Is hydroponic or soil culture better for pennywort? With winter care methods included

Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) is a very popular foliage plant. Its leaves are round or kidney-shaped, like ancient copper coins, which is how it got its name. As for how to grow pennywort, there are mainly two methods: hydroponics and soil culture. So, which is better, hydroponics or soil culture?

Advantages of hydroponics

Hydroponic pennywort does not need soil, only clean water and some nutrient solution, so it is cleaner and easier to manage. When changing the water, you can directly pour out the old water and add new water and nutrient solution.

A transparent or translucent container allows people to clearly see the root system of the pennywort, adding to the pleasure of viewing it. At the same time, when pennywort grows in water, its leaves also appear more emerald green and more ornamental.

Hydroponic pennywort usually grows faster than soil-cultured pennywort, because nutrients in water are more easily absorbed by the plant. When light and temperature are suitable, pennywort can grow rapidly and produce dense foliage.

Advantages of soil culture

Soil-cultured pennywort can take root better in the soil and is more stable. Nutrients and microorganisms in the soil also help the growth and development of pennywort.

Although soil culture requires regular watering and fertilizing, compared with hydroponics, it is not complicated to manage. You only need to pay attention to the moisture and nutrient status of the soil.

Pennywort does not have high requirements for soil and can grow even in some poor soils. Therefore, soil-cultured pennywort is more suitable for planting in places where the environment is not very stable or the soil conditions are poor.

Pennywort needs special care in winter to ensure that it can survive the winter safely. The following are some key care methods:

Pennywort is a sun-loving plant and especially needs sufficient light in winter. It should be placed in a sunny place, such as a balcony or by a window. If indoor light is insufficient, a grow light can be used for supplemental lighting.

The suitable growth temperature for pennywort is 10-25°C. In winter, care should be taken to keep the indoor temperature above 10°C. If the indoor temperature is too low, heating or an electric heater and other equipment can be used to raise the temperature. At the same time, avoid placing pennywort in places that are too cold or too drafty.

In winter, the water demand of pennywort is relatively low. The frequency and amount of watering should be adjusted according to the indoor temperature and humidity. Generally speaking, watering about once a week is fine, but the specific amount of water should be determined according to the moisture of the soil. If the soil is too dry, the amount of watering can be appropriately increased; if the soil is too wet, the amount of watering should be reduced to avoid water accumulation causing root rot.

In winter, the growth rate of pennywort slows down, so it does not need frequent fertilizing. A base fertilizer can be applied once before winter to provide sufficient nutrients to support it through the winter. During winter, if the indoor temperature is relatively high and the pennywort is still growing, a suitable amount of diluted liquid fertilizer can be applied to supplement nutrients.

Although indoor warmth is needed in winter, attention should also be paid to maintaining ventilation to avoid stale air affecting the growth of pennywort. In winter, pennywort may develop some yellow or withered leaves. These leaves should be pruned promptly to avoid affecting the overall appearance and healthy growth of the plant. If pennywort needs to be moved outdoors or to a balcony and other places for care, be careful to avoid frost damage so as not to cause damage to or death of the plant.

From the above analysis, it can be seen that hydroponics and soil culture each have their own advantages. If you want strong ornamental value, rapid growth and convenient management, then hydroponics is a good choice. If you pay more attention to stability and adaptability, then soil culture may be more suitable. However, it should be noted that no matter which method is used to grow pennywort, sufficient light, water and nutrients must be provided to ensure its healthy growth.