Hydroponic Water Celery: Growing Oenanthe javanica in Water
Hydroponic water celery is Oenanthe javanica grown with its roots in a nutrient solution instead of soil. The USDA PLANTS Database lists the plant as a perennial forb or herb, and its common name there is Java waterdropwort. It is introduced in the lower 48 states, and a small raft or bucket system suits it.
The short answer
Set young plants in net pots on a floating raft over an aerated nutrient solution. Check pH and EC two to three times a week and aim for a pH of 5.5 to 6.2. Hold the grow area above 65°F and cut stems young so the plant regrows.
Can water celery grow in a hydroponic system?
The UMass Amherst fact sheet on hydroponic systems says almost any crop can be grown hydroponically. It names celery, watercress and some herbs among the most common. Water celery is a soft stemmed perennial, much like the leafy greens and herbs home systems grow. You can compare root zone choices in hydroponic in different mediums.
Which hydroponic setup suits water celery?
Virginia Cooperative Extension says deep water culture is also called a floating or raft system. Plants sit in rafts on the nutrient solution, and in small systems an air pump with an attached air line and diffuser helps move the solution. Virginia Extension suggests checking EC and pH two to three times each week. It gives a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 for most crops and an EC of 1.2 to 2.0 mS/cm for many leafy greens.
The University of Minnesota Extension describes a home version. Net pots sit in a lid over a bucket or bin and should be only partly submerged so the roots get oxygen. Once roots grow past the net pot, Minnesota suggests leaving only one third to one half of them under water. You can rely on the Kratky method, where an air gap above the water gives the roots air, or run an airstone. An airstone is a porous stone joined by tubing to an outside pump, and it releases the air as tiny bubbles. Minnesota also advises a growing area over 65°F. The routine checks in caring for your hydroponic system apply here too.
UF/IFAS notes that a high solution temperature lowers oxygen in hydroponic systems, so pair a cool reservoir with steady aeration.
How do you harvest water celery grown in water?
Cut young stems and leaves and leave the base in place. The University of Minnesota Extension says most hydroponic growers harvest three to five times from the same plants before starting again, though crops such as head lettuce do not regrow after cutting. Watch how plants respond to each cut. A sowing plan from growing schedule for your hydroponics helps you start new plants as the old ones slow.
Water celery in hydroponics
| Need | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Net pots on a floating raft | Roots reach the solution |
| Root depth | One third to one half of roots under water | Roots get oxygen |
| Air | Airstone and pump or a Kratky air gap | Solution must carry oxygen |
| Solution | pH 5.5 to 6.2, EC 1.2 to 2.0 mS/cm | Ranges for most crops and leafy greens |
| Warmth | Grow area over 65°F | Minnesota guidance |
Sources: USDA PLANTS Database, University of Minnesota Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UMass Amherst.
How to: step by step
- Start young water celery plants in a plug or net pot.
- Move them into net pots set in a raft or lid over the reservoir.
- Run an airstone in the reservoir or leave an air gap under the pots.
- Feed a leafy green nutrient solution and check pH and EC two to three times a week.
- Cut stems and leaves young and leave the base to regrow.
- Top up or refresh the solution so the pH and EC stay in range.
Troubleshooting
Long weak stems: low light, so add light or move the system closer to it.
Brown roots: warm, still water. Aerate the reservoir and cool the room. Read the hydro setup environment post for room conditions.
Pale leaves: weak solution. Check the EC and pH against the ranges above.
Kind Seed Co shares these notes for home growers who like to try new greens in water.
Sources
- Oenanthe javanica (Java waterdropwort) plant profile, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
- Small scale hydroponics, University of Minnesota Extension
- Hydroponic production of edible crops: deep water culture (DWC) systems (SPES 464), Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Leafy greens in hydroponics and protected culture for Florida (HS1279), UF IFAS Extension
- Hydroponic systems, UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment
FAQ
Is water celery the same as regular celery?
No. Water celery is Oenanthe javanica, which the USDA PLANTS Database calls Java waterdropwort. It is a different species from garden celery. Both are grown for their stems and leaves, and both appear in lists of crops that suit hydroponic systems.
Can water celery grow in a raft system?
Yes. A floating raft holds plants in net pots over an aerated nutrient solution. Virginia Cooperative Extension describes this deep water culture method for leafy crops, and water celery fits the same setup.
How often can you cut water celery?
Cut it when the stems are young and tender and leave the base in place. Minnesota Extension says most hydroponic growers harvest three to five times from the same plants before they start again.
Does water celery need an air pump?
Not always. A Kratky setup gives the roots air through a gap above the water. An airstone and pump is the active choice, and it releases air into the solution as tiny bubbles.
What pH suits water celery in water?
Virginia Cooperative Extension gives a pH of 5.5 to 6.2 for most hydroponic crops. Check it two to three times a week along with EC.
