If you need help remembering to water your houseplants or dislike the mess of potting soil, growing plants in water can be an ideal solution. In fact, plants grown in water are low-maintenance and rarely face pest or disease issues. Here are some of the best plants you can grow in water for years.
Pothos
Pothos is an easy-to-care-for houseplant that loves growing in water. It produces auxin, a hormone that helps it root quickly. Snip a stem, place it in a vase, and watch it thrive, even in low light. It pairs well with other plants like Monstera and ivy. With varieties like N’Joy, Marble Queen, and classic golden Pothos, it adds a touch of green elegance to any space. Remember to change the water every few days to keep it happy and healthy.
Coleus
Coleus is a colorful and vibrant foliage plant that roots quickly in water. Take a 6-inch cutting, strip the leaves from the bottom 4 inches, and place it in a jar of water. Coleus prefers bright, indirect light but can handle lower light conditions, too. Change the water every two weeks, and remember to fertilize monthly for best growth. Coleus is perfect for brightening up your indoor garden.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreen is a resilient plant that’s a breeze to care for, whether in soil or water. Cut a few inches of stem, ensuring a few inches are underwater and some leaves remain above. Position it in bright, indirect light, and refresh the water every two weeks. This plant thrives in low light and adds an elegant touch to any indoor space.
Arrowhead Plant
Arrowhead plants are incredibly easy to grow in water and often thrive better than in soil. Find a healthy stem, clip it below the node, and place it in a jar or bottle filled with water. The roots appear within a few weeks, and your Arrowhead plant will start to flourish. Keep the water clean by refreshing it once or twice a week, and enjoy the low-maintenance beauty of this resilient plant.
Baby Tears
Baby Tears Plants are a fantastic addition to any home or office, thanks to their easy care and tiny leaves. To grow them in water, cut off a cluster of stems, remove the leaves from the parts that will be submerged, and place them in a small jar or vase of water. Change the water frequently to keep it fresh and clear. Baby tears will quickly produce new roots from where you removed the leaves.
Peace Lily
Peace lilies are stunning plants with striking white flowers known for their air-purifying qualities. To grow them in water, remove the plant from its pot, rinse off the soil, and place the roots in a vase with enough water to cover them. Keep the peace lily in indirect light and change the water every two weeks to keep it fresh. Adding a few drops of hydroponic fertilizer will help the plant thrive. Over time, the roots will grow, and you may need to repot the plant every year or two to keep it healthy.
Basil
Basil is an essential herb that can easily be grown indoors in water. Take a few stem cuttings from an existing plant, remove its lower leaves, and put the cuttings in a jar filled with water. Make sure two-thirds of each stem is submerged. Place the plant on a sunny windowsill that gets plenty of morning sunlight. Change the water every two to three days, and you’ll notice new roots forming in a few weeks.
Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet Potato Vine is an ornamental plant with beautiful, heart-shaped leaves and long, trailing vines. It’s perfect for adding a lush, tropical look to your indoor space. The classic variety is lime green, but you can find other cultivars in shades of purple, burgundy, bronze, and brown. To grow it in water, take a 6- to 8-inch cutting below a leaf node, remove the lower leaves, and place it in water. Keep it in a bright spot and change the water regularly to keep it healthy and growing.
Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew, also known as Tradescantia, is a great plant to grow in water. Its vibrant, trailing foliage brightens up any indoor space. Just cut below a leaf node and place it in a jar of water to get started. It’ll quickly develop roots and begin to thrive. Keep it in a spot with bright, indirect light, and change the water regularly to keep it fresh.
Lucky Bamboo
Despite its name, Lucky Bamboo isn’t a true bamboo but a type of Dracaena. It’s incredibly popular for growing in water and is often used in Feng Shui to bring positive energy into the home. This plant is easy to care for—just place the stalks in a vase with an inch of water covering the roots. Use filtered water to avoid chemicals, and change the water every two weeks. Lucky Bamboo thrives in low to moderate light, making it a stylish and low-maintenance addition to any room.
Mint
Growing mint in water is an easy way to always have fresh mint on hand. Take stem cuttings from an established plant, strip the leaves from the bottom half, and place the cuttings in a glass or jar of water. Put the jar on a bright windowsill out of direct sunlight. Soon, you’ll see roots forming and have access to mint whenever you need it.
Spider plant
Spider plants grow very well in water. Just clip the “pups” from the main plant and place them in a jar or bowl of water. These plants, known for their arching leaves and dangling offshoots, adapt well to various indoor conditions and help improve air quality. Make sure the base of the cutting is submerged, and change the water regularly. Spider plants like bright, indirect light but can also handle lower light conditions.
English Ivy
English ivy grows well in water, adding lush greenery and improving indoor air quality. Take a 4- to 6-inch cutting, making sure it’s green and not woody, and place it in a jar of clean water with the node submerged. Remove any leaves that will be underwater. Keep the jar in bright, indirect light and change the water every two weeks. Roots might take a few months to start growing, but your plant will thrive indoors in water.
Purple heart
Purple Heart Plant is a stunning plant with deep purple leaves that’s perfect for growing in water. Just take a cutting below a node, place it in a jar of water with the node submerged, and watch it thrive. It prefers bright, indirect light but can handle lower light, too. Remember to change the water every two weeks. The Purple Heart’s vibrant color and easy care make it a great addition to any indoor garden.
Monstera
Monstera is perfect for growing in water. Just place a stem cutting with some roots in a narrow-necked jar filled with non-chlorinated water. Change the water every 3 to 5 days and top it off if any evaporates. The roots grow quickly, so keep an eye on them and trim if they overgrow or turn brown. With its stunning leaves and easy care, Monstera will thrive indoors and add a tropical touch to your space.