Keep the leftover lemongrass stalks and keep them in a cup of water in a sunny spot. Make sure to change the water every day. New leaves will begin to grow almost immediately. After a week or so, you will notice roots start to grow and eventually, the stalk will divide itself into two after a few weeks. After this process, you can use it or continue to grow it in a soil pot.
6. Bok Choy (Water only)
Bok choy is a very nutritional vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. To regrow the bok choy bought from the market, first cut the base of the stem and place it in a small bowl of water. Within 2 days, new leaves will already be growing. From then on, you can either decide to eat the young leaves or continue to grow the bok choy. It is also possible to keep growing the bok choy in a soil pot, but for convenience, many people opt for the easier water-only option.
Mint is another really easy-growing indoor plant. Just cut 5 to 6 inches in length off the tip of an already established mint plant. Remove the bottom leaves and place the tips in a glass of water. Set near the window and watch the mint grow. Like all the water-growing plants, the mint can also be planted in potting soil to maximize growth lifespan.
8. Lettuce (Water only)
Lettuce is another one of the water-only growing vegetables. Merely place the stem of the lettuce into water and watch it grow! Make sure it gets plenty of sun too. Just like all the other plants, you can also decide to place it in a soil pot. Regardless, it is an easy way to enjoy fresh greens all year long!
9. Garlic Greens
Green garlic is the green shoots that grow from the cloves. Its delicious aroma and garlic-like flavor is perfect for spicing up any preparations like salads or baked potatoes. To grow garlic greens, plant 3 or 4 cloves in a soil pot and let them sit near the window. Water lightly every other day and within 7 to 10 days you will be able to snip off the fresh garlic greens.
10. Celery (water only)
Celery is another one of those vegetables that can be regrown in water. Simply slice about 2 inches off the root end of a celery bunch and set it in a shallow bowl or jar. Make sure an inch of the root is submerged in water and leave it near the window to give it adequate access to sunlight. Don't forget to change the water every few days. In a week, you should start to see the small stalks and leaves grow back.
It is completely normal for the outer base starts turning brown after a few weeks, simply cut them off. However, if it continues to rot, it means it is time to throw the whole stem out or move to a potting soil instead.
*Boomi News is the official blog of Boomi, a Shanghai-based startup that provides starter kits filled with sustainable products to help guide you towards a more zero-waste lifestyle.