Can you Grow a Monstera using Hydroponics?


A monstera on the article Can you grow a Monstera using Hydroponics

Monstera deliciosa, the Swiss cheese plant, is a flowering plant species indigenous to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south of Panama.

Grown in the temperate zones as a house plant, it has several different cultivation methods, but is ‘Hydroponics’ a way to reap them?

Well, you’ve clicked on the right article because we have all the particulars you need. So without further ado, let’s know the answer!

You can grow a monstera using hydroponics! Most Monstera plants do well with hydroponics or semi-hydroponic mediums such as LECA balls.

But there are certain terms for growing them in hydroponics. These include: changing the water frequently, rinsing the soil of the roots well, and fertilizing it using a fertilizer suitable for hydroponics.

They can be a great alternative if you tend to overwater or just like the glance of a mesmerizing plant growing in a clear glass container of water.

Hang on! This does not just end here because we have all the advice you need to grow the best quality Monstera. So stick to this article if you want to harvest the best batch of Monstera!

What is Hydroponics?

A monsteraHave you ever wondered? Hydroponics is any mechanism of growing a plant without soil or predominantly growing them in water.

Also called Aquaculture, it is the sowing of plants in nutrient-enriched water. It can involve either the mechanical buttress of an inert medium such as sand, gravel, or perlite or not.

The word itself is derived from Greek and means. Hydro- “water,” and ponos, “labor.” The nutrients used in the farming of plants come from many different sources.

These include fish excrement, duck manure, purchased chemical fertilizers, or artificial nutrient solutions. Hydroponics offers many utilities, notably a diminution in water usage in agriculture.

Growing 1 kilogram of tomatoes using intensive farming methods requires 400 liters of water. Using hydroponics, the exigency diminishes to only 70 liters.

Since hydroponics takes much less water to bloom, it could be used by the masses living in despotic territories to grow crops to earn a living.

When a plant is grown in soil, its roots perpetually search for the necessary nutrition to support it. If a plant’s root system is exposed directly to water and nutrition, it does not have to exert any energy to sustain itself.

The energy the roots would have expended acquiring food and water can be redirected into the plant’s maturation. As a result, leaf growth flourishes, as does the blooming of fruits and flowers.

Hydroponic systems work by allowing minute control over environmental conditions like temperature and pH balance. They maximize exposure to nutrients and water.

Plants commonly grown hydroponically in a greenhouse include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, lettuces, cannabis, and Arabidopsis thaliana, which serves as a prototype in plant science and genetics.

Can you Grow a Monstera using Hydroponics?

The question that crosses everyone’s mind is whether a Monstera can germinate in Hydroponics? Yes!

They can sprout in Hydroponics. Monstera can thrive easily in soft water, replaced at least once a week. Rinse the roots to avoid bacterial burgeoning and use liquid hydroponic fertilizer to promote blooming.

Since Monsteras are very adaptable plants, they can tolerate a variety of circumstances. This adaptability is among the principal reasons why Monstera is very successful as a home-grown plant.

Albeit they can survive in water, they will not get as colossal or healthy. This is in comparison to a Monstera deliciosa provided with a pot of well-draining potting soil mix and something to climb.

What are the Advantages of Growing a Monstera using Hydroponics?

Now that we know that we can burgeon Monstera through Hydroponics, what is the clear-cut prerequisite of growing them in Aquaculture?

Do they show any discrete corollaries when grown in water? Fortunately! We have remedies to all of your queries, so let’s unfold them!

1) Less vulnerable to insects

Dark, damp milieu is best for the growth of pests. Fungus, Gnats, or Molds cannot flourish without soil.

Hence plants grown In Hydroponics are less jeopardized by these pests. Moreover, most of the pests lay their eggs and eat decaying matter in the soil.

Eggs later metamorphose into larvae that eat the plant’s roots. Therefore with no soil present, pests won’t get any sustenance, which would suppress their germination and procreation.

Furthermore, it is easier to treat plants when in water because you can just wash them without worrying about overwatering or draining the soil.

2) Prevents overwatering and infections

Another possible perk of reaping Monstera in Hydroponics is the prevention of overwatering and diseases.

The roots can blot up all the water they want without rotting because no fungus or bacteria are present in a sterile medium like water.

It’s the best of both worlds! Water hydroponics also prevents underwatering because, well, the plant lives in water.

You don’t need to water them, as they are already vegetating in Aquaculture. Transpose of the water every couple of weeks. Moreover, water is significantly cheaper than potting soil.

3) They grow faster and larger!

A monsteraOne of the cardinal perks of growing them in Hydroponics is the unprecedented growth they show. They can absorb nutrients effortlessly and so they can bloom better in aquaculture.

Furthermore, their roots are not cramped by soil, so they spread swiftly. This promotes the broadening and nourishment of the plant.

When you keep your Monstera in water, you can conveniently move it to a larger container as it grows or divide the vine to propagate it into a new plant!

What are the Disadvantages of Growing Monstera using Hydroponics?

With pros, there are always certain cons to the whole box of wax, and growing your Monstera in Hydroponics is no different.

The entire shooting match is not always exemplary while growing your Monstera. And a lot of perplexities can confront you while cultivating them. So here are some of the cons of shooting up Monstera using Hydroponics:

1) You end up with algae!

Growing Monstera in Hydroponics means that you’ll have a fathomless pool of algae with you.

Albeit it won’t have a detrimental effect on your plant but let’s be honest, it is pretty hideous. The algae prefer to thrive on the root of your plants, making them look very repulsive.

2) Frequent water change

Growing Monstera in the water looks glamorous and spellbinding, but this does not come without any hassle.

Maintaining your plant can be quite a strenuous chore as it requires frequent water changes. At least after a week or ideally every 2-3 days, you’ll have to replace the waters of your Monstera to ensure robust growth.

3) Cloudy water

Another substantial plight is the cloudiness of the water in which you bloom your Monstera.

Well, as with plants budded in soil, it excretes a lot of minerals and plant material into the water, making it look immensely mucky. So unless you incessantly replace it, the water will become appalling and smudged.

4) Slimy Roots

Last but not least, we have slimy roots! When the water in which your plant is flourishing is not displaced, slimy roots develop due to bacterial nurturing.

This bacteria can torment the plant and must be curtailed to ensure the efficient growth of your plant.

How to Grow a Monstera using Hydroponics?

Now the question that rings many bells is how can we propogate Monstera through Hydroponics? What is the methodology?

What are the safeguards? What procedure can we use to escalate their growth? We have simple directions for you guys to grow the best grade Monstera!

Step 1: Choose your container

First of all, find a befitting container to grow your plant. A clear glass or ceramic container is appropriate. It allows your plant to stand upright.

Containers with narrow necks like vases or bottles work well. Metal containers are unsuitable because they leech metal ions in the soil, which you want to give a wide berth. Transparent containers are usually a preferable selection.

Step 2: Place your plant in a container

A monsteraPlace the cutting in water and enable it to grow. Roots should begin to appear a few weeks for most plants. You can also convert the entire plant over to hydroponics.

To do this, carefully detach your monstera from its pot. Wipe off as much of the soil from the roots. If this gets difficult, run the roots under lukewarm tap water and scrub off all the soil.

After you transfer your plant from soil to water, its root system will alter. Your plant will eventually shed the discolored soil roots as new water roots develop.

Do NOT use chlorinated tap water or filtered tap water, and make sure your monstera can stand upright

Step 3: Add more water and fertilizer

Next up, Keep the container occluded by adding bottled or distilled water. Add sufficient water to the container to submerge the root system.

Be sure to discard any leaves further down on the stem. You don’t want any leaves to be below the waterline. Roots will start to blossom in two to three weeks.

Care Tips:

  • Get Monstera a wire fence and train or fasten the plants because they are climbers. They will give you more massive, split, or perforated leaves as a reward.
  • Place your Monstera plant in an area that receives bright indirect light. Too little light will result in growth retardation and yellow leaves. It is also worth noting that too much light will cause sun damage.
  • Maintain an ideal temperature range of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 29 degrees Celsius). Avoid extreme heat, sudden temperature changes, and chilly drafts as well.
  • Use disinfected pruning shears to remove any dead or diseased leaves from Monstera. In the spring and summer, you can also prune some stems to control growth and form.

What Fertilizers Should you use for your Hydroponic Monstera?

Every plant needs supplements for adequate growth; the same is true with Hydroponic Monstera. It requires good fertilizers that assist the plant in maintaining efficient growth rates.

We know that they have less ingress to nutrients. So Monstera in water needs a hydroponics fertilizer to ensure that it gets the proper equipment of required nutrients.

Since they have no soil access, particular caution must be taken with regard to their nutritional necessities. Some of the supplies they need include:

1) Superthrive

A few drops before sowing is all that the plant needs. It helps in transplant shock and is useful if you have a lot of repotting to do.

Get Your Fertilizer Here!

 

2) Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6

This fertilizer is highly recommended by farmers and gardeners alike. It has an NPK ratio of 9-3-6.

These three macronutrients are important for your plant’s leaves, stem, and root health. They help the leaves to bloom and get split leaves.

Furthermore, it also has a lot of micronutrients needed by the plant for efficient growth and maturing.

Get Your Fertilizer Here!

 

3) LiquiDirt

It is all-purpose organic plant food. This fertilizer is sold as a nutritional supplement.

The ingredients contain nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, micronutrients, and beneficial micro fungi. It is exceptionally safe for pets, has no smell, and cannot burn plants.

Get Your Fertilizer Here!

 

Can a Monstera Grow in the Water Forever?

A monstera can thrive in the water forever. All you have to do is provide them with adequate nutrients. Also, swap their water, and give it a diluted hydroponic fertilizer now and again.

This will top up the nutrients it would otherwise get from the soil. As previously mentioned, water does not have all the mandatory nutrients.

This can cause your plant to show signs of stress after 2-3 years if they are not supervised efficiently.

Final Thoughts

A monsteraMonstera is an easy-to-cultivate house household plant that can deftly be grown in hydroponics for many years, presuming that they are bestowed with the accurate proportion of nutrients and are taken in efficiently.

Although there are a lot of pros to nurturing Monstera in aquaculture, there are certain cons, like algae and hassle in the maintenance of water.

One has to weigh the pros against the cons to determine whether they should bloom their Monstetra in hydroponics or not.

But to all intents and purposes, it is easy to cultivate the plant in aquaculture. It can thrive in water for many years with the precise utilization of fertilizers and proper care!

About the Author:

Saad Ansar

Saad is an avid gardener himself and is a great lover of plants, animals, photography, & people. Currently, he is focused on photographing indoor plants & captioning beautiful outdoor sceneries. He writes and rewrites in-depth articles on nature and science.

Bean Growing

We provide a wide range of information from indoor to outdoor plants to product recommendations to make your gardening experience the best it can possibly be. We are not experts in gardening but through extensive research and experience we will give you the best information to provide the best care for your plants.

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