Are you a fan of spicy greens? Eager to learn how to grow watercress indoors? Look no further! We’ll teach you a few different ways to grow this hardy, nutrient-dense vegetable inside your own home.
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is one of the most nutritious greens out there. If you’re aiming to grow at least some of your own food, then it’s great that you’re adding this plant to your list. Not only does one handful of watercress have more vitamin C than an orange, it’s also packed with a ton of nutrients. In addition to iron, it contains folate, potassium, iron, and lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants.
These plants need an environment where they’ll get a few hours of sunshine a day, but are shielded from high heat. Try to choose a window where they’ll get early morning or late afternoon sun, but not direct noon sunlight. That will fry them.
Additionally, watercress doesn’t thrive well in soil. Instead, aim for a soil-less growing medium.
Materials You’ll Need
Two Containers
Choose either plastic or glazed ceramic growing containers. One should be large, and one medium, so you can nest one inside the other. The medium-sized one should have drainage holes, while the larger one should not. Do not use terracotta pots, as they let water evaporate too easily.
Clean Rocks or Stones
You’ll need a handful of these to place inside the larger pot.
Soil-Less Growing Medium
Organic coconut coir is perfect for growing watercress. Alternatively, find or mix one that has equal parts perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss.
Watercress Plants
These plants don’t propagate well from seed. Instead, buy a bunch of fresh watercress from the grocery store. As long as the plants are still green and not wilted, you can root them in water. If you can’t find them locally, try a specialty Asian supermarket.
A Sharp Knife
Use this to cut the watercress stems so they can root.
Glass Jar
You’ll need this to help your cuttings develop roots.
How to Grow Watercress Indoors Step by Step
Step 1: Prep Your Plants
Step 2: Put the Cuttings in Water
Step 3: Let the Cuttings Root
Step 4: Prep Your Container
Step 5: Add the Rocks
Step 6: Pour the Growing Medium
Step 7: Add the Plants!
Step 8:
Step 9:
Watercress Care Tips
Keep it Wet!
Make sure there’s always at least 3″ of water at the bottom of the container, and change this water out every two to three days. This is because watercress thrives in moving water: if it stagnates, the plants will rot.
Feed it Occasionally
Prune it Regularly
Option 2: Grow Watercress Indoors with Hydroponics or Aquaponics
Another super easy way to grow watercress indoors is in a fish tank.
What You’ll Need
A Fish Tank (Empty, OR Full of Pet Fish)
Now, this can be an old fish tank that you happen to repurpose solely for growing awesome greens. This is known as “hydroponic” gardening. Alternatively, you can grow your watercress in a tank that’s currently housing some fishy friends. The latter approach is known as “aquaponics”, and is a great symbiotic approach to growing food.
Tank Aerator
This is the bubble-making thinger that adds oxygen to water.
Watercress Plants
Just like in the previous method, you’ll need live watercress plants from a grocery store.
Hydroponic Growing Containers
For this method, you’ll need hydroponic growing containers like these. They’re small baskets full of eco-friendly foam that holds the seedlings in place. These are then semi-submerged in the water, so the plants can draw all the liquid and nutrients they need.
How to Grow Watercress Indoors in a Fish Tank
Step 1: Clean Your Equipment
If you’re growing your watercress in an empty fish tank, give it a good scrub with hot, soapy water. Clean the aerator and tubes thoroughly as well.
Step 2: Root Some Cuttings
Trim the watercress roots like in the previous method, and place them in a jar of water. Let this sit in a sunny spot for a couple of weeks until rootlets develop.
Step 3 : Fill Up the Tank!
Fill the tank with water and get the aerator set up.
Step 4 : Let the Water Settle
Let the water oxygenate for a couple of days. This will also allow any chemicals in the water to evaporate.
Step 5: Transfer the Cuttings
Transfer the now-rooted cuttings into those little, individual hydroponic baskets.
Step 6: Place the Containers in the Tank
Place the baskets into your tank’s water, and hold each one in place for about 30 seconds. This will let everything saturate and settle well before you let them go.
Hydroponic/Aquaponic Watercress Growing Tips
Feed Your Plants!
If you’re growing your watercress in an empty tank, you’ll need to add nutrients to the water to feed the developing plants. With aquaponics, the greens draw nutrients (fish poop) out of the water to help them grow. In turn, they release oxygen back into the water. This keeps the fish happy and healthy. As you can see, it really is a great interdependence.
Related Post: Why is Lettuce Good for Aquaponics?
Keep the Aerator or Fish Happy
If you’re using an empty tank, the aerator should keep the water moving happily. This will keep it from stagnating, so you don’t have to worry about algae blooms or rotting roots. Similarly, a tank fill of fish will serve the same purpose. Just make sure to keep the fish healthy, and remove dead ones immediately!
Wrap Up
Now that you know how to grow watercress indoors, you’ll be able to cultivate it whenever you like. Add it to soups and salads, toss it into sandwiches, or just graze on it as a healthy snack.
Just snip some off whenever you’re ready to enjoy it!
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
