select a shoot or offshoot of that plant and cut it out. So, you cut a branch from your houseplant and insert it into a container of water. After a few weeks, the roots will appear. Then, you can choose to replant it in a pot of earth or to cultivate it in water.
To successfully grow plants in water, you can use tap water or mineral water at room temperature and add a specific liquid fertilizer for hydroponics.
With this growing technique, you will see the plants grow only in water. Thus, you will be able to observe the beauty of the plants growing, see a nucleus developing, the roots spreading in the water and observe the leaves growing.
16 plants that grow underwater
1. Philodendron
Of all the philodendron species, the heartleaf philodendron is quite adaptable to growing in water. Keep a 6-inch long cutting in a clear glass jar or bowl in a place with strong indirect light. Remember to change the water once every 3-4 days and it will continue to grow.
2. Lucky Bamboo
Famous for its forgiving nature, lucky bamboo is one of the best houseplants that grow in water. Narrow vases are perfect for this plant, depending on its size. Make sure the roots are submerged in water and add gravel around them for firm placement.
3. Pothos
With its bright, heart-shaped foliage, pothos is another option. Grow it in water, in a clear aquarium and keep it on a shelf. The cascading potho leaves will look beautiful. Change the water every few days to maintain the proper oxygen level.
4. Evergreen & Chinese Dumbcane
With its variegated, leathery leaves in a silvery pattern, Evergreen & Chinese Dumbcane can be grown in water. You can easily propagate the cuttings in a clear vase filled with small aquarium rocks. After a few months, once the roots appear and become larger, transfer them to the soil.
5. Spider plant
Spider plants are very interesting with their narrow, arching foliage and baby spiders. You can either grow them permanently in a glass pot, or change the cuttings to a new pot once they have taken root. Change the water every 2 or 3 days.
6. Arrowhead plant
Like other vines and climbers, the arrowhead plant is fairly simple to grow indoors in water. Add fresh water twice a week and it will continue to grow. If you wish, you can transplant it into a pot of soil once the cutting has taken root.
7. Dracaena
Many varieties of indoor dracaena can adapt to growing in water. Glass jugs and narrow jars work well for them. Remember to use water that is free of chlorine and fluoride. Never allow the water in the jar to become cloudy and murky and change it two to three times a week.
8. Croton
Croton has the boldest foliage of any houseplant, so we also added it to our list of houseplants for the nursery. It may not grow permanently in water, but you can use this method to root its cuttings.
9. Ornamental sweet potato
An ornamental sweet potato vine in a glass jar will add a tropical touch to your kitchen windowsill. Trim a few 6- to 8-inch-long stems just below the leaf node, remove the lower leaves and submerge them halfway in water. Keep changing the water and it will grow.
10. English Ivy
English ivy can be your next indoor water garden plant. You can grow its cuttings in vases for a long time. Cut off all the lower leaves from an ivy stem and transfer it to a glass jar to enjoy on a bright windowsill.
11. Impatiens
Impatiens can thrive in water for quite some time. Remove all the lower leaves and dip their cut ends into the water. Once they have formed long roots, transplant them into pots. This way, more impatiens will be ready in no time.
12. Begonia
Like impatiens, it is also possible to grow begonias in water. You can keep them in a clear bowl for about two months before they start to wilt. Remember to change the water weekly to prevent begonia cuttings from rotting.
13. Paperwhite
You can grow paperwhite narcissus bulbs in water and force them to bloom easily. To do this, get a glass terrarium and fill a quarter of it with shells and gravel.
Now arrange the bulbs close together and cover half of them with these gravels to fix them in their place. Then fill the terrarium with water, up to the base of the bulbs, but in such a way that it does not wet them. That’s it, keep them in a clear place and they will start to bloom after 4-5 weeks.
14. Coleus
With its colorful, serrated leaves, coleus will be the most colorful addition to glasses and jars. Since it loves indirect light, you can keep it as a centerpiece in a wine glass or a decorative mason jar filled with water.
15. Wandering Jew
Wandering Jews are hardy plants that grow like a weed in warm climates. The stunning purple and variegated varieties make them sought-after houseplants. The best part is that they can be grown in water in terrariums.
16. Herbs
It’s not just houseplants, there are also herbs and vegetables that can be grown in water. Some of the best ones include mint, green onions, fennel and celery. Check out our article for more names.
