When we hear "aquaponics," we always think of vegetables and herbs grown with fish in the backyard, indoors, or in warehouses that grow out of floating rafts or PVC pipes. But did you know that you can also utilize aquaponics systems to grow your favorite house plants?
Yes, it works! Although we usually associate aquaponics with growing vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, and herbs, there are many house plants for aquaponics.
Knowing you can grow your favorite house plant in an aquaponics setup may excite you, so let's get into the details of how this works.
Why Grow House Plants in Your Aquaponics System?
Growing house plants in your aquaponics system can be a rewarding experience with benefits to your home and health. House plants can help purify the air in your home and add colors and fragrances to your place while making it look lively.
Advantages of growing houseplants in an aquaponics system.
- Takes up less space.
- Plants grow faster
- Plants are less vulnerable to insects because they don't do well with water.
- Plants grow faster because of their access to nutrients 24 hours a day.
- Plants grow larger and bear more flowers or fruits.
What Kind of House Plants Grow Best in Aquaponics Systems?
The best house plants for aquaponics systems are the ones that have low nutrient requirements, can withstand low light intensity, and require minimal care. They should also have a small root system that does not mind being immersed in the water.
The Best House Plants for Aquaponics
Below are the best house plants for aquaponics systems.
1. Spider Plants
Spider plants thrive in moister soil, making them one of the best plants for aquaponics systems. It is easy to plant spider plants in your system; take a cutting and stick it in a net pot or directly in your grow bed. After planting, roots will begin to show in about seven days. You can grow spider plants in mason jars by submerging their roots.
To ensure your spider plants remain in good condition, their leaves should be kept dry to ensure they stay in good condition. If left moist for an extended time, the leaves may begin to rot. Also, ensure the tank is adequately aerated to keep roots in good condition.
Spider plants grow quickly, so it is essential to trim them regularly to prevent them from taking over your fish tank.
Growing Requirements for Spider Plants
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 70-90°F (21-32°C)
pH: 6-7.2
Lighting: Moderate to bright light
2. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are one of the best plants for aquaponics systems because they like high humidity and grow well in aquariums. They are known as purifying plants and great ornamental plants which can add beauty to your home. They are easy to propagate and require low maintenance. But they must be trimmed often to keep their growth under control.
To grow peace lilies in your system, keep their roots submerged in the water, but we should keep their leaves dry.
Growing Requirements for Peace Lily
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 60-80°F (15-26°C)
pH: 5.8-6.5
Lighting: Avoid direct sunlight
3. Chinese Money Plants
Chinese money plants are another plant that grows well in aquaponics systems. They have beautiful big leaves and tiny white flowers, which can add character to your aquaponics setup.
Chinese money plants are easy to propagate but grow so fast that the roots often need pruning to keep them under control. Keep the root submerged in the water to grow them in your system, but the leaves should be kept dry.
Growing requirements for Chinese Money Plants:
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 55-86°F (12-30°C)
pH: 6-7.5
Lighting: moderate light (If kept under direct heat, the leaves will get dull and may die)
4. Philodendron
Philodendron is a hardy tropical houseplant that can grow well in an aquaponics system. It likes moist soil and can be propagated easily in water. Philodendrons are often started in a vase or jar of water but will not survive if the water is not nutrient dense.
Philodendron requires minimal care, but if you want to grow them indoors, be wary if you have cats because their cells contain calcium oxalate crystals which can cause oral and digestive irritation to cats when ingested.
Growing requirements for Philodendron
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 55-90°F (12-32°C)
pH: 5-6
Light: Low light
5. Snake Plants
Another houseplant that can be grown in aquaponics systems is snake plants. These plants have long green leaves that look stunning, adding beauty to your room. Snake plants also have the ability to remove toxic pollutants from the air, which makes them ideal for indoor aquaponics systems.
Snake plants are also considered a symbol of good luck. So growing them in your system will fill your home with good vibes.
Growing requirements for Snake plants:
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 55-85°F (12-29°C)
pH: 5-8.5
Lighting: High Light or direct exposure to light
6. Ferns
Ferns love having their roots in moist soils and thrive in aquaponics systems. They are easy to grow and like receiving moderate light daily, making them excellent house plants for indoor aquaponics systems. Although they are not aquatic plants, they thrive in water even if their leaves are partly submerged.
They grow huge and must be trimmed frequently to keep them from overtaking your system. They have low nutrient requirements and only need a little fish to grow and thrive.
Growing requirements for Ferns:
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
pH: 4-8
Lighting: High light
7. Marigolds
Marigolds are ideal for aquaponics systems because they not only give your home a burst of superb color but also help keep bugs away because of their pungent smell.
Marigold comes in different colors, so you can choose your favorite color and add it to your aquaponics garden. They are also considered one of the best flowering companion plants in aquaponics used for vegetable cultivation because of their natural pest-repelling properties.
Marigolds will thrive in your system if their growing requirements are met and nutrients are readily available.
Growing requirements for Marigold:
Maintenance: Low
Remperature: 65-70°F (18- 21°C)
pH: 7-7.5
Lighting: Moderate to light
8. Lavender
Lavender usually likes dry conditions in temperate zones and can be tricky to cultivate in humid regions. But as long as their growing requirements are met, they can be ideal in an aquaponics setup. In soil gardening, lavender can easily suffer from being over watered. However, in an aquaponics system, they can thrive because it is a controlled setup with almost stable temperature, humidity, and lighting.
Growing requirements for Lavender:
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 68-86°F (20-30°C)
pH: 6-8
Lighting: High light
9. Chamomile
Although regarded as an herb, chamomile is an excellent plant in its own right and can be a great house plant or companion plant in your aquaponics garden.
Chamomile is good for keeping pests away, and its white flowers add character to your home. The flowers can also be harvested and made into tea, with many health benefits.
Growing requirements for Chamomile:
Maintenance: Low
Temperature: 68-86°F (20-30°C)
pH: 5-7.5
Lighting: Low-to-moderate light
Conclusion
Aquaponics can be used to grow fish and crops to provide healthy food for you and your family. However, it can also be used to grow house plants to give beauty to your home. The house plants suggested above can thrive in your aquaponics system if their growing requirements are met and your fish are healthy. Aquaponics can grow almost any plant, so do not limit yourself to the plants mentioned, but explore and try to plant other plants, and you might be surprised by the result.
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