Do you like herbs? We like to add herbs to our favorite dishes. Finding fresh herbs is sometimes hard which is why we decided to grow them home. If you don’t have a garden, water-grown herbs can do the tricks.
Herbs grow really well in water. You can start them in water, and all you need is some nice clippings.
Cilantro, mustard and dill are grown from seeds and these may give you a problem. In this case you will have to plant the seeds in soil, and transfer them into water.
Grow herbs in water
Water
Use glass containers and plain water. Avoid chlorinated water. Leave your regular tap water to air overnight or store rainwater. For optimal results, use spring or well water. It’s packed with minerals.
Container
Mason jars and plastic bottles are a good option. Roots grow well away from light. For this purpose, use amber colored bottles or just wrap paper around the bottom of the bottle.
The darkness will prevent the growth of algae. Algae don’t affect the plant, but they sure make your containers look dirty.
Narrow-mouthed jars or bottles offer an advantage as they support the clippings. You don’t need containers with too narrow mouth as the roots need air. If you use wide-mouthed container use nylon or wire netting to support the clippings. Netting will also keep mosquitoes away.
Plant cuttings
Clippings root quickly and you don’t need rooting hormones. Clip 6-inch sections from growing tips. Remove lower leaves and remove the lower tips close to the notes from where the roots appear. Make sure no leaves touch the water.
Rosemary and other woody cuttings need more time to root. Change the water once a week. If you can find willow trees, steep some of its branches in warm water overnight.
This is your natural rooting hormone mix. Plant the clippings in the liquid to boost the rooting process. Some like to use rooting hormone powder.
10 best herbs to grow in water
1. Peppermint
Menthol gives peppermint its great benefits. The volatile substance
gives this herb its cooling sensation. Put fresh cuttings in a container
of your choice to grow new plants.
2. Spearmint
It’s a close relative to peppermint. Spearmint is a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint.
3. Oregano
Oregano makes your food even more delicious. Use fresh clippings, and use the tips once the plant grows well.
4. Basil
Basil likes warm and light rooms. Clip off the tips before the herb starts flowering.
5. Sage
Take soft cuttings in spring. Sage has strong flavor, and you need 1-2
sage plants. This herb likes light and well-aerated rooms. It’s prone to
mildew.
6. Stevia
Use clippings from soft branches, and give them warmth and light.
7. Lemon balm
Lemon balm makes the best tea. Use clippings in spring or fall. The herb
likes warm place and indirect light. You will notice the first roots in
3-4 weeks. Change the water regularly. Lemon balm is prone to white
mildew, so you may want to root the clippings outside.
8. Tarragon
Take the clippings from new growths in spring. Fall clippings take more time to root. Give herb warmth and light.
Russian tarragon is mild and it is added as a green in salads. French tarragon is the best option for your dishes.
9. Thyme
Use green cuttings from new growths, preferably in mid-spring or early
summer. Avoid flowering plant. Thyme dries really fast, so put the
clippings in water right after cutting them. Spray the clippings with
water. Trim the branches to boost branching.
10. Rosemary
Spring cuttings root faster. Rosemary likes sunny spots.
9 best houseplants to grow in water
Overwatering houseplants is the worst problem for pretty much everyone who lives in an apartment. That’s why you should grow these plants in water.
1. Pothos
Submerge 2-3 nodes of the clippings in water.
2. Arrowhead
Use the same method you use to grow pothos.
3. Philodendrons
Every type grows well in water. You need 6-8 inch tips. Use a rock to secure the cutting in the jar.
4. Peace lily
Use an entire plant or sections of the plant. Remove the soil before you put the cuttings in water.
5. Aluminum plant
Its cuttings grow really well in water.
6. Dracaena
Some people can’t make a difference between this plant and the Chinese
lucky bamboo. It’s a variety of dracaena (Dracaena braunii). You can use
corn plant (D. fragrans), Song of Indian (D. reflexa). It’s a heavy
plant, and you may need to provide support.
7. Dieffenbachia (Dumb cane)
Cut tops and put it in water after the cut end is dry. Be careful, its sap is caustic and may burn your skin.
8. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)
Use clean sections, and grow then in large containers filled with water.
9. Chlorophytum (Spider plant, Airplane plant)
Use goldfish bowl for this plant. You need large plantlets or entire
plants. Hanging plants grow really well in water, and you won’t have t
worry about the watering part.
6 top vegetables to grow in water
You can plant watercress, water chestnut, wasabi or lotus. Terrestrial veggies can be grown in water. Leafy greens are perfect.
1. Lettuce
Start the seeds in netted cups, and transfer the seedlings in beds.
2. Spinach
It’s grown in the same way as spinach.
3. Tomatoes
Start the seeds in individual cups, and insert them in growing medium.
4. Peppers
They have similar requirements to tomatoes.
5. Cucumbers
Bush type cucumbers are best for hydroponics. Climbing types need support.
6. Celery
In this way you won’t get plant full of dirt. Growing celery in water gives you clean veggie.
Feed your water-grown plant
Water-grown plants need supplemental nutrition. You need to dilute
regular fertilizers in water or formulations designed for these plants.
Fertilizers tend to accumulate at the bottom and cause root burn. Change the water regularly and flush the plant when needed.
Sources:
www.healthandhealthyliving.com
www.naturallivingideas.com
www.gardeningknowhow.com
