Indoor plants that grow in water without soil
There are incredible discoveries that are made by chance and something like this has happened to me with indoor plants that grow in water without the need for soil. One day I took a small cutting from my Pothos plant in the hope of reproducing it and left it in a small glass jar with some water. Things happened and to be frank, I completely forgot about the poor clipping. When I deigned to pay attention to him, he not only had roots but had grown handsome and radiant.
Growing plants in water can be the answer for those who are unable to water their plants on time, but want to have beautiful tropical plants. It is also the ideal way to enter the world of gardening, as it is low maintenance and produces very good results. That is why today we bring the complete guide: the advantages of the method, care and the ideal species for you to start your water garden.
Advantages of growing plants in water
- Require less care
One of the most delicate points of the plants is related to
irrigation, in fact it is the reason why many plants die. The lack or excess of
watering is always a risk, so when you grow plants in water you forget about
that detail. On the other hand, you will not have to be aware of transplants,
substrates and other care that should be given to potted plants.
- Less clutter
As a person who has a few houseplants, I must accept that
things like watering days are a bit disastrous, because they always have to be
moved and if I don't, I resign myself to having to clean residual water with
soil. If you add some cats with an excavator complex to the equation, well, you
see that there is always land out there. With plants that grow in water you
completely forget about the substrate.
- Trendy decorative options
You can use virtually any glass container or other material
to create your crops, giving you unlimited decorative options. You can start by
upcycling cool glass jars for a rustic touch, or even get some test tubes and a
wooden stand. Vases, boats, glasses, whatever you can think of that matches
your style.
- Fewer pests
By not having a substrate, your plants become less
attractive to pests that like to lay their eggs on the ground. No flies, ants,
fungi and other bugs that can bother your plants. No land, no problem.
- Easy playback
Putting a cutting in water is one of the quickest and
easiest ways to propagate houseplants. So it will be easy for you to have small
cuttings with roots, whether you want to put them later in a garden, in pots,
make arrangements, give them as gifts or always leave them in water.
How to grow plants in water
- Select a plant species you want to grow in water. Check out the list we provide below.
- Cut a cutting from the mother plant. Remember that you must cut it diagonally, with a sharp and clean pruning shears, because if it is torn it can rot. Cut just below a knot.
- The cutting can measure between 10 to 20 cm and must have at least 5 nodes (the points from which the leaves sprout) and some small leaves.
- If necessary, remove the leaves from the base and place in a container with water. Don't cover them completely, just a few inches from the bottom edge.
- I prefer to use rainwater, filtered or mineral water, but you can use tap water as long as you let it sit for about 24 hours so that the chlorine evaporates. Never use distilled or boiled water.
- Locate your plant in a well-lit place, where it receives indirect light. You must be careful and avoid putting it where it receives drafts, heat from the stove or radiator or air conditioning. Next to a closed window they are perfect.
- Remember that it may take a few weeks or even months before you see the first roots, depending on the species. Be patient.
- Check the containers of your plants from time to time and fill them with water if they have evaporated. Change the water of your plants if you see it very cloudy or dirty.
- Change the container if you see that the roots and the plant have grown too much.
- You can put a couple of drops of liquid houseplant fertilizer to your plant's water once a month to stimulate its growth.
- You can exchange cuttings with your plant-loving friends, thus expanding your collection and sharing with those you want.
Indoor plants that grow in water
Before you start experimenting with any kind of plants and
risk losing your cut, it's best to play it safe. While it is true that almost
any cutting can root when left submerged in water, not all plants will survive
long-term. In fact, you can root succulents in water, even using leaves, but
you can never leave them in water indefinitely, because they will rot from
excess moisture. Here we present a fairly exhaustive list, with the most
popular species, but as a general rule you should know that this cultivation
method does not work with orchids, cacti, succulents or other plants that hate
excess humidity but it is perfect for tropical climate plants. wet.
Coleus
Scientific name: Plectrantus scutellarioides
Coleus are a wonderful addition to any houseplant
collection, bringing loads of color with their small, serrated leaves. They
like indirect light, so you can put them in a place where there is no direct
sunlight and use them as decorative pieces on tables, for example. You can
collect its different varieties and combinations.
Tradescantia
Scientific name: Tradescantia - pallida, fluminensis or
zebrina
Tradescantia is popularly known as "man's love"
because it is so easy to grow. In fact, they grow like weeds in hot climates and
can be a bit invasive. They still look gorgeous: you can get purple varieties,
with beautiful pink flowers, but there are also variegated species that have
shades of green and pale pink. They will grow happily and brightly in glass
containers and since they have a bit of droop they will look gorgeous.
lucky bamboo
Scientific name: Dracaena sanderiana
Did you know that the lucky bamboo is not a bamboo, but
rather a type of dracaena? Resistant, elegant, in addition to purifying the
environment, they are said to attract prosperity. Lucky bamboo grows best in a
glass container filled with gravel and water, because this gives it stability.
This allows you to make some stylistic decisions, playing with the color, shape
and material of the pebbles. You can find them braided, with different shapes
and sizes. They are so easy to care for that they are another popular choice
when it comes to houseplants that grow in water.
Croton
Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum
It's impossible not to love crotons, their bright leaves in
vibrant colors, ranging from yellow to reds and purples. There are many
varieties and all are capable of growing in water. In fact, putting your
cuttings in water is a simple and quick way to reproduce it. The only detail is
that if you want it to continue growing after a certain point, you must plant
it in a substrate.
Pothos
Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum
Pothos are the most popular indoor plants that grow in
water, and these green warriors not only help purify the environment but are
practically indestructible. They are very pretty, with their heart-shaped,
green leaves that fall like a waterfall, so they will be very nice on shelves
and high areas. Place them in a bowl, glass jar or vase that allows their roots
to expand. I like containers that are a bit tall, because this helps to
highlight their size.
philodendrons
Scientific name: Philodendron hederaceum
Known as heartleaf philodendrons, it is a tropical plant so
hardy that it is jokingly said that it is harder to kill than to care for.
You'll fall in love with sparkling heart-shaped leaves that droop on long, lush
stems. To prevent it from getting too spindly, you can trim the branches from
time to time and take advantage of putting them in water so that they take root
and give you a slightly fuller plant. They like warm temperatures and adapt to
almost any light condition.
Spider plant
Scientific name: Chlorophytum comosum
Of this species you can find variegated and green, they are
beautiful and have a very nice low size. Easy to care for, they are
distinguished by the fact that they are very easy to reproduce, as they throw
their young out using a long stem; This is why they are also called a bad
mother. Let that baby float in a bowl of water and it will soon have roots.
They like direct sun and if you can, change the water every 8 to 10 days.
Begonias
Scientific name: Begonia
Everyone knows begonias, because they are the favorite
flowers of summer, although there are also varieties with beautiful leaves such
as begonia maculata, which are preferred for growing in water. They can survive
several months, although like crotons, if you want them to develop and reach
maturity, you will have to transplant them into a substrate at some point.
Dumb Cane
Scientific name: Dieffenbachia
Their variegated leaves with white dots make them popular,
but they are not only pretty but very easy to care for and will grow just as
well in water as they do in soil. For your cutting to be successful, remember
to cut one at least 20 centimeters, hopefully with some leaves. It should be in
a bright place but without direct sun. You can use some gravel to give it
stability.
English ivy
Scientific name: Hedera helix
These climbing plants with such particular leaves are vines
that are used in gardens to cover fences and walls, or to cover the ground like
a carpet. When grown indoors they tend to cascade, creating a nice effect
because they are so bushy. Easy to care for, you can grow them in water using
cuttings about 15 centimeters in a glass or tall glass container. It prefers
green and tender cuttings because the woody ones are more difficult and slow to
root.
Ficus elastica
Scientific name: Ficus elastica
The elastic ficus are usually plants that can grow a couple
of meters, even planted indoors; but if you grow it in water it will grow a
little slower. Take a cutting about 20 centimeters or more and remove all the
leaves from the middle down. They require a lot of light to grow nicely, but
never allow them to get direct sun. They take a while to root, about 3 months,
but they are worth seeing with their incredible size and shiny leaves. You can
use a bit of gravel to give the cutting stability.
Syngonium or arrowhead plant
Scientific name: Sygonium podophyllum
This is another plant of tropical origin that will enchant
you with its colors and the shape of its leaves. Very easy to care for, you
just need to put a good cutting in fresh water. Try to change it every two weeks,
to keep the level of oxygen and nutrients high to stimulate its growth. Prefers
indirect and abundant light. You will see that it takes root quickly and will
grow happily in the water.
Dracaena
Scientific name: Dracaena
Dracenas are one of my favorite plants because they are
incredible warriors, easy to care for and also have a very handsome and elegant
appearance. If you are going to grow them in water, I recommend that you use
long containers and you can put some gravel in the bottom to make it stand up.
It prefers rainwater or filtered water, because it is somewhat sensitive to the
chlorine in tap water. To keep it in optimal condition, change the water once a
week and don't let it get cloudy.
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