Water Spinach growth stages

Kangkong or water spinach can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Place the seeds in fresh potting soil (place about 0.5 centimeters deep). Make sure you keep the seeds consistently moist.

Also, remember that the temperature should stay around 68 F (20 C). Germination occurs within a few weeks. To speed up germination you can soak the seeds overnight in water. Growing kangkong from cuttings is the easiest method of propagation. Cut several cuttings 30-40 cm long from young growth and plant 15 cm deep in potting mix.

Quick care guide: Kangkong (water spinach)

Plant type
Perennial (zones 8-15), annual (zones 5-7)

Origin
Southeast Asia

Scientific name
Aquatic Ipomoea

Other names
Water spinach, river spinach, water cabbage, water morning glory, Chinese watercress, Chinese water spinach, swamp cabbage, ong choy

Soil type
Loamy, well-drained, nutrient-rich

Soil pH
6-7 (slightly acidic)

Sunlight requirement
Sunny day

Season of Bloom
Spring summer

Colours
Green, yellow, pink, white

Maximum height
12 inches

Maximum width
3-4 inches

Low temperature
50F

High temperature
90F

Ideal temperature range
68-86F

Humidity
High

Water needs
Often, when the top layer (1 inch) of soil becomes dry

Fertilizer requirements
Low

NPK fertilizers
15-15-15

Days to germination
2-3 weeks

Days to bloom
40-60 days

Speed ​​of growth
Very fast

Hardness zones
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Plant depth
0.5-1 inch

Plant spacing
3 inches

Propagation
Seeds, stems, cuttings

Common pests
Leaf beetles, aphids, wireworms, gnats, spider mites, locusts, stink bugs

Common diseases
Fungus, leaf spot, root rot

Indoor plant
Yes, but not better

Outdoor plant
Yes

Grown in a container
Yes

Flowering plant
Yes

Beginner friendly
Yes

Level of care
very low (easy)

Uses
Edibles, recipes, food, vegetables, aquatic decoration, pond decoration

Water Requirements of Spinach

The spinach plant has a relatively shallow root system. As a result, the plant prefers smaller and more frequent irrigation sessions, to produce an acceptable yield. As a general rule, farmers should focus on keeping the soil moist during the growing season. Experienced farmers claim that planting in two ways helps to keep the soil moist at all times. On the one hand, the plant will be able to absorb the necessary water. On the other hand, this will keep the soil temperature low, resulting in better spinach growth.

Spinach tends to go into seed when the weather is too hot. In this case, plants are genetically set to spend their resources on seed production rather than leaf development. Therefore, the product cannot be placed on the market. In most cases, three or four irrigation sessions per week are used during the first two weeks. It is highly recommended to water our crops early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This will prevent evaporation of water from the heat of the sun.

Prepare the Soil

The water spinach plants grow well in fertile soil rich in lots of organic matter.

So, when preparing the soil, add as much organic matter as you can. Adding well-rotted manure and home compost will be very good for the growth of water spinach plants.

Production requirements:

Water Spinach Gardening Requirements.

Water growing spinach or kangkong requires moist, wet and nutrient-rich soil with a pH level of around 6.0 to 7.0.