Jungle book guide: Water-grown plants

There is a little magic that comes your way when you add plants to your décor. We are not talking about fake plants. We are talking about plants you can afford.

We are talking about plants that will make your living space more refreshing with minimal effort. Most importantly using just a jar and some water.

Water propagation is the process of germinating seeds in water before planting them in mud. Water propagation helps with root growth. Roots grow faster when water propagated than when potted directly in the soil.

With this concept, you can take plant décor to a whole new level. So we have come up with a curated list of plants that can be water propagated and grown into full healthy plants. Along with that, it will also add a unique touch to your space!

1. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes when water is propagated grow like a vine. All you need is a jar or bowl, water and some patience.

Procedure - Place the sweet potato in the container with the narrow end facing down. Fill the container with water leaving ⅓ of the sweet potato above water (like an iceberg).

Growth - Sweet potatoes take around 4 - 6 weeks to germinate. Small buds will appear at first which will eventually grow into the vine. Root growth follows thereafter.

Water - Make sure to change the water weekly or whenever needed to avoid fungal growth.

Sunlight - place the sweet potato in a place that receives bright indirect sunlight. Keep it away from direct sunlight.

Sweet potato water propagation (credits - Pavithra Prabhu)

2. Chia seeds

Inspired by the age-old ‘Chia pet’ craze. Chia seeds make great short-term ornamental plants. They are microgreens that are nutritious (added advantage for fitness freaks).

Procedure - take a teaspoon of chia seeds and soak them in a quarter cup of water. Allow the seeds to soak for 30 minutes with occasional stirring until it turns into a gel. Apply the gel over a terracotta pot or sculpture. Watch them grow into sprouts.

Growth - the only disadvantage of water propagating chia seeds using this technique is that they do not last long.

Water - mist the seeds after they have adhered to the surface. The plant can also be covered with a plastic bag to provide moisture.

Sunlight - place them in bright indirect sunlight. They usually prefer humidity.

Pro-tip - you can get creative and experiment with this form of water propagation.

3. Avocado seeds

Although they need a little help from toothpicks, avocado seeds respond well when water propagates.

Procedure - wash the seeds and peel the brown layer. Insert two toothpicks on either side (avoid inserting the toothpicks on the line). Submerge the broad end in water, leaving the narrow end out of the water.

Growth - Avocado seeds take around 3 - 4 weeks to germinate.

Water - change the water weekly or as and when required to avoid fungal growth. When changing the water, be mindful not to hurt the roots.

Sunlight - place the plant in bright indirect light.

Pro tip - once the seed begins to sprout, rotate the plant to enable the plant to grow straight up rather than towards the light source.

Avocado grown in water (credits - Pavithra Prabhu)

4. Pineapple

Pineapple pups are adorable and create unique décor for your interiors. They too require a ton of patience but there is nothing better than delayed gratification.

Procedure - wear rubber gloves or cloth to separate the crown from the fruit. Remove a few leaves from the bottom of the crown. Submerge the bottom part of the crown in water. Use a toothpick if needed to make the crown stand in the container.

Growth - the growth of roots takes 2 - 3 weeks.

Water - once again change the water once a week or whenever necessary.

Sunlight - pineapples grown indoors are tolerant to low light conditions. Nevertheless, nourish your plant with bright indirect sunlight.

You can further plant them in the soil to grow small pineapples.

Pineapple grown indoor (credits - Wix)

4. Mango seed

Our final recommendation is to experiment with an assortment of plants that can be grown in water. This is similar to how we propagated the avocado seed.

Procedure - remove the seed from the husk and place it in a bowl of water. After a week or two, you will notice root growth. Follow the same procedure for avocado for water propagation.

Growth: mango seeds grow fast in water as opposed to growing in soil. They sprout within 2 weeks.

Sunlight - place the plant in bright indirect light and away from direct sunlight.

Water - make sure to change the water weekly and whenever required as mango seeds are susceptible to fungal growth as well.

Hope you enjoyed this list and experiment more with plants.