So many of us like to have houseplants, and why not? They’re a great aesthetic addition to your home and also improve your mood and mental well-being. If you’re interested in trying something new, try growing hydroponic plants!
benefits of hydroponics
Hydroponics is growing plants in nutrient-enriched water, not soil, and there are certain advantages. For one, soil-borne pests are no longer a problem. You also don’t have to worry about over- or underwatering. Since the plants are growing in water, they know exactly how much they’ll need!
Hydroponic growing at home can also be very low maintenance. Ultimately, you really only need water, oxygen, nutrients, and a way to support plants’ roots (since they’re not rooted in soil).
type of water
It’s best to use unchlorinated water, like spring water, well water, or rainwater. Don’t use filtered or chlorinated tap water, since those processes remove some of the nutrients that plants need. If you only have tap water, let it sit out overnight first. If you’d like, mix with a little bit of diluted liquid fertilizer.
containers & plant support
In conventional growing, plants take root in soil. But when growing hydroponically, you need a way to support plants as they grow. One way is to use vases with tall, thin necks so the plant stands upright.
Many people also like to add pebbles or marbles for extra support and stabilization – or as a cool design element!
plant varieties
Plants that can root in water are best suited for hydroponics. At the most basic level is growing vegetable scraps – fun to try as a first step if you want to get your feet wet. Cut a bit of green onion or some herbs and put them in a jar of water, and see how they grow.
Examples of houseplants that take well to hydroponics include the lucky bamboo, begonia, pothos, philodendron, peace lily, and spider plant; and herbs like mint, basil, oregano, and rosemary. Cut a section just below the leaf and place it in the container. Change out the water monthly.
If you change your mind about hydroponics, you can always re-pot the plant back in soil. Whether it’s your first plant or your fiftieth, hydroponic plants can be a fun way to up your plant game!
Sources: Real Simple; Apartment Therapy; Houseplant Resource Center
