How to Grow Green Onions in Water – My Simple Method

How to Grow Green Onions in Water is one of the easiest and most satisfying gardening ideas. You don’t need soil, pots, fertilizer, or even a garden space. Just a small glass, clean water, and leftover green onion roots are enough. You can grow fresh green onions inside your kitchen, on a window shelf, or even on your dining table.

I started growing green onions in water when I noticed that the bottom part of the onions with roots always gets wasted after cutting. I thought, why not try growing them again? I placed them in a small glass with water and kept it on my kitchen window. Within 2 days, I saw small green shoots coming out again. Since then, I never throw away onion roots. This method is simple, saves money, and gives fresh onions whenever I need them.

Why Grow Green Onions in Water?

Growing onions in water is not only fun but also useful. Here are some reasons:

No soil and no mess
Leaves grow back again and again
Perfect for small homes, hostels, and apartments
Quick results – new growth in 2–3 days
Fresh, chemical-free onions anytime
Kid-friendly and beginner-friendly gardening idea

What You Need

Before starting, keep these simple things ready:

Green onion bulbs (with white bottom and roots)
A glass, small jar, or cup
Clean water
A sunny window or bright place inside home
Optional: scissors, small liquid fertilizer

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Grow Green Onions in Water

Step 1: Cut and Save the Onion Base

Take fresh green onions from the market or your garden.
Cut off the green leafy part for cooking.
Leave around 1–2 inches of the white bulb with roots.
This bottom part is important because the roots will absorb water and grow new leaves.

Step 2: Prepare a Glass or Jar

Choose a transparent glass or jar – this helps you see the roots clearly.
Fill it with 1–2 inches of clean water.
Do not fill completely. Only the roots and lower part should stay in water.
If the entire bulb is dipped, it may rot and smell bad.

Step 3: Place the Bulbs in Water

Put the onion bulbs in the glass carefully.
Roots must stay at the bottom and touch the water.
If the bulbs are floating, use toothpicks to support them or take a smaller glass.

Step 4: Keep it in Sunlight or Bright Light

Place the glass on a sunny window, kitchen shelf, or balcony.
Green onions don’t need direct harsh sunlight, just bright light or morning sun.
From my experience, a kitchen window receiving 3–4 hours of sunlight works best.

Step 5: Change Water Regularly

This step is very important.

Change the water daily or once in two days.
If water becomes dirty or smells, roots will start to rot and turn slimy.
Wash the glass gently and refill with fresh water.
You can also rinse the roots gently if any dirt is stuck.

Step 6: Watch Them Grow

In 2–3 days, you will notice new small green shoots.
In 5–7 days, leaves will grow 5–6 inches tall.
This is the best time to cut and use them in cooking like soups, omelets, fried rice, paratha fillings, etc.

How to Harvest Properly

Use scissors or a small knife.
Cut the green leaves from the top, leaving 1 inch from the bulb.
Do not remove the bulb from water. It will keep growing again.
Within a few more days, it will regrow new leaves.

My Personal Tips for Fast and Healthy Growth

From my own experience, these small tips make a big difference:

Use a transparent glass so you can check roots and water easily.
Only dip roots in water, never the whole bulb.
Avoid using cold tap water directly. Use room temperature water.
Change water daily – it keeps the plant fresh and fungus-free.
Add a few drops of liquid fertilizer or onion water once a week for faster growth (optional).
If roots turn brown or mushy, remove dead parts and replace water.

How Many Times Can It Regrow?

A single bulb can regrow 3–4 times in water.
After that, leaves become thin and weak.
When this happens, you can plant it in soil to make it strong again.

Common Problems and Quick Solutions

Problem	Reason	Solution
Bulbs turning yellow or mushy	Bulb fully dipped in water	Only dip roots, not bulb
Water smells bad	Water not changed regularly	Change water daily
Leaves growing slowly	Less light or dirty roots	Keep near sunlight and clean water
Roots turning slimy	Fungal infection or stagnant water	Wash roots and use fresh water

Benefits of Growing Green Onions in Water

Always fresh supply at home
Saves money – one bunch grows multiple times
Reusable kitchen waste
Looks attractive on kitchen windows
No need for soil, garden space, or tools

FAQs – Growing Green Onions in Water

How long does it take for green onions to regrow in water?

Usually, you will see growth within 2 to 3 days, and in 5 to 7 days, the green part grows 4 to 6 inches long—ready to cut and use.

How many times can I regrow green onions in water?

You can regrow green onions 3 to 4 times in water. After that, they may become thin or slow. Then you can plant them in soil for longer growth.

Is it safe to eat green onions regrown in water?

Yes, it is completely safe. I eat the regrown greens often. Just wash them properly before using in your food.

Conclusion

If you’re new to gardening or want to grow something indoors, try this method. Growing green onions in water is simple, clean, and fast. I’ve done it many times, and it always works. You can regrow it again and again, and even plant it in soil later.

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