Hmmm, maybe water chestnuts are easier than you think

[rowan]

I like to grow water chestnuts in bathtubs but last spring I had some in pots and a few didn't sell. For some reason they didn't get planted or sold so they just sat in small (10cm) pots on a shelf with all the other potted plants I had not got around to doing anything with. After a while I got curious as to how they would grow being out of water but they just kept living and growing merrily, well... they would have been more merry if the pots were bigger.

Today I lifted them as they have died down and was surprised to see that they have produced good tubers (not a lot as the pots were so small but of relatively good size). I always thought that water chestnuts had to be grown in water but maybe that is not the case. It is not like these got any more water than generally given to potted plants, and maybe even got a bit dry in the summer so maybe this might work for people who don't want to have large tubs of water lying about attracting mosquitoes.

[steev]

So another plant turns out to grow fine under less than the conditions it's known to grow best in.

[raymondo]

Hey great rowan. I'm going to try that next spring.

[darrenabbey]

That is interesting. Now someone can breed for better productivity in dry soil culture...

[Gianna]

That sounds interesting. Anyone know where one can get starts of them? I grow a lot of things with 'passive hydroponics' - meaning in pots with their feet in a saucer of water, till they dry and need watering again.