There are many plants that root in water, which is interesting because it is a very simple method to perform. Now, as easy as this can be, it’s important to know how to do it correctly, otherwise the risk of these cuttings spoiling will be high.
Likewise, the plant that we want to root in water must be chosen carefully, since not all of them will be able to do so. For example, succulents, such as cacti or succulents, usually don’t take root this way because they rot quickly, as they can’t handle excess water. But there are others which will produce good roots.
What plants root in water?
In general, the plants that can have a chance of producing roots while slightly submerged in water will be the herbaceous ones, or those that take a long time to lignify. Woody plants such as trees or shrubs are generally not good candidates because they tend to rot.
For this reason, we only recommend those we are going to mention belowor others that are very similar:
Tender herbaceous or shrubby plants
Image – Flickr/Forest and Kim Starr
In this group there are some plants that we can propagate by cuttings; Not many, but several that are very pretty, like these:
- anthurium: Plants of the genus Anthurium can grow in water, but only for a certain time. When they take root, you need to plant them in pots with acidic soil.
- aromatic: peppermint, mint, basil. Cuttings of these plants can root if slightly submerged in water.
- Philodendron: non-climbers, like the Philodendron bipinnatifidum. These plants, perfect in spacious rooms, can be propagated by branch cuttings.
Epiphytes – Climbers/vines
Image – Wikimedia/Mokkie
This group of plants is the best candidate, especially those that do not lignify (i.e. those that retain green stems, such as Epipremnum aureum, which is the scientific name of pothos, a plant widely used to decorate the house). Some other examples are:
- bougainvillea: it is necessary to cut tender branches, still green. This climbing plant, which can be deciduous or evergreen depending on the temperatures of the region, flowers for a good part of the year.
- climbing philodendron: I’m talking about Philodendron scandens. This heart-shaped leaf climber can root well in water.
- monstera: this “little monster” (as I affectionately call it) is a precious plant that is kept indoors a lot. In addition, you can put your cuttings in water to have new specimens.
- Blackberry: I would dare say that this plant takes root anywhere. The best thing is that today you can get it without thorns.
Who will NOT root in water (or have a very hard time doing so)?
Although at the beginning of the article we already mentioned the delicious, that is to say cacti and succulents, there are others who will not have it easy either. For instance, all those originating from an arid or semi-arid regionlike Adenium (Desert Rose), many Euphorbia, as well as trees, will not be able to root in water because they will rot before their time.
The Palm trees They are also not good candidates, because not only are there very few that can be reproduced by cuttings -only those with more than one stem, such as date palms, Chamaerops or Nannorhops-, but it is also very, very difficult for such cuttings to take root, as they are quickly affected by insects and/or pathogenic microorganisms.
How to make cuttings in water?
Picture – homepursuit.com
Well, the first thing to know is when they can be done, and the answer is in the spring, as soon as the minimum temperature is at least 17 ºC. So, we will follow these steps:
- You have to cut a piece of stem or branch that you see healthy, and about 20 centimeters long.
- Later we will introduce it in a glass with water.
- And finally, we will place this glass in a room where there is a lot of light.
From then on, we will have to change the water and clean the glass every day, so that algae and bacteria do not start to proliferate. If all goes well, we’ll see the first roots begin to sprout after about 15 daysalthough they may take longer, or less, depending on temperatures at the time (the higher they are, generally the longer they will take).
When to move it to a pot with soil?
There is no need to be in a hurry, but neither should we leave them in the water indefinitely. It is best to wait until the roots are already starting to grow a little long., measuring at least five centimeters long. Then we can plant them in pots with drainage holes, and with the most suitable substrate for the type of plant we have (you have more information on substrates in this article).
In addition, It is important that although we know that they are sunny plants, we protect them from the sun for a while, until you see them growing in their pot. Then, we will put them in partial shade, but we will expose them little by little and progressively to the direct sun so that they adapt well.
I hope this information has been of interest to you.