If you are on a mission to multiply your plants and quite lazy to start from scratch by planting seeds, then you don't need to worry. There are other ways you can grow plants, such as growing them from cutting and in water.
But what plants can you grow from cuttings in water?
Admittedly not all plants can grow from cuttings in water. Still, the good news is that most house plants can be successfully bred in water, and this article will highlight some of the house plants that can propagate in water.
In the end, you will also learn how to grow your plants from cuttings in water as well as the importance of doing so.
Table of Contents
What Does It Mean To Grow Plant From Cuttings in Water?
Before we get into this, you need to be familiar with the term plant propagation. What is plant propagation? In simple terms, plant propagation happens when you take out a stem or a leaf from an adult plant and growing it into a new plant.
Plant propagation is usually done using three methods; propagation in water, in soil, or through the process of air layering.
This article is mainly concerned with plant propagation in water. The follows that the severed stem of an adult plant is dipped in water for some time until roots start to form.
Why You Should Grow Your Plants from Cuttings in Water
Rooting plants in water is way easier than planting seeds. But is that the only reason people prefer water propagation? The answer to this question is No. gardeners opt for water propagation due to the many benefits associated with it, such as:
Not all plants may come true from seed, while some which come from seeds may be quite difficult to germinate. Plants like pathos, African ivy, etc., grow in water very quickly.
The resulting new plants will be true to the parent plant because they are clones made from vegetative material.
Various pests and diseases that affect new plants in soil propagation are ruled out in water propagation. Soil is prone to soil gnats, fungal issues, and other problems.
Water propagation requires that the fresh cutting water be changed regularly, eliminating pathogens that may affect the new cutting.
Water propagation allows the plant to have a full, healthy root system before moving to a soil medium.
What Plants Can You Grow From Cuttings in Water?
Like we mentioned earlier, most house plants can be grown from cuttings in water. This is quite an effective and inexpensive way of increasing your plant collections.
Below are some houseplants that you can grow from cuttings in water.
1. Spider Plants
The spider plant is a beautiful addition to your plant collection. The plant is easy to manage and thrives best under moisture and indirect sunlight. The plant multiplies and is grown either indoors or outdoors.
The new cut of a spider plant can propagate in water for at least a week before being transferred to the soil.
2. Pothos
Pothos plants are easy to handle and will make an excellent addition to your bathroom or office because they can tolerate low light. Pothos can be grown in water or dry soil.
Cuttings can be taken from a mother plant and rooted in water and kept in water as a houseplant.
3. African Violet
The bright and cheerful bloom of African violet is an excellent addition to your home; the plant can be grown in flower pots and propagated in water. The plant doesn't take up too much space and can be placed in strategic positions in your home.
African violets do not exactly thrive on the water so take care when watering them. Never splash water on the foliage as this may cause damage; only water the base.
4. Swedish Ivy
Swedish Ivy is another houseplant that can propagate in water, and it's the perfect project for beginners in the gardening field.
The plant is easy to manage and makes an excellent indoor plant. Swedish ivy thrives best in a light and loamy potting mix with indirect light all year long.
To propagate Swedish ivy, cut a healthy stem section with a crown of leaves at the end. Place the cut inside a rooting hormone before placing it in water.
5. Grape Ivy
Grape ivy is a member of the grape family, and it's also an indoor plant due to its native habitat. The plant thrives under low light and may require a consistent liquid fertilizer program to flourish properly.
Grape ivy can be propagated in water for a short period before being transferred to a potting mixture. The potting mix must be rich in barks, perlite, styrofoam, and calcined clay to aid water retention and still allow for drainage.
How to Grow Plants From Cuttings In Water
We have highlighted some houseplants that can propagate in water. The fascinating thing about these plants mentioned is that even a beginner in the gardening field can undertake these projects.
We will walk you through on step to step guidance in growing plants from cuttings in water.
But first, let's quickly look at the tools you will need for this exercise:
Items Needed for Growing Plants from Cuttings in Water
- A transparent container filled with room temperature water
- Pruning shears or scissors
- Plant cutting, preferably a pothos cutting
Let's now look at the steps to growing plants from cuttings in water:
Step 1: From the adult plant, look below the mature vine for a tiny brown root node. Plants like pathos have root nodes that can root in water. Note that not all plants that are to be propagated in water have root nodes.
Step 2: Using your scissor or a sharp knife, carefully cut just below the node.
Step 3: Remove any leaf close to the nodes which might submerge in water during propagation
Step 4: Place the plant cutting in transparent glass with water. Make sure to place the plant cutting in a spot that receives bright to moderate indirect light. Note that direct light or super-low light will be harmful to the fresh plant cutting.
Step 5: The water should be changed out at least every 3-5 days with fresh room temperature water. When changing the water, you can wipe away the roots' murkiness with your hands or by rinsing the water's root.
Step 6: Exercise some patience as you watch your plant take roots and grow. Rooting can take weeks to months, depending on the plant.
Step 7: Wait until the root is at least 1 inch long or longer before transferring to a potting mix. The plant cutting will take approximately 4-6 weeks to form 1 inch of roots.
Step 8: Once the cuttings are transferred to a potting mix, place the pot in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. The potting mix should be dried before watering.
Can You Permanently Grow Your Houseplant Cuttings in Water?
The whole essence of growing your plants from cuttings in water is that you get to transfer the cuttings to a potting mix when enough roots have been formed.
The question then is, can you leave the cutting permanently in the water? It depends on the variety of the plant.
Keeping the cutting permanently in water is called hydroponic gardening. You will need to add liquid nutrients to sustain your hydroponic plant.
Related Readings:
- List Of Fruit Trees That Grow From Cuttings
- How To Get Rid Of White Fungs On Palm Trees
- How To Grow Plants In Plastic Bottles
- Types Of Plants In The Ocean
Conclusion
We have already established that water propagation is one of the easiest ways to multiply your plant collection rather than starting from scratch. This post has done justice to the question, what plants can you grow from cuttings in water?
With this knowledge, you can quickly get cuttings of your favorite plant from your friend or neighbor instead of searching for the seed of a plant.
More so, you can use a plastic container to start your gardening journey, provided that the plastic container is large enough to hold the cuttings.
