How to Grow Pennywort in Water? Cultivation Methods and Precautions

I'm sure everyone is quite familiar with the pennywort plant by now. It is a very easy-to-grow green plant that can be kept as a small bonsai for ornamental viewing. Pennywort has long been regarded as a symbol of wealth, so many people place this “little fresh” plant in the living room. The way to make its ornamental value even higher is to grow it hydroponically.

How to Grow Pennywort in Water

1. You don't need to change the water especially often; if you change it too frequently, it's not good for the pennywort either. Basically, just make sure there is enough water in the basin, and changing it once a week is fine. In summer, you can change the water more often to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in it.

2. Pennywort likes sunlight; with sufficient sunlight it can grow rapidly, and you don't need to fertilize it. Just be sure it receives more than 4 hours of sunlight per day on average.

3. As for fertilizing, there are no major rules; you can appropriately add some nutrient solution, such as a quick-acting fertilizer——Hyponex No. 2, or a slow-release fertilizer——Magamp and so on. If you keep goldfish at home, pouring the water from changing the goldfish tank into the pennywort basin can make the pennywort grow better.

4. 16-24℃ is the suitable temperature for pennywort. Too low will inhibit growth. Too high and small insects are likely to hatch in the water.

5. When growing pennywort in water, yellowed leaves that fall into the water will slowly rot and spoil the water quality, so we should regularly check the water container and promptly remove any moldy, rotten leaves we find.

6. Vigorously growing pennywort can spread across an entire water basin in a very short time. After the pennywort has spread to fill the basin, the overly dense pennywort should be divided and transplanted. The purpose of doing this is to prevent mature leaves from shading the light of young leaves and affecting the normal metabolism of the plant.

Hydroponic Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Pennywort

I. Cultivation Methods

Water quality: Ordinary tap water is fine. Change the water frequently. In summer, change the water once every 3-4 days, with the water level at half of the container. In winter, change the water once a week. In winter, the leaves transpire less, so each water change can be just 1/3 of the container.

Light: This plant, pennywort, quite likes light. I generally place the pennywort where sunlight can reach it, such as a windowsill. In summer, the light duration can be a bit longer. 4-5 hours is a must. In winter, if there is little light, you can use a UV lamp or a fluorescent lamp to replace sunlight.

Temperature: The editor is from the south, and growing pennywort hydroponically is effortless. The southern climate is very suitable for growing pennywort. Keeping the normal temperature at 10-26 degrees is quite suitable. Too hot or too cold is not suitable for pennywort growth.

Fertilizing: Personally, I don't really recommend fertilizing pennywort, because the nutrients it produces through its own photosynthesis are enough. Of course, if you want it to be more luxuriant, you can apply a moderate amount of fertilizer; you can dissolve ordinary fertilizer in the water basin and let it absorb it on its own, but be careful not to make the concentration too strong; a small amount is enough.

II. Precautions

1. Pennywort is suited to rough, simple care; as long as it gets enough sunlight and water, it can grow very quickly.

2. If indoors with no sunlight, you can use lamplight instead.

3. The water needs to be tap water that has been left to settle for two hours, or used the next day.

Why the Success Rate of Keeping Fish in Hydroponic Pennywort Is Low

First, the root system of pennywort is very lush and grows rapidly; when grown hydroponically, it easily fills the entire container. In this situation, the hydroponic vessel will lack oxygen, the fish will be deprived of oxygen, and in severe cases they will die. This is one of the reasons for the low success rate.

Second, pennywort itself is not a large plant, and when grown hydroponically, the vessels used are relatively small and shallow; the water in the basin will be little and shallow, while there are many roots, so the space for the fish to move around will be relatively small, and the oxygen in the water will also be little, which is very unfavorable for the fish's growth.

Third, when pennywort is grown hydroponically, it needs to be fertilized; if the fertilizer concentration is too high, it is very unfavorable for the fish's growth.

How to Propagate Pennywort

I. Cuttage Propagation

1. Cut off a stem of pennywort, choosing a length of about 3-5 nodes, and remove the leaves on the lower part.

2. Insert the pennywort into the soil, and place a tray filled with water under the flowerpot. You can also insert it directly into water. Ensure appropriate light, spray water frequently to keep it moist, and it will be able to take root in about ten days to half a month.

II. Division Propagation

1. Select healthy, mature pennywort with large leaves.

2. Use scissors to cut off the white roots of the selected plant, about 3 or 4 cm long.

3. Use loose special cultivation soil or another substrate to fix it in place.

4. After transplanting, place it in a shaded spot, and after about a week, once new leaves emerge, gradually move it to a place with sunlight. Whether it is cuttage propagation or division propagation, it is best carried out in warm weather.

Pennywort can be configured for either soil culture or hydroponic culture. It's just that many modern people have not only improved their aesthetics, but also have requirements for cultivation methods. The hydroponic method of growing pennywort is not only beautiful but also clean, and can meet more people's needs.