Three hydroponic plants that are easy to grow and full of style: the pros and cons explained in one go

Lots of friends ask me which hydroponic plants are best to choose - no need to dig in soil or fertilize, and just watching the roots drift in the water is so soothing. Today I've picked3 beginner-friendly ones - umbrella papyrus, pennywort, and taro - and I'll lay out their pros and cons clearly, so after reading you'll know which one to choose!

Umbrella papyrus:"umbrella plant" - just from the name you can tell how easy it is to grow. Its leaves stick up like little umbrellas, and placed on a desk or windowsill it instantly gives a fresh, pastoral feel.

Pros: it tolerates shade, and it's extremely tough - if you occasionally forget to add water and the pot (oh no, I mean the water basin) goes dry for two days, just add some water and it recovers, so even a clumsy beginner will find it hard to kill. Also, umbrella papyrus doesn't grow very fast, so no frequent pruning is needed - lazy gardeners rejoice; just pinch off the yellow leaves now and then, and it's super low-maintenance.

Cons: it doesn't like strong light much; if it's exposed too long in summer, the leaves easily turn yellow and curl, so you have to move it to a shady spot right away. Second, after being grown in water for a long time, green algae tends to grow on the bottle walls; although it doesn't affect the plant, it looks a bit dirty, so you have to change the water and wash the bottle regularly, otherwise it's unbearable for neat freaks.

Pennywort:It is simply the "cockroach of the hydroponics world". It grows fast! Drop a few into water in spring and in two weeks they fill a whole pot; the round, plump leaves look like little coins, pleasing to the eye, and placed in the living room they really show off vitality.

Pros: it loves light; the more light, the greener and rounder the leaves. Even in summer on a balcony in full sun it's fine - in fact, it's lack of light that makes it grow droopy. Best of all, it's super tough: even if all the leaves wither, as long as the roots are still there, change some water and give it sun, and before long new leaves sprout again, so beginners get a great sense of achievement growing it.

3 days, otherwise the room easily gets a strange smell.

Taro:The beauty queen of hydroponics, with big purple leaves - deep purple on the underside and with a purple tint on top - placed in the living room it looks especially classy. High aesthetic value, more distinctive than ordinary hydroponic plants, and it also photographs well.

Pros: it tolerates moisture; it naturally likes watery environments, so in hydroponics you don't have to worry about overwatering, and the roots grow very strong in water. Also, it doesn't grow very fast, so no frequent pruning is needed - just cut off old leaves now and then, and it's not too much trouble to maintain.

10℃ easily damage it, so it must be moved indoors to keep warm; friends in the north have to take extra care with it in winter. Third, the leaves are big and evaporate quickly, so you have to add water often; otherwise, if the water level is too low, the leaves easily droop, and after a few days away you may come back to find it wilted.

Actually, these three hydroponic plants each have their own merits: beginners who want low-maintenance should choose umbrella papyrus, those who like a full pot should choose pennywort, and those who want high aesthetic value should choose taro. As long as you grow them according to their habits, they'll all grow lush and green; with a few pots at home, they're pleasing to look at and also purify the air - why not?