How To Grow Monstera In Water Long Term – ISPUZZLE

A tropical decoration is not complete without at least one Monstera plant scattered throughout the house. Prized for its large, fenestrated leaves, it’s easy to see why these favorite houseplants are so popular.

While not incredibly difficult to care for, they can be a nuisance for novice plant parents. Some also don’t have the space to grow a towering Monstera, or the time to care for it properly. If this sounds like you, don’t give up on your Monstera growing dreams just yet.

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Instead, try growing your Monstera in water.

Monsteras are one of the best plants to grow in water for a long time. The leaves look great in a vase and the roots quickly adapt to growing in water. If you want to try this fun gardening experience, here’s how.

Why grow Monsteras in water?

less mess

Indoor gardening can be tricky business. We’ve all accidentally knocked pots over, or maybe a curious pair of legs or hands did it for us.

Watering can also cause messes, from water stains on furniture to dirt spills around the base. Unfortunately, even if you’re incredibly careful, there’s no way to avoid the occasional accident.

Unless you decide to grow in water.

When growing a Monstera in water there is no soil involved and therefore much less chance of damage. As long as you choose the right container, watering is easy. In addition, the water stays inside, instead of flowing randomly through the drainage holes.

As long as you keep the bin out of reach of passers-by who might accidentally knock it over, you’ll never have to worry about unexpected cleanups again.

Less growth problems

Water grown Monsteras are incredibly low maintenance. You don’t have to worry about over or under watering, transplanting or any other issues associated with growing in the ground. As long as they are in the right place and always have plenty of clean water, they will grow just fine.

If you’re one of those gardeners who consider themselves a black thumb (although I don’t think they actually exist), this might be the option for you.

While things can still go wrong when growing in water, there’s far less to worry about. You can regain your confidence by growing succulent stems, ready to expand your indoor garden with more ground-grown plants.

less pests

Indoor pest problems are a nightmare for houseplant owners. A small problem can quickly spread to the rest of your plants and your entire home, making it incredibly difficult to get rid of. Many of these pests reside or lay eggs in the soil of houseplants, causing the most problems.

So once you remove the soil, you can significantly reduce the potential risk of pests. This is most effective for one of the most annoying houseplant pests: fungus gnats. These tiny flying creatures are attracted to moist soil and are difficult to kill due to their ability to fly.

If you constantly have problems with fungus gnats on your houseplants or have problems with other soil pests, you should try growing in water.

It shows well

There’s a reason you see Monstera leaves in vases all over social media. Simply put, they look great.

These plants are loved for their beautiful foliage, and there’s no better way to take advantage of them than by making a statement in your home. Once you add an intricate root system to the mix, you have a fascinating decorative element that is sure to turn heads.

Things to consider

All of these benefits of growing Monsteras in water come with a few caveats.

First, your plant probably won’t get very tall, if at all. Although they like humidity, Monsteras are not used to growing without soil. Under these conditions, they won’t add much height or produce many new leaves, even during the peak growing season.

They may not last long either. Although it can provide nutrients to support the plant, growing in water for a long time does not necessarily mean forever. As the existing leaves age and begin to die back after a few years, they will need to be replaced with a new cutting to continue growing.

Finally, while this is a low-maintenance way to grow a Monstera, that doesn’t mean it’s maintenance-free. You can’t just drop a cutting in water and expect it to survive for several months without attention. Their needs are few, but they always have them.

If you have a large Monstera that needs pruning, there’s nothing wrong with trying this method for the sake of it. Few tools required – you can usually get by with things you already have around the house, making this a fun weekend project to try.

Grow Monstera in Water

To get started, all you need is a flowering Monstera plant, a vase, and some water.

What water should I use?

The type of water you use is more important here than when growing in soil, as the roots are permanently exposed to it. Essentially, the water should be of high quality, free of chemicals that can damage roots over time.

Tap water often contains elements used to clean it, such as chlorine, which can affect root growth with prolonged exposure. If you have good quality tap water, it’s not a big problem, but if you don’t, better look for another solution.

Rainwater is ideal because it is free and contains trace elements that the plant can benefit from. But if you do not have the possibility to collect rainwater at home, you can also use filtered water.

Find the right container

A glass vase is an ideal container for growing Monsteras in water. This allows you to monitor root health and detect signs of bacterial growth. You can use a colored container, but you will need to be extra careful and check the water regularly.

choose a location

To successfully grow your Monstera in water, it will develop slightly different roots than it does in soil. These aquatic roots are finer and more vulnerable than the terrestrial roots which must anchor the plant and absorb humidity from the environment.

Because the roots are slightly different, it’s best not to move a Monstera from soil to water for long-term growth. Although it is not impossible to keep it alive, the roots in the soil may rot if left in water, causing a number of growing problems.

Instead, take a cutting from your Monstera as if propagating it and let it develop its own roots in water. This not only increases your chances of success, but also doubles your stock.

Follow this guide on how to take a cutting from a mature Monstera plant by dropping the cutting into your rain glass or filtered water. Remove all traces of soil before planting to prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the water.

Try choosing a multi-leaved cutting to fill a vase. Alternatively, you can take several cuttings at once.

Caring For Your Water Grown Monstera

Surroundings

The environment required for your Monstera grown in water is the same as it would grow in soil. However, it is important to respect the desired conditions as much as possible to limit stress, because the cutting does not grow in the most ideal conditions.

Give your Monstera no less than a full day of bright, indirect light. They can even tolerate mild, direct sun in the morning, giving them all the energy they need to produce and maintain root growth. Low light is not suitable for Monsteras grown in water, as they will eventually wilt and yellow from lack of light.

Temperatures should stay warm year round, at least above 65F. The warmer the temperatures, the better the cuttings will grow. However, this is only true up to a point. Temperatures above 90 F for long periods can cause stress. In these cases, move your plant away from direct sun and place it in moderate light to provide some relief.

Humidity is also a factor. Although evaporation around the plant will slightly increase humidity, it will not be enough to improve conditions if the air in your home is very dry. Keep humidity above 60% by choosing the right room in your home and investing in a humidifier if needed.

Fertilization

All plants need nutrients to survive. Growing in water, these essential nutrients will be very scarce. If you want to keep your cuttings alive long term, you need to constantly add these nutrients to the water to maintain growth.

Specialized hydroponic nutrient kits are available online, designed to be added to water to grow a wide variety of plants without soil. You can also use a liquid houseplant fertilizer, adding a drop or two each time you change the water, but hydroponic nutrients will likely produce much better results.

Maintenance

The only maintenance task you really need to think about is keeping your water clean. As the water evaporates, the roots can be exposed to the air and die. Bacterial growth in water can also inhibit growth and cause rot.

Be sure to top up the water every few days as the water line goes down so the roots are always submerged. About once a week, completely replace the water and rinse the bowl. If you notice a continued buildup of bacteria, clean the container well and disinfect it with a bleach solution before replanting.

As long as the water remains clean and oxygenated, with a few drops of fertilizer to maximize growth, you should have no problem keeping your Monstera happy in the water for years to come.

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