Why is over watering the easiest way to kill a houseplant, but you can propagate those same plants in straight water? Also hydroponics?

Question

I was just starting some some cuttings from my pothos in water and thought it’s strange that they’ll survive in just water but perish w too much water in soil?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Ive always understood it as a matter of (poisonous) gas build up. Gas by-products are trapped in the soil and have prolonged exposure to the roots eventually causing death. In the water these gases are vented off easily.

ELI5- Soil holds in all the baddies so they cant escape but water lets them run away from the plant.