Sweet potato vines are a beautiful plant to grow inside. Last year, I decided to give it a try without any previous experience. I was very happy to see the beautiful green leaves of the vines filling my space. A sweet potato can grow into a beautiful vine with just a sweet potato, water, and a bit of patience. Then I realized the importance of the little things, like changing the water regularly and giving enough sunlight, which really made a difference in the plant’s growth and health.
The sweet potato is super easy to grow and take care of! With its cascading growth and colorful leaves, it’s a fantastic addition to any indoor garden. In this guide, we’ll cover easy steps on how to grow sweet potato vine indoors and transform a simple tuber into a gorgeous ornamental plant.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed
Before starting your sweet potato vine growing project, it’s essential to gather all the necessary materials. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A healthy sweet potato
- A glass jar or clear plastic cup
- Toothpicks
- A pot and potting soil
- Watering can
- Liquid fertilizer (optional)
- Pruning shears
- Gloves (optional, for transplanting)
Step 1: Buy an organic, untreated sweet potato
The first step is selecting the right sweet potato. This will form the foundation of your indoor garden. Look for sweet potatoes with firm, smooth skin and eyes, or small leaf buds that signify its readiness to grow. The sweet potatoes you find in the grocery store are usually perfect to grow.
Step 2: Put your sweet potato in a jar or glass of water
Once you have your sweet potato, it’s time to prepare it for propagation:
- Take a sharp knife and cut the sweet potato in half (lengthwise or widthwise); it’s your choice.
- Insert four toothpicks around the center of the cut side of the sweet potato so that they are sticking out horizontally. If you can find a perfectly tight jar or glass, you don’t have to use toothpicks.
- With the toothpicks supporting it, place the sweet potato in a clean glass jar or clear plastic cup. So that the bottom half is submerged in water and the top half is exposed to the air.
- Make sure there’s enough water in the jar to touch the bottom of the sweet potato and that it’s maintained at that level.
Step 3: Provide adequate sunlight and water
Sweet potato vines love sunlight, so be sure to place your jar in a sunny spot, like a windowsill, where it will receive several hours of direct sunlight each day. Also:
- Keep a close eye on the water level in the jar, topping it off as needed to maintain that level.
- To ensure that lots of healthy slips grow, ensure the temperature doesn’t drop below 10 °C (50 °F).
- Replace the water every 2 to 4 days to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria.
Step 4: Transferring to Soil
Now that your sweet potato has been watered and given enough sunshine for a few weeks, it should begin to sprout. Once the sprouts, or slips, are about 6 to 7 inches (15 cm) tall, it’s time to transplant them to soil:
- Fill a pot with potting soil and create a small hole.
- Gently remove the sprouted sweet potato from the jar. Be careful not to damage the roots.
- Plant the sweet potato sprouts into the potting soil, ensuring that the entire root system is covered and that the leaves are above the soil line.
Step 5: Caring for Your Sweet Potato Houseplant
To ensure your sweet potato vine thrives:
- Water the plant regularly to keep the soil slightly moist, but not soaked. Sweet potatoes can tolerate drought but grow well when they receive consistent watering.
- Let me tell you that sweet potato plants don’t need any fertilizer to grow healthily. But during the growing season, if you decide to use fertilizer, dilute it and apply it to the soil every 4 to 6 weeks.
- Regularly prune the vine to stimulate growth and prevent it from taking over your space. It will also help to propagate more sweet potato vines.
Remember, the sweet potato vine is non-toxic to pets. It grows quickly, which means you can enjoy the lush greenery with peace of mind.
