How come many houseplants will rot if their roots sit in waterlogged soil but when you propagate plants you let the roots sit in water to grow?

Question

How come many houseplants will rot if their roots sit in waterlogged soil but when you propagate plants you let the roots sit in water to grow?

In: Biology

Answer 1

As been mentioned, it is due the the presence of oxygen in the water. Plants require oxygen for cellular respiration,, and obtain most of that oxygen through their roots. Standing water becomes anaerobic, meaning there is little if any oxygen in the water. So long as water is oxygenated, most plant can grow with roots completely submerged. This is how plants are grown hydroponically.