I have a few strands of pothos in a vase on my desk at work, and I'm just topping off the water as needed. The water is clear and has no smell, but I'm wondering if I should be dumping it out and refilling it regularly instead. What's the best practice for keeping plants like this healthy?
3 Answers
I think it really depends on the plant. For pothos and tradescantias, they seem pretty resilient. I notice my plants stop growing fast if I don't change the water occasionally. Sometimes I only swap the water out if I see the roots slowing down or if things start to turn green, indicating algae or bacteria growth.
I've read that you should change the water every couple of weeks, but honestly, who remembers to do that? I usually just change it when it starts looking a bit dirty. If you’re using any fertilizers, that can sometimes leave deposits too, so keep an eye out for that.
If your plant is in water for a long time, consider using hydroponic fertilizer because regular liquid fertilizers won't cut it. I mostly just top off the water unless I see dirt or cloudy stuff in it. Generally, swapping it out occasionally can be helpful, especially to prevent salt buildup from evaporation.
I've been using General Hydroponics FloraGro too, just a few drops a month, and my plants have loved it!
Yeah, that makes sense. I try to do the same and just change it when it looks off.