I've got about a dozen plants, mostly philodendrons, corn plants, monstera, aloe, and a money tree, that I rooted in water. They've filled up their jars with roots, but when I tried moving four of them to soil, they developed root rot and died quickly. I used a potting mix of Miracle-Gro soil, perlite, and coco coir, with terracotta pots that have drainage holes. Usually, when I pot them, I give them a shower for five minutes until water runs out of the drainage holes, then let them drain for an hour before placing them in a sunny spot. Can anyone help me figure out what's going wrong in this process?
2 Answers
It sounds like you might be overwatering. That five-minute shower could be giving your plants way too much water at once! I usually just sprinkle a bit of water to settle the soil and then wait at least a week before giving them a proper watering. That way, they have a better chance of avoiding rot. Just a thought!
I’ve heard that plants grown in water develop different root structures than those grown in soil. Once they root in water, you need to transfer them to soil sooner rather than later. I had similar troubles with my pothos, which did great in water but flopped in the pot. How long were your cuttings in the water? You might also want to consider rooting directly in soil next time to prevent this issue!