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If you have ever killed a houseplant, by over or under watering, perhaps you should consider growing houseplants in water instead of soil. While many plants will grow as well in water as in soil, some actually grow better in water!
There are several obvious advantages to growing plants in water. In addition to not having to worry about giving your plants too much or too little water, there is no messy soil or drain dish to bother with, and none of the hassles associated with repotting when the plant outgrows its container.
There are just a few basic rules to consider, when growing plants in water. Select glass containers whenever possible. Plastic, ceramic, or pottery containers may, over time, leach harmful chemicals into the water, which could damage or kill your plants. Algae may tend to grow in clear containers exposed to bright light. To avoid problems with algae, use dark glass containers or place your glass containers inside baskets, decorative bowls, or pots.
If you plan to grow your plants from unrooted cuttings, you should remove all the leaves from the portions of the stems that will be under water. The cuttings should be at least six inches long. Place the cuttings in the container and pour in approximately three inches of washed gravel (mixed with one teaspoon of washed charcoal) or glass marbles to anchor the stems. Add non-chlorinated water at room temperature. Do not use demineralized water and do not add plant food. Plant food should only be added to water for plants with very well developed root systems.
If you choose a plant growing in a pot, remove it from the pot and wash all the soil off the roots. Cut away any dead pieces of roots. Place the plant in the container, add gravel around and on top of the roots, and gently add water.
Plants growing in water should not be placed in direct sunlight. Place them in bright, indirect light. Average indoor temperatures are adequate. Water can evaporate quickly if the humidity is low inside your home. Remember to check the container and add water when necessary.
Feed a well-rooted, water-grown plant about once a month with a weak solution of liquid plant food. Wait approximately one week then replace all the water in the container. You may also apply a foliar spray to feed you plants. Consult your local garden center for the appropriate plant food.
Some plants that grow especially well in water are umbrella plant, Chinese evergreen, arrowhead plant, wandering Jew, pothos, philodendron, and grape ivy. The umbrella plant, a true water plant, will thrive in the right setting and can grow up to three feet tall. It must be well supported with a deep bed of gravel. Pothos, philodendron, wandering Jew, and grape ivy have trailing growth habits, and if left unsupported, the weight of the vines can pull the roots out of the water.
Other plants that grow well in water include cast-iron plant, peace lily, peperomia, dracaena, and dieffenbachia. Peace lily, dracaena, and dieffenbachia all need a deep gravel base for support. Two interesting plants that can be found at your local grocery are avocado (submerge half the seed in water until it sprouts) and sweet potato, which produces a handsome rapidly growing vine with leaves resembling ivy. Plants that you should not attempt to grow in water include any variety of cactus, African violets, rubber plant, snake plant, and Norfolk Island pine.
For added interest in your water garden, place two different plants with complementing growth habits in one container, for example, a wandering Jew and a pepermonia.
There are possibly other plants not listed here which could also adapt to growth in water - experimenting may yield good results. If you have had problems growing houseplants in the past, you may find that "water gardening" will turn your brown thumb green!
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