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We share the know how to grow lush, thriving houseplants and herbs in water without the need for messy soil. Plus, you'll learn the essential tips and techniques for both nurturing existing plants and propagating new ones in water. Join us for a journey into low-maintenance, mess-free indoor gardening.
Transcript
00:00Do you love the look of indoor plants but not the mess?
00:03Keep your home clean with houseplants that grow in water.
00:06No dirt required.
00:08Growing plants in water is a fun and interesting activity for new gardeners, houseplant parents
00:13with limited space, and those who have been known to forget to water their plants.
00:18Many popular houseplants such as Monstera, Pothos, and Philodendron can all make a home
00:23in a container of water.
00:25So, let's ditch the soil and learn more about this low-maintenance way to expand your
00:30houseplant collection.
00:32Not all plants are suitable for growing in water.
00:35You'll want to choose low-light plants that tolerate wet roots.
00:39If a plant prefers to grow in direct sun, there is a chance the water will become cloudy with
00:43bacteria that also thrive with sunlight.
00:46So it is best to grow plants with this method in bright, indirect light to low light.
00:51You can grow plants in water by rooting cuttings or by using a plant that is already rooted
00:56in soil.
00:57If you use the latter, be sure to wash all the dirt off the roots before submerging.
01:01Hanging or creeping plants such as vines or those with woody stems and thick cuticles
01:06are often the easiest to root and grow in a water environment.
01:10One such plant is Pothos.
01:12Growing Pothos in water works just as well as growing one in soil.
01:16Plus, there are so many to choose from, any of which can make a happy home in your plant
01:21collection.
01:22And here are 8 other favorite houseplants to grow in water.
01:26No soil?
01:27No problem!
01:29Tradescantia, commonly known as the inch plant, is a popular and easy to care for houseplant
01:34cherished for its striking foliage and vibrant colors.
01:38Philodendron typically feature large heart-shaped leaves and can thrive in various light conditions,
01:43making them ideal for indoor environments.
01:47The very popular and low-maintenance peace lily is distinguished by its glossy dark green
01:52leaves and delicate white lily-like flowers.
01:56Lucky Bamboo, despite its name, is just a houseplant, not real bamboo.
02:00It typically consists of slender green stems that can be grown in various decorative arrangements,
02:06often in water.
02:07It is easy to care for, making it a low-maintenance choice for indoor gardening.
02:13Anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower, is a striking plant valued for its stunning heart-shaped
02:18flowers that come in various shades, with the most common being red, but they can also
02:23be found in pink, white, or even green.
02:27The Mini Monstera is a captivating houseplant that bears a striking resemblance to its larger
02:32cousin, the Monstera Deliciosa, but on a smaller scale.
02:36It is recognized for its unique split leaves and fast-growing vines that are also very
02:41easy to propagate.
02:43And last but certainly not least is the Spider Plant, known for its distinctive arching leaves
02:48with green and white stripes.
02:50The baby spiderettes that are produced can easily be propagated into new plants.
02:55Here is a list of a few other popular houseplants that can be grown using this method.
03:02Now that you've chosen your plant, you must now choose an appropriate container.
03:06You can use pretty much any type of container, from glass jars to vases, to unique and intricate
03:12propagation stations specific to this method of growing.
03:15Either way, clear glass works best and allows you to keep tabs on the root system and cleanliness
03:21of the water.
03:22Be sure to also choose a container that matches the size of the plant.
03:26A newly clipped cutting may only need a small bottle or vase, but an already potted houseplant
03:31may require a bit more room.
03:34Also, if using vases, you will want to choose a piece with a large enough neck to both insert
03:39the plant and possibly remove once it has overgrown its allotted space.
03:45Next, you'll need to prepare your water.
03:48After filling the container with clean, room temperature water, it is recommended to allow
03:52the water to sit for 24 hours to allow any chemicals to dissipate.
03:57Tap water, rain water, or well water all work well.
04:02However, bottled water or water run through a reverse osmosis system may be too devoid of
04:07nutrients for your plants to thrive.
04:11Once you have your plant, container, and water ready to go, you may want to consider some
04:15decorative gravel, marbles, or pebbles at the bottom of the vase.
04:19However, these extra materials may require a bit more maintenance to keep the water clean.
04:25You may also want to use chopsticks, toothpicks, or cork to help keep the foliage upright and
04:30out of the water.
04:32The only part of the plant you want in the water is the root system.
04:36As mentioned earlier, it is best to grow the plant in indirect sunlight to help prevent unwanted
04:41algae growth.
04:43From here, be sure to keep an eye on the water level and top off as needed.
04:48You'll want to change the water frequently, every few weeks or so, or if it becomes cloudy.
04:53You can also trim any roots that start to look unruly.
04:57If your houseplant begins to grow too large for the space provided, you may want to consider
05:02transferring it to a pot with soil.
05:05This will allow for more stability and room to spread its roots.
05:10Your plant will receive nutrients from the water and other elements from the air, but a
05:14small dose of fertilizer can help maintain a healthy plant.
05:18Simply add a weak solution of a good quality, water-soluble fertilizer to the container every
05:23four to six weeks.
05:25This solution should consist of just one quarter of the recommended strength.
05:29If your plants begin to yellow, remove the plant, rinse the root system, and provide it
05:34with fresh water.
05:36This may have been caused by too much fertilizer.
05:39Be sure to also change the water every two to four weeks to flush out any excess salts from
05:44the fertilizer.
05:46Another method to growing plants in water is to propagate cuttings.
05:50A lot of different types of plants can be rooted in water.
05:54Cuttings from vining plants such as pothos root quickly in just a glass of water with just
05:59a quick snip of a stem.
06:01Plants that sucker or produce offshoots such as snake plants or the money plant can also
06:05be propagated using this method.
06:08To start new plants from existing vining plants, you want to snip a three to four inch healthy
06:13stem just below a leaf node.
06:15Place the cutting in a container with clean water ensuring the node is submerged.
06:20The cutting should be stored in an area that receives indirect light and await the development
06:24of roots which can take anywhere from ten days to several weeks.
06:29For more detailed information on propagating vining plants, see the link in the description
06:33for a relevant video.
06:35To propagate other types of leafy houseplants, you can either remove an offshoot from the
06:40mother plant or take cuttings from an existing leaf.
06:42For example, on the very popular snake plant, you can remove one of the small pups or plantlets
06:48growing along the main root system once it has grown sufficient roots of its own.
06:53Or you can snip off a leaf and insert the cut end into just enough water to cover the bottom
06:58of the leaf.
06:59As mentioned earlier, place the cuttings in bright indirect sunlight until the roots develop.
07:04Herbs can be propagated in a similar way.
07:07Whether you want more plants to grow outdoors during the growing season or you want to continue
07:11that steady flow of fresh flavor throughout the winter months, many types of herbs can
07:16be grown in water including basil, thyme, mint, oregano, and sage.
07:21Beginning with the stems of herb plants from your garden, clip stems about 6 inches long and
07:27remove the leaves from the bottom 4 inches.
07:29Place the stems in jars filled with water and place them in a sunny window to grow.
07:34Be sure to clip each leaf as it grows to full size as this will help to encourage the stem
07:39to produce more leaves at the top.
07:42The herbs will continue to grow for a few months using this method.
07:45You're now equipped with the knowledge to harness the power of water and expand your plant collection.
07:51Let us know in the comments below if you've had success either growing or propagating plants
07:55plants using this method.
07:57If you found this video informative and inspiring, please subscribe for more tips from the Gardening
08:02Know-How team.
08:03Thank you for watching and happy gardening!
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