Can I Grow Anthurium in Water?

The Anthurium plant is spectacular with its exotic foliage and grows well in warm temperatures and high humidity. Still, while it is a trendy indoor plant you can grow in soil, another trend is growing plants in water.

Hence, it provides a different side to most plants. You can find many houseplants to grow in water, but the big question is can you grow Anthurium in water? Well, journey with us as we look if this is possible.

Is Hydroponic Anthurium Possible

Okay, if you are like many of us that do forget to water our plants, then the good news is you can grow different plants in water. So, you can easily prevent your plant from wilting by placing it in a beautiful glass vase.

But what does hydroponic growing involve? Hydroponic gardening is another form of hydroculture where your plants grow happily in the water. Still, hydroponics involves rinsing the roots from all the soil and leaving them in water.

Furthermore, the process involves growing your plants in water instead of hydro grains. The important thing is that when you remove the soil, you need to rinse the roots with lukewarm water.

By doing this, you prevent root rot in the water. Hence, you can enjoy watching your plant grow and do not need to water often, so it is convenient don’t you agree. 

But, unfortunately, the answer is no, even if you see loads of articles online telling you can. So, the flamingo flower is not great to grow in this form. Why is the Anthurium not a suitable option, and how can you grow other plants like Ivy, Philodendron, Lavender, and Monstera in water?

Stay a while longer and learn how to grow plants in water with the following step-by-step guide as Plantly has here for you.

Why Anthurium Plants Do Not Grow in Water

So, where did the rumors start that you can grow Anthurium in water? The first is from sellers advertising that some of the Anthurium regale from Peru grows in water. Yet, since the ad was placed, it has been revised.

Still, the craze has hit Southeast Asia as many growers are learning and trying their best to grow these species and advised the best is growing Anthuriums in water. But when you look online, you can find some of the species attached to volcanic rock, but it needs to sit in the water.

Hence, according to Dr. Mardy Darian, a huge misunderstanding occurred as he grew his plants from seed. Dr. Darian grows the seeds in damp moss and grows well. Furthermore, he advises that the Anthurium needs to be placed in well–draining soil as it cannot survive in wet conditions.

So, the answer is that even if the volcanic rock is in water, the flamingo plant cannot grow in water, as confirmed by the Missouri Botanical Garden with Dr. Tom Croat. But, according to him, the rock holds water, and with the Anthurium attached, the volcanic rock acts like a wick to provide the roots with water.

A fact is that many orchid growers use the same technique as it makes for a perfect growing media. But when you place the whole rock in the water, the plant dies. Furthermore, Anthurium plants are epiphytic and attach themselves to tree limbs.

While many do not grow in the soil, some do. The plant captures the moisture from the rain drawing it from high humidity

Steps to Grow Other Plants in Water Like the Monstera’s

While the Anthurium is not a perfect plant for growing in water, some plants like Monstera and Photos are. The reason is that it receives oxygen and minerals it needs for surviving. Still, using mineral water and replacing it at least once a month will replenish the nutrients to keep the plant healthy.

Another helpful thing is to add oxygen to the fertilizer in the water as it does not contain the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Furthermore, you can remove your plant from the pot to replace it with water or do this when propagating your different plant species. Let’s look at how you can do this.

Transplanting Your Plant in Water

The first step is to remove your plant from the container without damaging the roots. Next, carefully rinse off the soil from the roots with lukewarm water. We do not recommend using cold water, resulting in plant shock. Now, take a glass vase to place the roots below the water level.

Propagation From Cuttings

Another method you can easily do if you still want to keep your larger plants and still want one growing in water is through propagation. You can do this when repotting your plant to freshen up the soil.

Step 1: Take a Cutting

As some plants are ideally suited to grow in a clear vase with water, you need to take a cutting first. We recommend taking a cutting from your larger plants. You can divide your plants into smaller sizes as it encourages blooms and keeps them healthy. The best is to look at the root system to find ones you can easily separate.

Step 2: Choose Your Container

The next step is to find a vase or even a recycled bottle. While recycled bottles are ideal, using one with a narrow neck makes removing your plant complicated. So, choose one that you want to showcase your plant and still be able to see the beautiful roots growing.

Step 3: Fill Your Container with Water

It is okay if you are lucky to live in a region with quality tap water. But if you know the waters are filled with chemicals or other contaminants and filtered from nutrients, we recommend mineral water. Using the latter prevents limescale from forming inside the container. Or you can use rainwater.

Step 4: Placing Your Plant in the Vase

Once you select your root cutting, you can place the mother plant back into fresh soil and care for it. Now, run the roots under high-quality tap water to remove all the soil. Next, place your plant in the vase, and voila, you are done.

Great easy peasy, right, but how do you care for your plants growing in water. We have you covered in this section as well.

Plants in Water Care

Okay, first things first! Your plants growing in water does not mean you do not have to quench their thirst. It would be best to do a water change every four weeks.

You might also need to top up the water throughout the month to provide your plants with enough water.

Another beneficial thing is to add a few drops of fertilizer to the water to improve the leaf’s color. 

Tap Water Level for Plants in Water

When placing your plant in a vase, the important thing is only to cover the root system. We recommend that the stem remains above the water as it can result in stem rot. In addition, you only want the roots moist.

If you notice the water discoloring fast, we recommend replacing it with fresh water. Also, allow the water to stand to reach room temperature to prevent shock in your plant.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

This outdoor plant thrives in bright light but not direct sunlight; it will damage its foliage. Still, it depends on the species you grow in water. When growing your plants in water, it is not recommended to place them in a dark spot as it will produce fewer blooms.

Your plant will survive better in a warm environment with enough air circulation and moisture.

Fertilizing Anthurium

You can also give your plant its feed fill using a weekly dose of liquid fertilizer once every two months. You can use NPK fertilizer with a ratio of 20:20:20. Or you can use fish aquarium water mixed with fresh water.

Caring For The Roots

As most plants grow in the ground, the great thing is that you can always keep an eye on the roots when you grow them in the water. Yet, it can become root-bound for small-sized containers growing your plant in soil.

Hence, we recommend transferring it to a larger jar depending on the species. But when done in water, it can develop offshoots at the aerial roots and will remove all the nutrients. If you notice the outer coverings are thick and brown, remove them and do a water change.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know that Anthuriums cannot grow in water alone, you can grow other species like Ivy, Philodendron, Lavender, and Monstera. It will give your houseplants a new and trendy look. The best part is they need less maintenance and look fabulous in containers.

So, go ahead and give it a try.