Is it easy for soil-grown plants to die when converted to water culture? Pick the right species and they are easy to keep

Switching familiar soil-grown plants into hydroponic containers and watching the roots spread out in a clear glass bottle is a joy for many plant lovers. But changing environments is like a test for plants, and some people think soil-to-hydroponic conversion easily kills plants; in fact, the key is to understand the rules by which plants adapt to a hydroponic environment.

When soil-grown plants are converted to hydroponics, the biggest challenge for the roots is the drastic change in their living environment. The loose particles in soil can provide oxygen and support for the roots, while the oxygen content in water is only 1/20 of that in soil; once the roots lack oxygen, they will rot. At the same time, the microbial community in soil can help break down nutrients, while the hydroponic environment requires manual regulation of the nutrient ratio, and even a slight deviation may cause metabolic disorder in the plant.

The most critical step in converting to hydroponics: washing the roots!

The roots of soil-grown plants are covered with soil, and soaking them directly in water will ferment and smell, and then the roots will rot. The correct method is: gently rinse the soil off the roots with warm water, do not rub hard (it will damage the roots), and use small scissors to cut off the aged roots in places that cannot be rinsed clean, leaving the white, tender new roots.

Then you need to "air-dry the roots"!

The washed roots cannot be soaked in water immediately; they must be placed in a ventilated and shaded place to air-dry for 1-2 days to let the wounds heal, otherwise they will definitely rot once they enter water. I skipped this step before, no wonder the plants died so quickly!

So which plants are most suitable for "switching careers" to hydroponics? These types have an extremely high success rate in my own experience, and beginners can choose them without worry.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): the champion of the hydroponic world! Even if only half a vine remains, it can sprout new roots in water. Remember to use a transparent bottle; watching the root hairs slowly grow longer is super soothing. Do not let the water level get too high; just submerge 1/2 of the roots.

Ivy (Hedera helix): it has a literary and artistic flair of its own, and after conversion from soil to hydroponics the leaves look even more vigorous. Choose branches with aerial roots; they will root quickly in water. Usually place them in bright indirect light, and change the water promptly when it gets dirty; do not be lazy!

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum): when dug out of the soil, you will find many small "potatoes" on the roots; those store water. Wash them clean, air-dry them well, and soak them in water, and they basically will not die. Hydroponic spider plants are more likely to send out stolons, and after flowering they are covered with small plantlets, super cute!

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), also known as "smooth sailing": it is prone to root rot in soil, but switching to hydroponics is actually more worry-free. Do not let the water level submerge too much of the roots; let the roots come into slight contact with air, otherwise the leaves easily turn yellow. When it blooms, white flowers float on the water surface, and the atmosphere is fully maxed out~

Snake plant (Sansevieria): choose a variety with thick leaves, such as the golden-edged snake plant. After taking it out of the soil, trim the old roots a little, air-dry it for 2 days before soaking it in water, and only soak 1/3 of the roots. It is especially drought-tolerant; even if you occasionally forget to water it, it will not die.

There is also a little trick: for the first 2 weeks after just converting to hydroponics, do not expose the plant to the sun; place it in bright indirect light to adapt to the environment. Do not change the water too frequently: once every 5 days in summer and once every 10 days in winter. The water used for changing should preferably be left to stand for 1 day in advance so that the water temperature is close to room temperature.

In fact, many soil-grown plants can be converted to hydroponics. The key is to patiently do the two steps of washing the roots and air-drying the roots, and give them time to adapt. Friends, you can start by trying pothos; the success rate is almost 100%.