Guide

Hydroculture made easy

29.1.2021

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

Always wanted to watch your houseplants take root? Put them in a jar and wait for them to come to life.

Apartments are as clean as never before. Clothes and nick-nacks have been decluttered and rearranged. Rooms have undergone some radical revamping. And thinking back on those months of long queues outside DIY stores and flower shops, we can assume that many a home is much greener now.

Indeed, plants are definitely charming. They improve every corner you put them in and are good for your indoor climate. The previous tenants of my apartment smoked indoors. However, thanks to large papyrus plants, you couldn’t smell a thing. Unlike the walls, which were discoloured. But hey, putting up pictures is always an option or, as a last resort, a lick of paint will do the trick. In any case, you can see why urban apartment tenants and owners who were spending a crazy amount of time at home were flocking to plant shops.

If you’re bored with all your earth plants, try putting them in water. Not only will this let you watch leaves grow, you’ll also be able to observe the roots come out. My research reveals that growing plants in water is easy-peasy. Simply cut off a part of a plant and place it in water. Or put the entire plant in if you like. Whichever method you prefer, there are only certain species that enjoy an aquatic life. So-called arum plants, such as orchids or monstera, work well. But philodendron and ficus should also work.

Vases

House Doctor Reem

1 x, Ø 15 x 20 cm

Off with its arm!

As I already have a Monstera at home, my choice is obvious. I cut a part of the plant off and place it in a glass vase. I go for a leaf stem with aerial root on it, as you would if you wanted to propagate, or regrow, your plant. Aerial roots are those thin brown «arms» that form naturally in epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) to absorb water from the air. After cutting the chosen part of the plant with a sharp knife, I let it dry for about an hour to prevent the cut edge from rotting.

After that, I place my plant piece in water. I use regular, barely lukewarm tap water and a glass vase. This will let me watch the roots grow in real time. I completely immerse my relatively long aerial in the water and hope that’s right. In any case, some pictures I came across looked just like that. Personally, I also find putting the root in a glass container prettier to look at than letting the root hang out.

Not a very inviting sight – my new aquatic plant.

Now I’ll just have to wait and see if the plant continues to live and starts taking root. Apparently, the water will turn cloudy in about seven to ten days. That will be my cue to change the water. I'm also mentally preparing for lime scale in the vase, which is often described as being more trouble than raising the aquatic plant itself. A descaler should help. As soon as my vase gets dirty, I'll try it out and keep you in the loop about the best solution in another post.

For the aquatic plant to thrive, it’s best placed in partial shade. Too much sunlight can burn the roots, because the water acts as a kind of magnifying glass. What’s more, algae also tend to get a bit too cosy in warm water, which means more cleaning for you. And you've probably had more than your fair share of that during that in the last few months – at least if you’re an office worker.

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Carolin Teufelberger

Editor

carolin.teufelberger@digitecgalaxus.ch

My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.

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