In the wild, you’ll usually find watercress hanging out in super damp spots, mostly along the banks of bubbling brooks and rivers. But here’s the good news: you don’t need a backyard stream to enjoy this peppery green! You can totally grow watercress in pots right at home. The secret sauce? Keeping it thirsty.
Choosing the Right Pot for Your Watercress
If you’re planning to grow watercress in a pot or a shallow bowl, picking the right container is step one. Since watercress doesn’t have a very deep root system, shallow containers work just fine. My pro tip: go with a plastic pot or tray. Unlike terracotta, which breathes and dries out quickly, plastic holds onto that essential moisture much longer.
The Best Soil Mix for Containers
Watercress is a total water-lover and needs a constant supply of moisture to stay happy. Start by lining the bottom of your pot with a layer of gravel or broken pottery shards to help with drainage. For the soil itself, a standard high-quality potting mix blended with a little sand or fine gravel is the perfect recipe for success.
Sowing Watercress Seeds
You can sow your seeds directly into your chosen pot. You can grab watercress seeds at your local garden center or even harvest them yourself if you find some in the wild. Just remember: these seeds are “light germinators,” which means they need light to wake up. Don’t bury them! Just press them gently into the surface or cover them with a very thin dusting of soil.
Finding the Perfect Spot
You can keep your watercress pot right on your kitchen counter for easy snacking or move it outside to the garden. It really thrives in a partially shaded spot. Try to avoid placing it in harsh, direct midday sun. While watercress can handle the sun if it has plenty of water, those intense UV rays can actually scorch the delicate leaves—especially if it’s sitting behind a glass window on a hot kitchen windowsill.
Caring for Your Potted Watercress
Just like growing it in a pond, the number one rule for potted watercress is: keep it wet! However, don’t just let it sit in the same stagnant water forever. If you have a saucer under your pot, make sure to refresh that water regularly. After a few days, standing water loses its oxygen, and your watercress needs that oxygen to grow nice and strong.
Other Ways to Grow Watercress
If you want to branch out beyond pots, watercress is also great for:
- Planting directly in moving water,
- Growing along the edges of a garden pond,
- Or tucking into a consistently damp garden bed.
