How to Turn a Sweet Potato into a Houseplant

I have never really had the most green of thumbs. Though, I do continue to try. Sadly, it is at the expense of the lives of too many plants. My most recent guinea pig... plant, that has given me thought that my thumb might be a bit greener than I think, is a sweet potato. I know growing a sweet potato is maybe something you did in elementary school science class or maybe something you did unintentionally on your kitchen counter. A sweet potato can actually be grown into a very beautiful plant that can live happy and healthfully as a house plant, no matter how green your thumb is. All varieties of sweet potatoes can be used.

What you will need:

1 jar (or vase)

1 sweet potato

A few toothpicks (might be optional)

water

Start by seeing how well your sweet potato fits in the jar. If your sweet potato is wide enough that it can sit on the mouth of the jar, with part of the sweet potato in the jar and part of it out, without falling through, you will not need any toothpicks. If your sweet potato is a bit narrow, stick toothpicks around the middle of the sweet potato. Stick the sweet potato in the jar where the toothpicks are resting on the mouth of the jar.

Place the pointier end of the sweet potato down in the jar. My first sweet potato I grew was technically upside down, with the pointy end up and it rooted and grew amazingly. So, from my experience, which end down doesn't matter too much.

You can submerge part of the sweet potato in water or you can place the water level where it is very close to the sweet potato, but not actually touching. If the sweet potato is submerged it will probably get slimy and start to rot and the water will need to be changed more often.

Let it sit where it gets light, but it does not need direct sunlight. In about a week or 2 you will notice some growth.

After a month or so, when the stems reach about 7 inches, you can choose to plant your sweet potato in a pot, in soil or keep it in water. If you are not too good with plants in the first place, I would recommend letting it live its life in water. It live very well in water.

If you are up to the challenge of transferring it into soil, you will need a pot and potting soil. Fill the pot part of the way with soil. Place the sweet potato in the pot and add the rest of the soil, burying the sweet potato. Water, keep the soil moist and watch it continue to grow.

Sweet potatoes plants are vining plants. Be prepared for the beautiful purple and green vines to start creeping around your house.