Growing ginger in water is super easy, and it looks even better than water-grown foliage plants

Let me tell you, I used to only dare to buy a small piece of ginger, afraid that it would sprout and go to waste if left too long. Until a while ago, I came across someone growing ginger in water - it turns out sprouted ginger isn't waste, it's a treasure you can grow as a foliage plant! I tested it myself for half a month, and it's even more lively than a pothos.

First, picking the ginger is key - don't buy the smooth, sproutless young ginger, just choose old ginger from the market that still has a bit of soil on it and a wrinkled skin, ideally with visible little swollen sprout buds - the more obvious, the better.

For the container, just find whatever you have at home. I first used an empty glass jar - being transparent, you can see what the roots look like, which is so soothing; later I tried a small ceramic bowl, which looks more atmospheric on the balcony. The key is not to use a container that's too big - ginger isn't large, and too big a container will accumulate water and rot the roots, so just one size bigger than the ginger will do. Wash it clean without leaving any grease, otherwise the water will easily stink.

Next is the step where mistakes are most likely: adding water! Put the ginger in the container with the sprout buds facing up, then add water up to 1/3 of the ginger, at most half - never submerge the whole ginger! I had no experience the first time and filled the jar to the brim with water; the next day the sprout buds turned black, and I quickly poured out most of it to save it. Remember, the sprouts need to breathe - fill it too full and it's sure to fail.1/3

When growing it, don't expose it to direct sun - just put it somewhere with indirect light. For example, a windowsill in the living room or a corner of the desk; too strong sunlight will make the leaves wilt, like sun-wilted spinach; with no light at all it will grow leggy, with leaves as thin as noodles. No need to change the water too often - once every 3 days in summer and once every 5 days in winter. Each time you change the water, wipe the inner wall of the container as well, so scale doesn't stick to it, which looks dirty and affects water quality.3 days in summer and once every 5 days in winter. Each time you change the water, wipe the inner wall of the container as well, so scale doesn't stick to it, which looks dirty and affects water quality.

You can see changes in about four or five days! The little sprout buds will gradually grow longer, first pushing out tender yellow tips, then turning into emerald green leaves in a couple of days, like little bamboo shoots just emerging, growing upward section by section. Roots will also quietly emerge from the bottom - thin and white, winding around in the water, looking so full of life in the glass jar.

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"waste items" in life are treasures, like sprouted ginger and sweet potatoes - with just a little effort they can become good-looking foliage plants, and you don't even have to spend money to buy them. Beginners can succeed on the first try too. If you have sprouted ginger at home, don't throw it away - give it a try! No need to specially buy fertilizer, no need to watch and water it every day; grown well, it's nice to look at and you can eat it too - what a bargain.