Tips for growing a sweet potato plant in water?

Debra
by Debra
Trying to grow a sweet potato plant in water. It has good roots and good leave, but it is starting to rot. can I plant it in soil and still use it as a house plant?

  10 answers
  • Patti Nicholas Patti Nicholas on Jun 15, 2018

    If it’s not too far rotted, absolutely. Sweet potato vine makes a great houseplant or ornamenta in the garden.

  • I start mine indoors and eventually set out in the yard. For me, they grow like weeds, require little maintenance and provide lots of greenery. If I get sweet potatoes out of it (which I do), it is a bonus. I gave away a lot as I have no way of storing them.


    You can set in a pot with good soil and it will continue to grow if it gets enough light.


    I just started 2 more . . .

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  • Cindy Cindy on Jun 15, 2018

    Yes, you can transfer it to a pot with potting soil in it. Remove whatever parts are rotted first. Don't fertilize it right away. The plant will be under enough stress from the transfer. Best of luck to you.

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Jun 16, 2018

    Part of the new life cycle that started with a potato in a glass ends when the potato starts to rot because it is being drained of nutrients by the stems and leaves. One potato can fill an area with greenery. But consider the plant an annual which you can plant any time of year. If you keep adding water, the leaves will keep growing until the potato has all turned to rot or putrification. You can try to reset some of the stems or plants in soil, but it’s easier to start a new potato every few months, and throw the old one out. Best wishes ☺️

  • Pis8291210 Pis8291210 on Jun 16, 2018

    I actually grew sweet potatoes in a weed proof fabric placed in a milk crate (plastic) and put dirt on top. The vine grew and it got purple flowers. When the plant began to die back, I harvested small sweet potatoes. If yours rots in the soil, then you just added more nutrients to your soil. I cut root ends off green scallions and put then in soil and they always grow. Good luck.


  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 03, 2023

    The sweet potatoes typically sprout within three weeks. These slips must be transplanted to soil to continue growing and to eventually produce a crop of sweet potatoes.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 13, 2023

    Why not - Enjoy!

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 13, 2023

    Place the sweet potato in a container of water. Keep the top 1/3 of the potato exposed by placing toothpicks into the sides. The pointed end should be down in the water. In a few weeks a vine with several stems will begin to sprout.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 17, 2023

    Once it starts to sprout, you can plant it.