Water Plants are houseplants that don’t need soil and can grow in water. We’ll show you how to grow your own Water Plants and what you should consider in terms of their environmental sustainability.
Water Plants is the name of the new houseplant trend, where plants are cultivated in water instead of soil.
The advantage of Water Plants, besides their aesthetics, is that they are very easy to care for: With them, it doesn’t matter if you forget to water them. In addition, due to the lack of soil, they are much less susceptible to fungus gnats and other plant pests, for example. Molds also have no chance in a water container.
One small disadvantage you should be aware of: Water Plants hardly grow at all, as the conditions in a water container are less conducive to growth than in a pot with soil. Nevertheless, houseplants can be kept well for several years in this way.
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What types of plants are suitable as Water Plants?
Basically, the following applies: Indoor plants that tolerate a lot of moisture are particularly suitable as water plants. Unsuitable, on the other hand, are plants that prefer it drier and which, for example, begin to rot in waterlogging.
The following houseplants make particularly good Water Plants:
- Ficus Benjamini
- Monstera
- Ivy
- Philodendron
- Water lily
- Club lily
- Strelitzia
However, before you go out to buy new houseplants as Water Plants, you should read the following paragraph thoroughly.
Are Water Plants ecologically sustainable?
Water Plants are no more ecologically unsustainable than other houseplants. The ecological dilemma with houseplants in general is that enclosed spaces are not ideal conditions for native plants – but they are for classic houseplants, since they come from warmer climates.
This has the disadvantage that monstera, ivy and co. in most cases have to travel long and thus CO2-intensive transport routes to Europe. In addition, their cultivation is anything but energy-saving, since the climatically most favorable conditions for them can only be achieved by artificial lighting, heating and watering systems.
In addition, houseplants from conventional production are often heavily contaminated with synthetic chemical pesticides. Because houseplants are not intended for consumption, there is little regulation on the use of pesticides. Through photosynthesis, the plants release the pesticides into their environment – and then you inhale them.
Bottom line: If possible, grow your Water Plants from plant cuttings – either from your own houseplants or from plants of family and friends. If you want to use new houseplants for your Water Plants, make sure that they are certified organic and grown in a European country. Unfortunately, certified organic houseplants are still rare – so you’re most likely to find them in smaller flower stores that value environmental sustainability.
How to grow and care for Water Plants yourself
To grow Water Plants yourself, you will need the following:
- Medium to large, heavy glass containers that have a wider opening (large enough for the Water Plants’ roots to fit through and narrow enough to give the plants support).
- Houseplants of your choice
- Tap water
Here’s how:
- If the houseplant is in a pot with soil, you should only move it once the soil is relatively dry. Then carefully remove the soil around the root system and rinse the roots with cold water.
- Then place the plant in a glass container and fill it with enough water to cover only the roots. Important: The water should not touch the green part of the plant. Tip: If your tap water is very chalky, still mineral water is more suitable.
- The Water Plants should be placed in a semi-shaded area of your room. Too much sunlight can damage the roots. In addition, light and heat promote the formation of algae in the water.
- Change the water of the Water Plants about every one to two weeks or as soon as it starts to get cloudy. You should also clean the glass container thoroughly every few months to prevent algae formation.
- Once a month, add a drop of organic fertilizer, such as the one from Avocadostore**, to the water to provide your Water Plants with additional nutrients.
