People grow money plants in their homes and offices to attract health and wellness. The best and easiest method of growing money plants is in water.
In 3 to 4 steps everyone can grow money plants without using the soil and only using water.
It is a versatile plant and can adapt to a number of different growing environments and growing mediums.
Just cut a healthy stem with a few leaves, and place it in a glass of water or in a bottle filled with water. Regularly change the water over time and you will see a healthy money plant climbing in just 10 to 15 days.
Another interesting thing is Money plant is an excellent plant for newbies because it needs minimal care to grow.
In this article, I’ll explain how you can grow a healthy money plant using water as a growing medium.
Does Money Plant Grow Faster in Water?
As compared to the soil it is observed that money plants that enjoy the water as a growing medium grow faster.
I have one Neon Pothos plant and two Cebu blue pothos plants growing in water.
I mostly use water for growing pothos because it is easy for the plant to absorb nutrients from the water. Whereas in potting soil money plant roots have to work hard and for a long to absorb essential nutrients.
This slows downs the growth rate of the plant.
Moreover, a money plant needs consistent moisture for 365 days to grow faster. It is not possible to maintain an optimum level of moisture by using soil as a growing medium.
Because sometimes we forget to water the plants for days.
But when we grow money plants in water, we don’t have to be worried about watering the plant. Because it is already growing in the water.
The roots are always submerged in clean healthy water.
Whenever the plant feels thirsty the roots quickly absorb some water. And along with water also get plenty of essential nutrients that are important for money plant growth.
This quick absorption of water and nutrients doubles the growth rate of a money plant.
How Big a Money Plant can Grow in Water?
In the wild, the money plant can reach 30 to 40 feet in height with large size leaves. When we grow money plant indoors or in plant pots or in water. Due to the difference in the growing environment, it stays short.
Money plants growing in water generally grow up to 10 feet long. When you give proper fertilizer and care. Otherwise, it will stay just 4 to 5 feet long.
The leaf size remains 3 to 4 inches long depending upon the variety of money plants. The size of a plant also depends upon the amount of light exposure.
Plants that get the proper amount of indirect bright light grow taller and wider than those who are living in a low-light environment.
How to Grow Money Plant in Water (Step-by-Step Process)?
You can grow money plants in water by propagation process. Cut the stem and use water to develop new roots.
Below are the steps that you need to follow to grow your money plant in water.
1. Selecting a Jar:
Choosing the right type of glass container is the first and most important step. You should use a crystal-clear glass jar.
It helps you to keep eye on the development of the new roots. You can adjust the growing conditions if the new roots are growing slowly.
With the help of clear glass, you can easily check the conditions of the water. Because dirty and unclear water is damaging to the stems and leaves.
Do not use plastic material because glass reduces the chances of algae build-up. Moreover, glass neither reacts with the fertilizer nor disturbs the pH of the water.
pH is important and if you are using a glass jar then no need to worry about it. Just keep the glass container clean and clear.
2. Choosing a Stem:
Go to your plant and look for a healthy stem. It should be a 10 to 14 inches long healthy stem with bright shining disease-free leaves.
If the stem is healthy but has 1 to 2 leaves with brown tips do not use such stem and find another one.
The interesting thing is, in case of a money plant the number of leaves on the stem (cutting) does not matter.
The cutting can have 2, 3,4, 5, or as many leaves as you want.
Once you find the healthy stem slowly make a clean cut right under the node. Do not cut the node because it’s required for growing new roots.
Take a soft cloth and clean the leaves, do not use water at this point.
3. Place the Stem in a Glass jar:
Now that you clean the stem cutting it’s time to clean the glass jar with a neat and clean dry cloth. Fill it with filtered water.
Do not use tap water as it sometimes contains chlorine which is not required for propagating money plants.
To boost the health of the stem cutting and to speed up the development of new roots. You should add some mild liquid fertilizer to the water.
Now place the stem in the water with the cutting side down. Make sure the last leaf node is completely submerged under the water.
Do not allow the stem to lay down on the floor, use string to lift it above the ground.
4. Choosing Best Location
Once you finish the above step it’s time to place the glass container in the best place. Choose a place where the stem can get plenty of bright light.
Remember that direct sunlight is harmful at this point. It can burn the beautiful leaves of your stem.
Moreover, your stem cutting cannot tolerate direct sunshine because it does not have roots at this time.
Once it grows healthy roots then you can expose your plant to morning sunlight for 1 hour. If you want your money plant to grow long and spread wide.
5. Cover the Base of the Glass Container
After 15 days you should cover the base of the glass with a dark paper sheet. Because at this time your plant will grow some new roots and it’s time to increase the intensity of light.
Do this to protect the newly grown roots from high bright light and direct sunlight.
Now place your plant near the sunny window but make sure the direct sunlight cannot fall directly on the plant.
Bright indirect bright light is enough for your plant.
The paper sheet also helps to prevent the formation of algae. It also prevents the bright light from directly falling on the roots.
The last benefit of using a paper sheet is it also keeps the temperature of the water under control.
How to Care for a Money Plant Growing in Water?
To grow money plants faster in the water you should give them proper care. Below are the caring steps that you can follow to care for your money plant.
Keep Changing the Water
When you use water as a growing medium, you need to take care of the water first. Keep changing the water regularly to keep the growing medium fresh.
Water loses its nutritional qualities over time and slows down the money plant’s growth rate.
By changing the water, you can double the growth rate of your plant. To give it extra energy use liquid fertilizer in limited quantities.
Quality of Water
I use filtered water to grow my money plants when I don’t use potting soil. The tap water contains chlorine in high quantities.
Water authorities add it to the water to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens.
As a result, the water becomes safe to use for washing dishes and making food.
But when it comes to indoor plants. Tap water is not the best that you can use for watering. Because the chlorine content is harmful to money plant roots.
Chlorine in water gets settled down at the base of the plant pot and blocks the function of roots. As a result, your plant cannot absorb a sufficient amount of nutrients from the water.
This makes your plant weak and it dies in 10 to 12 days.
Therefore, to prevent this condition I always use clean filtered water that I use for drinking.
Give Proper Light
When growing money plants indoors keep in mind “No exposure to direct sunlight”. High intense sunrays can burn the leaves of your plant.
It also increases the rate of respiration and transpiration. In both processes, your plant starts using extra water. This leads to dehydrated money plants.
Indirect bright light is enough to carry out healthy photosynthesis. Money plants can make their food in a moderate amount of light.
Don’t place it close to the sunny window.
On the other hand, too little light is also not beneficial because it slows its metabolic functions. Money plant become unable to produce a sufficient amount of food.
Also, the lack of chlorophyll and glucose turns the healthy green leaves into yellow color.
Therefore, to prevent all kinds of light issues. You should choose a place where your money plant can get plenty of filtered bright light.
Control the Temperature
For the good health of money plant growing in water the recommended temperature range is 55 to 85 degrees F.
At low temperatures, the leaf cells stop working properly due to cold and this turns them yellow. In some cases, we see small circular spots on money plant leaves.
The cold weather damaged the internal leaf cells. This damage looks like a spot on the leaf.
In high temperatures, the plant uses more water than normal to protect itself from high heat.
This increases the chances of dehydration and results in brown leaf tips.
Keep the Glass Clean
To avoid money plant root-related diseases, you should keep the glass container clean. Whenever you see some slats are settled at the bottom.
You should immediately change the water in the glass and wash it with clean water.
Once in 20 days, wash the plant jar with dishwashing soap and warm water. Do this to kill the formation of bacteria and fungi.
Empty the glass jar and place your plant on a paper towel. Take 2 minutes to wash the container and refill it with fresh water.
Immediately place your plant back in it. Do not take more than 2 minutes to wash the container. Because the air impact negatively on plant roots.
Or
You can place your plant in another glass container and freely wash the dirty glass jar.
Pruning
To control the size of your money plant you should follow the pruning techniques. Take a sharp knife and sterilize it before use with rubbing alcohol.
Then cut the overly grown parts that you believe are spoiling the look of your plant.
Do not forget that pruning encourages the plant to produce more leaves and stems. The sap of the plant is toxic to humans and pets.
It can cause skin irritation and to protect your skin use gloves while working on your plant.
General Problems of Money Plants Growing in Water
Money plants growing in water do not face many growing problems. Only 2 issues are common with them.
Below are those problems with their solutions
Yellow Money Plant Leaves
Money plant leaves turn yellow when bacteria are present in the water. Or the water has some toxic chemicals.
The high amount of chlorine present in the water also leads to yellow money plant leaves.
Unclear water and dirty glass also turn beautiful money plants into ugly yellow leaves.
Solution
Regularly change the water in the glass container and use fresh water that is suitable for drinking. If possible, then only use bottled water.
Because it is free from heavy minerals, toxic materials, and substances like chlorine and fluoride.
Money Plant is Dying in Water
Sometimes money plants growing in water starts dying due to suffocation in the root zone. The excess water in the container put negative pressure on the roots.
As a result, the roots cannot absorb a sufficient amount of oxygen. Due to a lack of fresh air, the money plant starts dying.
At first, it turns its leaves yellow and looks very weak and unhealthy.
Solution
Every 2 to 3 days check the roots on your money plant. So that you can catch fungi-related problems on time and treat your plant effectively and easily.
Newly propagated money plants are more prone to root rot and other fungi diseases.
Pest Infestations
Money plants are easy targets of mealybugs and aphids. These pests suck the sap of the plant leaves. As a result, you see holes in the plant leaves.
To prevent pest attacks you should use neem oil spray once in 30 days on your money plant. Neem is a natural method of plant protection.
Buy neem oil and dilute it in the water as per the instructions on the neem oil bottle. Then spray on all your indoor plants.
Conclusion
Money plants grow healthy and thrive in water and soil. The choice is yours but using water as a growing medium has some advantages.
Money plants grow faster in water than in the soil. But it stays short in height.
