If you consider yourself a bit of a green thumb, you might want to dabble in the art of propagating plants.
Watch: How to propagate pot plants
While plants can be propagated in soil and water, there’s something beautiful about growing plants in water.
Plants that grow in water: how to
- Take a decent-sized cutting just below a node.
- Find a vessel for your cutting to root in. While any glass jar will work, one with a thin neck can be helped. Social media users have started using jugs and glass water bottles from Kmart.
- Once your plants have grown roots at least an inch in length, they can be moved into potting soil if desired.
Here are 7 plants that can grow in water
1. Devil’s ivy
- Devil’s ivy or golden pothos are easy to propagate in water.
- Grab your scissors, cut your plant’s stem below a node, and submerge in water for up to two weeks to root. Once shoots have become visible, plant the vine into the soil to grow.
2. Fiddle leaf fig
- Another easy plant to try and propagate in water is the Fiddle leaf fig.
- For best results, look for a cutting with multiple nodes. Put the cutting in fresh water in a spot with indirect sunlight and wait for it to grow.
- You should see roots in about 6 weeks.
3. Jade plant
- Jade plant is a succulent that can be propagated easily.
- A common problem when propagating jade is it’s susceptible to rot. If propagating in water, leave the stem to dry out and callous over the cut before placing it in water.
- Use a rooting hormone with anti-fungal properties.
- Change the water once or twice a week.
4. Rubber plant
- Rubber plants can be propagated in water, but you might have better success in soil.
- Take a cutting about 15 cm long and place it in water. Make sure you change the water once or twice weekly, as the rubber plant is also susceptible to root rot.
- Rubber plant cuttings can take 12 weeks or longer to root in water.
5. Spider plant
- If your spider plant is thriving with plenty of spider babies growing off it, you might like to have a go at propagating them.
- Cut off a spider plant baby that has a little nub on it. This is where the roots will grow.
- Place the plant in water, ensuring only the roots are covered. Choose a spot with bright indirect light and wait for the roots to grow.
6 Monstera (Philodendron)
- Grab your philodendron cutting and place it in water.
- These plants are happy in all light situations. However, if yours isn’t growing, then try brighter lighting.
7. Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo doesn’t agree with chlorine and other chemicals that can be found in tap water. Place your cutting in a small glass of bottled or distilled water. Choose a spot with bright indirect sunlight, change the water once a week and wait.
If you’ve mastered propagating plants in water, you might want to take your gardening skills up and have a go at aquascaping. These plants grow entirely underwater. These aquatic gardens can then be displayed in your home and potentially even house fish. Find out more here.
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