I am at a loss and need some ideas. I have propagated plants for years in water. I never used anything but water. And I wasn't the best at changing the water. I could go a week before I changed. Everything did fine. I've kept plants in water for months or more because I liked the look and it was easy. Now, for the last 4-5 months my propagations just rot and the water is a mess within days. I can not figure out what has changed! Help!
Bacterial growth can come from rotting roots/stems/leaves. You may need to disinfect the container and the plants to destroy the bacteria. I recommend thoroughly cleaning the container with warm soapy water. Then, disinfect with a hydrogen peroxide rinse. Remove all of the rot from the plants. Then, rinse with hydrogen peroxide. Disinfect hands and tools. Refill the containers with water and add the cuttings. Cleaning the container well once a week should be sufficient. Remove decaying plant material from the water to prevent bacterial growth. 🪴🍀
1 j'aime The plants in water need fertilizer added to the water to provide nutrients to the cuttings. 🪴🍀
0 J'aime I always clean my pots and check to make sure cutting is healthy. I've never bothered with peroxide though. But like I said I've been doing this for years with no problems. Just seems strange that it's just now started( I have multiple containers and it's happening with them all). And I do occasionally add fertilizer to the water but I'm using the same kind I've used for sure. And I've never had anything decay until now. I will try peroxide, but still a mystery why it's just started.
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Did something change with the water. Do you use tap water? Filtered? Distilled?
0 J'aime I use tap water with a drop of water cleaner, the kind you use in aquariums. It sets for couple hours or over night before I use it.
1 j'aime I was thinking about this because I've read it many times. It's what I do to snake plants. But I've never done it to anything else, just cut the piece off and popped it in water. It was always fine. Just can't figure why something I've always done and now there is a problem. I'll try this on everything and the peroxide as suggested above. Whatever is causing the issue, maybe that will fix it.
0 J'aime I think I just found my answer to the problem. I have very seldom put fertilizer in my water propagation but just recently started. I just read a previous post and comment saying when she fertilized her water propagations the water went slimy fast. I’m sure that may be it. I did just purchase “Prop Drop” to use instead of my normal fertilizer, hope it doesn’t have the same effect. But at least now I know what to watch for! Thanks for the info.
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