Growing plants in water is a fun and convenient way of bringing nature indoors. Many popular houseplants and herbs can sprout and live in water with the right nutrients. Heartleaf philodendrons are especially successful growing this way. Here is a basic guide for growing a philodendron in water:
What You'll Need
- A clear vessel - Commonly used items for growing a plant in water include glass jars, miniature vases or recycled glass bottles. You can use colored glass if you wish, but doing so will make it more difficult to monitor root growth.
- Clippers, scissors or knife - Find a sharp, sanitized tool for making a cutting.
- Your philodendron of choice - Heartleaf, lemon-lime and Brasil varieties are some of the best choices for this project.
Step by Step
- First, make one or more cuttings. To do so, start at the end of the vine and count back at least two leaves and identify the nearest node. The node will be a small bump or nodule on the vine and might even have tiny aerial roots sticking out.
- Once you've found the node, carefully cut the vine approximately two inches below it. You should have a cutting with at least two leaves and one node.
- Continue this pattern until you've divided the entire vine. Feel free to compost or throw away any remaining leaves or stem pieces without nodes, as they will not grow in water.
- Fill the vessel with non-chlorinated water.
- Place the cuttings in the water as you would display flowers in a vase. Make sure to position the cuttings so that the nodes are submerged completely but the leaves are exposed.
- Put the cuttings in a place where they'll get plenty of bright, indirect light.
- Wait and watch your philodendron cuttings grow new roots from the nodes. This process can take weeks before showing any obvious growth.
Now you'll have a collection of brand-new baby philodendrons. You can transfer them to soil once the roots are at least an inch long or simply keep them in the water. As long as they get enough light and an occasional dose of diluted fertilizer, your philodendron will produce more vines and leaves just as it would when planted.
About the Author
Kimberly Hering
Kimberly Hering's devotion to helping people achieve their real estate goals stems from her genuine enjoyment of the process. Whatever the task, Kimberly makes it her mission to get it done, however she can, without compromising her client's needs. Often, that means thinking outside the box. After working with Kimberly, clients describe her as being Trustworthy, Creative, Patient, Highly Skilled, Attentive to the Process and having a lot of Integrity.
After spending more than 15 successful years working on Wall Street, Kimberly transitioned into Real Estate, joining Alain Pinel Realtors, then moving to Zephyr, now Corcoran Global Living, in 2018. During her career on Wall Street, Kimberly was a Vice President working as an Institutional Equity Salesperson for Montgomery Securities for 10 years. She covered the top money managers throughout the US and Canada. She joined Jefferies & Co as a Senior Vice President managing the Western Region Institutional Sales group, while continuing to cover the top money managers.
Kimberly leverages her extensive experience selling equities to top money managers throughout the US and Canada, to successfully negotiating any Real Estate transaction seamlessly for her clients. Kimberly is well versed in Marin's neighborhoods, towns, cities, and education system.
Living in the Bay Area for 35 years, 25 years in Marin and having 2 sons in local Marin schools, Kimberly spends a lot of time volunteering in the community and serving on various local Boards. Kimberly has a collection of resources ranging from the best local breakfast spots to vetted contractors. With her reliable list of valuable resources, Real Estate experience and unsurpassed knowledge of Marin's many communities, Kimberly can guide her clients through every aspect of a Real Estate transaction seamlessly.
Relocating to Marin, downsizing, upsizing, first time home buying, final home purchase or sale, or a lot to build a dream home, no matter the undertaking, Kimberly works seamlessly until the job at hand is completed with 100% satisfaction.