How to Grow Pothos in Water? A Detailed Guide to the Growing Method

Growing pothos in water is a common method of cultivating pothos. Next, let's take a look at how to grow pothos in water.

Growing Methods and Precautions for Water-Grown Pothos

Pothos likes a warm, humid environment. During dry seasons, mist the leaves frequently to increase ambient humidity and also clean the leaves. In winter, be sure to keep water-grown pothos warm to prevent cold damage, but do not place it too close to heating equipment. The leaves of water-grown pothos are delicate and very sensitive to temperature changes, so try to keep room temperature normal.

Water-grown pothos needs plenty of sunlight for its leaves to spread out and stay emerald green, so it is best kept in a sunny spot. If it is normally kept in a darker spot, place it in the sun for a few hours about every ten days; this also keeps the leaves of water-grown pothos green and glossy.

The roots of water-grown pothos should be cleaned and trimmed regularly. If the roots are found to be rotten and sticky, clean them promptly, cut off the rotten roots, and soak them in potassium permanganate solution for disinfection before resuming care. If the roots grow too long, nutrients will be lost, so trim them short in time. Not only the roots but also the branches and leaves of pothos should be trimmed promptly; cut off overlong and tangled stems to keep a neat, well-spaced appearance.

Water Culture Techniques for Pothos

1. Plant Selection

Choose a plant that is robust, free of pests and diseases, and attractive in form.

2. Plant Preparation

Remove the soil substrate from a soil-grown pothos, wash the roots clean with warm water using the root-washing method, then rinse under running water, remove rotten, old, and diseased roots, and rinse the roots clean. Then disinfect the roots with 1% potassium permanganate, and at the same time wash and disinfect the water culture container; place the root-washed plant spread out into the prepared vessel, add water to cover 1/2 to 2/3 of the roots, and leave the upper part of the roots exposed to the air.

3. Acclimation and Cultivation

In the 1st week, change the water once a day, remove rotten roots, and wash the root system clean. After 18~25 days of cultivation, when the plant grows new roots in the water, it means the plant has adapted to the water culture environment, and it can then be grown with a water culture nutrient solution.

4. Selection and Preparation of the Nutrient Solution

The concentration of the nutrient solution must not be too high; remember that lower is better than higher, as too high a concentration very easily causes fertilizer burn.

Selection and Preparation of the Nutrient Solution

Suitable nutrient solutions include: ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) 140 g/L; potassium nitrate (KNO3) 165 g/L; CaCl·H2O 17.7 g/L; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (formula MgSO4·7H2O) 15 g/L; potassium dihydrogen phosphate (chemical formula: KH2PO4) 10 g/L; Na2Fe-EDTA 18.6 g/L; FeSO4·7H2O 13.9 g/L. It needs to be diluted 8~10 times before use. During the growing season, replace the nutrient solution once every 15~20 days.

In daily life, how should we prevent root rot?

Root rot is generally caused by the roots dying from lack of oxygen, so paying attention to two points can prevent it.

First, change the water often. If the water is not changed for a long time, the oxygen in the water is used up and the roots rot easily.

Second, pay attention to the water level. The water level just needs to cover the highest point of the roots; it is even fine if the upper part of the roots is slightly exposed above the water. If the water is too deep, part of the stem is submerged, and it is prone to rot there from lack of oxygen.

Third, choose a wide-mouthed open bottle to increase the contact area with the air, making it easier for oxygen in the air to dissolve into the water; or place it in a ventilated spot, for the same purpose. If you only have a narrow-mouthed bottle, that is fine too; just follow the first point and change the water often.

At the start of water culture, change the clean water once every 2~3 days, and water roots can grow in about a week. Only when the plant shows strong growth can it be grown with a foliage plant nutrient solution.

For pothos newly placed in water, it is best to change the water every day using sun-exposed water. Do not add anything. After a month it will have rooted.

The above is an introduction to growing pothos in water. We hope you enjoy today's article.