Sasha CampbellThis post provides a comprehensive list of plants that can be grown in water. This process is a convenient way to regrow a variety of plants.
Yes, you can regrow many vegetables and herbs in water. Some houseplants can even grow full-time in water without soil!
Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or just starting your gardening journey, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s dive in and discover plants you can root in water.
Vegetables You Can Regrow in Water
Here are 11 vegetables to grow in water:
- Cabbage
- Scallions
- Leeks
- Carrot
- Lettuce
- Napa Cabbage
- Spinach
- Sweet Potato
- Bok Choy
- Beet Greens
- Garlic
- Onions
Don’t throw out these vegetable kitchen scraps. Instead, put them in water jars to regrow them on your windowsill.
There’s no need to waste perfect carrot tops and green onions. Instead, try regrowing them in your garden or kitchen.
It’s a fun way to reuse parts of vegetables you typically discard and a great way to get free produce.
Herbs That Root in Water
Almost any soft-stemmed herb will grow roots when placed in water. Cut from the soft, green stem—not the woody stem for the best results.
Woody-stemmed herbs may still thrive, but they tend to get mushy before they take root, so place them in a sunny spot.
Additionally, don’t forget to give your herbs plenty of indirect light. They need all the help they can get to thrive.
The roots will sprout from the stem in about 10 to 14 days. Plant your herbs in the soil once their roots reach 2 inches long.
However, with proper care, some herbs, like peppermint and basil, will continue to grow in the water without soil for as long as you like. If you want to keep them in water, you can always upgrade to a larger jar to give the little roots more room to grow.
Here are the 17 most common herbs you can root in water:
- Basil
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Lemon Balm
- Oregano
- Cilantro
- Fennel
- Marjoram
- Sage
- Thyme
- Catnip
- Celery
- Ginger
- Rosemary
- Stevia
- Tarragon
- Lavender
Houseplants That Can Grow in Water
Some popular houseplants, like Monstera or Philodendron, can be grown in water. If you care for them properly, you can keep many houseplant cuttings in water for a long time.
Here are 23 houseplants that you can grow in water:
- Philodendron
- Spiderwort
- Pothos
- Wandering Jew
- Dracaena
- Impatiens
- Spider Plant
- Arrowhead Plant
- Monstera
- Coleus
- Croton
- Begonia
- Caladium
- Paperwhite
- Lucky Bamboo
- Alocasia
- Hoya
- Chinese Money Plant
- Baby’s Tears
- English Ivy
- Prayer Plant
- Rubber Plant
- African Violet
Regrowing Plant Cuttings
The process of regrowing plant cuttings in water is simple. Put the cuttings of a well-established herb or plant in water. The cuttings will eventually produce roots.
After some time, you can plant the rooted cuttings in the ground. The new plants will be exact replicas of the original plants.
The good news is that there are many plants that you can regrow from cuttings and scraps. Some must first be put in water to grow roots, while others can go directly into the soil.
Growing Requirements
Growing plants in water is not as complicated as you might think. You only need a watertight vessel to hold your cuttings or plants; then, you can add water.
Monitor your cuttings regularly to ensure they receive enough light and air.
Unchlorinated water is always best for plants. So, let tap water sit at room temperature overnight. Plus, if you have rainwater straight from the sky, that’s even better [1].
Also, keep in mind that different plants need different levels of care. It all depends on the plant, the type of vessel, and the sunlight requirements.
Care and Maintenance
You can use almost any pot or container that will hold water.
Choose a container like a Mason jar, and you can easily create your garden oasis. Just ensure the container is waterproof and avoid using metal containers that might corrode.
Water doesn’t contain many nutrients. Therefore, since plants can’t access the nutrients they usually extract from the soil, you must help them.
You can add liquid fertilizer to the water. Choose a formulation designed specifically for hydroponics. However, adding nutrients to the water is optional if you have cuttings or scraps that will later be transferred to the soil.
Planting in Soil
Do so when you think the new plant is ready to be planted outside in the ground or a pot with soil. You can then care for it like any other garden plant.
So, watch out for pests and plant diseases. You will also need to eliminate weeds that might compete for garden space and soil nutrients.
Fertilizing your plants according to their specific needs is also essential. This will help boost their growth. And don’t forget about the right sunlight requirements.
See also: Shade-Loving Plants.
Takeaway
Growing plants in water is possible if you do the process correctly. It is also a fun way to increase your plant collection and spruce up your home.
So, if you’re on a budget, consider regrowing your vegetables and herbs. You can also take cuttings from your neighbor’s garden and regrow houseplants.
It’s a great way to save money and get new plants. You won’t have to buy seeds or mature plants at the nursery when you can regrow from cuttings in water.
What kind of liquid fertilzer
This is an all-purpose one: https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/general-purpose-fertilizer-organic-agrothrive/Organic-Fertilizer?a=2031