How to Convert Houseplants Rooted in Water to Soil

So, you’ve rooted a houseplant in water and there are now lots of healthy-looking roots. Congratulations! However, before you stick the new roots in soil, it’s important to understand that water roots are not the same as soil roots. When you plant directly in soil with the new water roots, the plant has to convert those roots into soil roots.

Houseplant water roots are thinner and more delicate than soil roots. This creates a problem when you stick them in soil, as they are easily damaged. So, if you have rooted plants in water and repotted in soil without success, that may have been the problem. 

Hoya carnosa (Wax Plant)

 (Healthy Houseplants.com)

You may have potted up from water-rooted plants and had no problems. That’s great. But keep in mind that some plants more easily convert from water to soil roots than others.

There is a way to help guarantee that your repotting goes well. Transition the houseplant water roots to soil roots gradually before potting them up.

Once the water rooted plant has created a root mass that equals at least 1/3 of the size of the top of the plant, you can begin the process. Here are the steps.

1. Prepare soil. Mix two-parts high-quality potting soil with one-part pumice. Add a tablespoon of worm compost. Moisten and mix well. 

2. Put a small amount of soil into a glass jar or other glass container that has no drainage holes.

3. Place the plant in the container, fanning out the roots.

4. Gently sprinkle in soil to cover the roots, stopping when the container is 1/4 full of soil.

(Healthy Houseplants.com)

5. Fill the container with warm water to just under the brim. The roots will be suspended in muddy water.

6. To hasten root formation, place the container on a plant heating mat under full-spectrum lighting. You can also cover the container with a humidity dome or plastic bag to trap in humidity, but let it air out periodically, or the conditions will become too humid. If it begins to smell bad, remove the covering.

7. Keep the container filled with warm water over the next week.

8. After 7 days, add more soil to fill the container 50 percent full with soil. Pour out excess water as needed to fit the soil.

(Healthy Houseplants.com)

9. Keep the soil moist over the next week.

10. You should start to see new roots developing through the glass. These are soil roots.

11. After 7 days, add soil so the container is 2/3 to 3/4 full of soil.

12. Keep the soil moist but begin pulling back on watering.

13. After 7 days, fill the container to the rim with soil. Maintain moist, but not waterlogged soil. You will continue to see more soil roots forming through the glass. These roots will appear thicker and will look sturdier.

14. Continue to keep the soil moist, but not soggy as the roots grow.

15. When there are an abundance of new roots and the plant begins to put on new growth, it’s time to repot into soil.

 (Healthy Houseplants.com)

16. Remove the plant from the glass container, being careful to ensure that the roots stay intact. To get the plant out of the container, water well before tipping the glass container over and gently tapping the rim on a hard surface to dislodge the plant. If necessary, use a plastic knife around the inside edge to loosen the plant from the jar. 

17. Repot the plant in moist, high-quality, well-draining potting soil. Water well after planting and then don’t water again until the soil begins to dry out. This should be done when the reading on the moisture meter hits 4 and is approaching 3.

18. Place the plant in an area of your home with correct lighting, according to the plant’s needs.

(HealthyHouseplants.com)

19. You will know that the plant has acclimated to soil growing when it puts on new growth.

20. Once you see several sets of new leaves, you can fertilize the plant. Use an organic fertilizer with a low NPK.

The process will take a month to eight weeks, depending on the plant, the time of year and your indoor growing conditions. Click here if you want to see our video on this process.