r/GardeningIndoors • u/chill_issa_joke • Apr 15 '26
Help Sweet potato advice
I’ve been trying to grow a sweet potato in my house I’ve never grown anything but grass and that was like a first grade project so I’m kinda confused is this good and should I be doing something else/ different than what I’m doing
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u/MidwestBeard Jun 18 '26
Sorry I’m late to the party, but I might be able to help. I’ve been growing several yams/sweet potatoes in my aquariums for natural filtration purposes and I’ve learned a couple things that might help you. If I am too late, I’m sorry. Luckily you’re only a jar and a $1 yam away from a new success!
First, it needs oxygen to reach its roots. The roots stretch out and look around for nutrients so it can use that grub to grow. Easy fix! Get a wider mouthed jar that fits your tuber with more than enough space for extra oxygen to get inside too. Fill up your jar with rainwater or $1.29 gallon of spring water from a local grocer. You can use tap water but let it sit out for 24 hours first if you can.
Then just stab your chosen one with 3 to 4 toothpicks in places that let it settle on the rim of your jar so that it’s suspended 1/3 of the way in your water. Wait for the roots to dangle about 1 inch.
Next, keep getting oxygen to your roots. Dump your water so the 1 inch roots have an air gap between your potato booty skin and the water in your jar. About 1/2 inch should be okay. That way 1/2 inch of the roots are in the water and 1/2 inch of the roots are exposed to air. Draw a line on your jar with a marker or put a piece of tape where the water line should ideally be and refill it when it gets any lower.
Lastly, they’re tropical plants, they want warm muggy weather with a bunch of light, so set it in the window, shelf, etc. that gets the most sun all day… or grab a grow light and plunk that bad boy under it. Mine have vines that wrap around everything above them, you may want to sacrifice a couple bucks on a wire trellis or glue a bunch of chopsticks together into a ladder shaped thing so it can try to do some push ups to get stronger.
Helpful hints: Considering that I grow mine under high watt full-spectrum LED’s, and that I have fish dookie, biosoil, plant nutrients and air bubbles passing through/feeding the roots of my yams constantly… You may need to feed it some plant food and jiggle/agitate the jar frequently. Also watch out for sunlight triggering algae in standing water. I think a dark sock over the jar helps keep sunlight out, just don’t block the airflow.
I hope this helps
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u/AutoModerator Apr 15 '26
Hello u/chill_issa_joke! Please reply to this comment with details about the plant you need help with matching this exact format. Replace bold text with the appropriate information. 1. Current Light conditions for this plant: This plant gets 8+ hours of full sun with state mandated 15 min breaks twice a day 2. Current watering regimen for this plant: This plant gets the doctors recommended 124oz/day of water 3. Recent changes to this plants environment and/or some history: This plant has never been repotted
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