Hi Folks,
Happy Friday.
What is the best fertilizer you have used? If I use it with plants growing in water, shall I choose one that is specifically made? thanks.

If you plan to grow hydroponically, you need fertilizer made to grow hydroponically

I use the Schultz with an eye-dropper for everything. 14 drops in a 1/2 gallon watering can.

A lot of plants can stay alive indefinitely in just water, but to say they are growing can often be a stretch. The amount of mass that the limited amount of roots are able to support in the unusual condition is usually limited. Once it reaches that limit, old leaves will drop at about the same pace as new ones replace them.

Besides peace lily, is there a specific candidate involved?

I add a drop or two of liquid fertilizer to water culture vases. Then let it sit for awhile (a couple hours up to the next day), rinse it out and replace with clean water.

They make hydroponic fertilizers that are meant to be used with water culture. If you really plan on growing plants in water forever you should either read up on hydroponics or go to a hydroponic store and talk to the people there. We have one here, they are very helpful

I don't think of a jar or bottle of water as hydroculture, just a plant in water. I think of hydroculture as a system with moving water. Am I thinking too narrowly?

Tiffany the people who grow aroids in water and in semi-hydro consider it like hydroponics even though the water doesn't;t move. They buy all sorts of special fertilizer regimens for their plants. I personally don't do it. But I have been to the hydroponic store here for orchid supplies. They have big bags of pumice and LECA

Lucy68 said: I add a drop or two of liquid fertilizer to water culture vases. Then let it sit for awhile (a couple hours up to the next day), rinse it out and replace with clean water.

Thank you for the input, but why do you rinse out the fertilizer within 1 day? I think we only need to add fertilizer once a month right? I thought that means we put fertilizer in the water and change water after a month. Then new water with new fertilizer for another month. I'm new, i am learning. thank you.

Thank you, Gina. ; )

Sunshine, FWIW, I've had a lot of plants in jars and bottles of water over the years and those specimens have not been as satisfying as potted ones. I love that option as an easy way to save some space when saving too many plants inside for winter.

But as far as a more permanent setup, wicked pots (pots with a wick, not evil, naughty pots) have been much more satisfying, as far as doing something beyond the basic soil in a pot thing. The consistency that a wick offers, and ease of being able to see at a glance when it's time to add more water to the reservoir is very convenient. There's a discussion about pots with wicks down the page a bit.

purpleinopp said: Thank you, Gina. ; )

Sunshine, FWIW, I've had a lot of plants in jars and bottles of water over the years and those specimens have not been as satisfying as potted ones. I love that option as an easy way to save some space when saving too many plants inside for winter.

But as far as a more permanent setup, wicked pots (pots with a wick, not evil, naughty pots) have been much more satisfying, as far as doing something beyond the basic soil in a pot thing. The consistency that a wick offers, and ease of being able to see at a glance when it's time to add more water to the reservoir is very convenient. There's a discussion about pots with wicks down the page a bit.

Pots with a wick? how to add water and fertilizer? Do you have a youtube video link? thank you.

sunshine200 said: Thank you for the input, but why do you rinse out the fertilizer within 1 day? I think we only need to add fertilizer once a month right? I thought that means we put fertilizer in the water and change water after a month. Then new water with new fertilizer for another month. I'm new, i am learning. thank you.

Because (as Gina pointed out) the fertilizer wasn't meant for water culture, it was meant for plants in soil. In soil, there are air pockets so less fertilizer against roots and the soil is rinsed of chemicals every time you water. In water culture, you are soaking plants roots in a form of salt water so I rinse. If you added pond snails instead of fertilizer, they would fertilize and take care of algae problems but the water would still need changing every couple weeks - those little guys are messy!

This is just my take on the whole 'fertilize plants in water culture' problem but its worked for quite awhile. You could try leaving the fertilizer in there and see what happens... report back to us.

purpleinopp said: I use the Schultz with an eye-dropper for everything. 14 drops in a 1/2 gallon watering can.

A lot of plants can stay alive indefinitely in just water, but to say they are growing can often be a stretch. The amount of mass that the limited amount of roots are able to support in the unusual condition is usually limited. Once it reaches that limit, old leaves will drop at about the same pace as new ones replace them.

Besides peace lily, is there a specific candidate involved?

Thank you for the input. I also grow 1 prayer plant, 2 pothos, 1 chinese evergreen, 2 philodendron .

Plants in water- for me it also means a little more forgiving and also clearly visible about when to add water.
I try and make sure there is good surface area for gas exchange - IOW, avoid tall skinny vases.