Is It Possible To Grow Herbs in Water

Is It Possible To Grow Herbs in Water

The beginning of the autumn frost is a tough time & signals the end for the garden for the year & herbs diligently grown in the herb garden are brought in for food and herbal teas. The changing nature of weather is beyond our control. Many creative gardeners and herb lovers are beginning to ask, “Is it possible to grow herbs in water?”

Instead of spending a huge time to do the meticulous work of potting soil and buying herbs outside, why not plant herbs that can easily grow in water and set up a row of beautiful herb containers on your kitchen’s shelf? Stems of perennial herbs will easily grow roots in jars or glasses of plain water, creating a green concept for your interior décor as well as producing new buds & leaves for use in delicious food dishes through the cold winter months.

Key Points: 

  • Growing herbs in water is an easy gardening method for perennial varieties.
  • Herbs like mint, oregano, thyme can regrow from cuttings placed in jars of water.
  • Proper stem preparation and water changing help herbs thrive hydroponically.
  • This provides a supply of fresh herbs to harvest all winter long indoors.

Perennial Herbs

You can only grow herbs in water that are perennial in nature. Annual herbs are naturally designed to produce seeds, grow for one season, and then die. However, perennial herbs grow to full size & will keep returning; producing more leaves as long as you are pinching off the older leaves.

Some of the most popular herbs that can be easily grown in water include:

  • Stevia
  • Sage
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Lemon Balm

The basic rules considering when growing herbs in water is: grow herbs that you mostly likely to use it in your kitchen and the herb is perennial in nature.

How Do You Do It?

This herb garden project is one of the easiest gardening projects that you even let children experiment on how to grow herbs in water. This can be an interesting project for them to work on. To begin, you’ll need stems of herb plants. The best place to look for them is in your outdoor garden, or you can get some perennial herbs from a nearby grocery store. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the stems and clip stems of about 6 inches long. If you are using stems brought from the grocery store; then cut off the bottom of each and every stems for maximum absorption of water.

Fill a large jar or cut the top of an empty big soda bottle and fill it with clean water from the tap, and avoid using distilled water. Distilled water lacks essential mineral that are useful for the growth of herbs in water. If you are using a glass container, make sure you change the water more frequently, as algae will produce more frequently in a glass container. Instead consider using an opaque glass jar.

Herbs that grow in water absorb moisture through the bottom tip of the stem, so clip each and every stem ends in such a position that increases the area for the stem to utilize.

Conclusion

Growing herbs in water will provide you with a steady supply of fresh herbs throughout the winter. Remember to pinch leaves as it grows to full size. This will help the stem to produce more leaves and sustain its growth for many months to keep your kitchen in fresh herbs until the next spring.

FAQ:

What type of herbs can be grown hydroponically in water?
Perennial herbs like mint, oregano, thyme, sage, stevia, basil, and lemon balm can be grown in water. Avoid annuals.

How long of herb stem cuttings should be used?
Use 4-6 inch stem cuttings from mature herbs. Remove lower leaves and cut the bottom at an angle.

How often should the water be changed for hydroponic herbs?
Change water weekly in glass containers, biweekly in opaque jars to prevent algae from forming.

Where should hydroponic herb jars be positioned?
Near a sunny window indoors. Herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily to thrive and grow.

How can you encourage more leaf growth in water-grown herbs?
Pinch off leaves as they grow to encourage new growth. Add liquid fertilizer to the water monthly.

What are signs that it is time to re-cut herb stem cuttings?
When stems are getting woody and producing fewer leaves, take new cuttings and start again.

Can hydroponic herb plants be transplanted to soil?
Yes, transition successfully grown water herbs to pots with well-draining soil before planting outside.

 

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