Indoor plants that grow in water are an effortless way to bring greenery into your home. Many popular houseplants, such as Begonia and Monstera, can thrive in water alone without needing soil. Just place the roots in water, keeping the foliage above the surface, and watch them grow.
While not all houseplants can adapt to these conditions, several beautiful options, like pothos and lucky bamboo, excel as hydroponic plants, making vibrant indoor greenery accessible to everyone. Interested in trying this out? Discover our list of 20 indoor plants that can grow in water.
Lucky bamboo is believed to bring good luck and positive energy to its grower. This versatile plant can thrive in water, making it easy to care for. To plant lucky bamboo, simply place the stalks in a container with water, ensuring the roots are submerged.
However, as the plants grow, they can become top-heavy. To provide stability and enhance their ornamental appeal, surround the stalks with colorful gravel or rocks. This not only supports the plants but also adds a decorative touch to your space.
The Peace Lily is an attractive indoor plant known for its glossy, dark green leaves and elegant white flowers that resemble calla lilies. To grow a Peace Lily in water, place the roots in a container filled with water, ensuring they are submerged but the leaves stay above the surface.
Position the plant in a spot with bright, indirect light. For optimal growth, add a few drops of hydroponic fertilizer during water changes. This care routine helps maintain the plant's lush appearance and vibrant blooms. The ideal temperatures for the plant range from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Monstera
With its large, glossy, perforated leaves, Monstera makes a striking indoor plant. To grow it in water, start with a stem cutting that has several nodes and leaves. Place the cut end in a tall, narrow container filled with non-chlorinated water.
Ensure it receives bright, indirect light for several hours each day, avoiding direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn and algae growth. Replenish the water as it evaporates and replace it every three to five days. Monthly, clean the roots and trim any brown or decaying parts.
The Spider Plant is a resilient indoor plant known for its arching, grass-like leaves with green and white stripes. To grow it in water, place the roots in a glass filled with non-chlorinated water, ensuring the leaves stay above the water. Add rocks to the bottom of the glass for the roots to anchor onto.
This plant produces baby spider plantlets, which can dangle from long stems or be propagated. Spider Plants thrive in brighter light, which enhances their foliage, though they can tolerate lower light. Regularly change the water and maintain the roots to keep the plant healthy.
5. English Ivy
For those seeking low-maintenance plants, English ivy presents an appealing option. This popular climbing vine adapts well to various growing conditions, including water cultivation. While it can tolerate a broad spectrum of light levels, it flourishes best in bright, indirect light.
Its dark green leaves, adorned with creamy white veins, add a captivating focal point to any indoor space. Propagating ivy from cuttings in water is a simple process, with roots typically emerging within two to three weeks. Remove lower leaves from the cutting and place them in a jar on a well-lit windowsill for optimal growth.
Opting to grow your windowsill herbs in water? Fragrant rosemary is perfect for hydroponic planting. Thriving on ample sunlight, ensure the herb receives a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily. With its upright growth habit, rosemary can attain heights ranging from 2 to 4 feet, characterized by woody stems and branching foliage.
Rooting in water typically takes two to six weeks. Utilize six-inch cuttings from fresh growth, ensuring submerged leaves are removed before submerging the stem in water. Position in a sunlit window and refresh the water daily, supplementing long-term growth with hydroponic fertilizer.
The String of Hearts enchants with its delicate heart-shaped leaves cascading gracefully. To cultivate it in water, take stem cuttings and place them in a vessel filled with non-chlorinated water, ensuring the nodes are submerged. Positioned in bright, indirect light, it thrives with a few hours of sunlight daily.
Refresh water every few weeks and supplement with hydroponic fertilizer for optimal growth. Its ethereal beauty and minimal care requirements make it a captivating addition to any indoor space, adding a touch of whimsy and elegance to windowsills or hanging planters.
8. Sweetheart Hoya
These Valentine's Day sweetheart plants, named for their thick, heart-shaped leaves, add charm to any space. To propagate them in water, select a healthy, established plant and take a cutting measuring five to ten inches, ensuring it has at least two nodes and five to six leaves.
Adding a few drops of fertilizer to the water monthly or using foliar fertilizer sprayed on the leaves supports their growth. Ensure the plant receives indirect sunlight to prevent leaf burn, maintaining temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit but not exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods, as excessive heat can be detrimental.
All varieties of begonia grow well in water, with rex and tuberous types particularly excelling. Simply taking a healthy stem cutting with a node ensures successful rooting, while even a single leaf can initiate the growth of a new plant.
Although it may take several weeks for root development to become visible, maintaining the health of the leaf and stem is crucial. Regular water changes are essential to prevent bacterial growth and subsequent rot. Patience is key throughout this process, ensuring the best outcomes for your begonias.
Pothos is an indoor plant prized for its vibrant foliage and adaptability. Its heart-shaped leaves, ranging from lush green to variegated patterns, bring elegance to any space. Remarkably, Pothos can grow in water alone, making it perfect for hydroponic setups or decorative aquatic displays.
Simply place cuttings in a container with clean water, ensuring a submerged node. With regular water changes and indirect light, Pothos grows vigorously, producing new leaves and trailing vines. Its rapid growth rate and low-maintenance nature make it a popular choice for both beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts.
The Snake Plant can be grown and rooted in water, offering an alternative growing method. To propagate, simply trim a healthy stem from the base and place it in water. Available in various species and cultivars, the plant features thick, narrow stems forming an upright rosette.
Thriving in partial sun to shade, they exhibit a spectrum of colors, ranging from green and gray to gold or a blend thereof. With its low-maintenance nature and captivating aesthetics, the Snake Plant adds a touch of natural elegance to any indoor space.
12. African Violet
Propagating African violets by growing their leaves in water is an effective method to clone the parent plant, though certain multicolor violets may produce offspring with solid color flowers. Opt for young, vigorous African violet leaves for starting new plants.
Cut the leaf with approximately two inches of stem and position it in a narrow-necked bottle, ensuring the leaf remains suspended and dry. Root development typically takes about a month. With time, a small plantlet will emerge, complete with its own crown, heralding successful propagation.
13. Dracaena
To grow Dracaena in water, start by selecting a healthy stem cutting from an existing plant. Trim the cutting to include a few inches of stem with at least one node, which is where roots will develop. Place the cutting in a container filled with clean water, ensuring the node is submerged.
Position the container in a well-lit area, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent algae growth in the water. Remember to change the water regularly to keep it fresh and provide nutrients for the developing roots. This method is convenient and visually appealing, suitable for hydroponic setups or decorative displays indoors.
Paperwhites, popular indoor plants in winter, feature clusters of fragrant white blooms. Forcing them to bloom indoors is a simple process: place the bulbs in a water dish filled with stones or marbles to stabilize them. Arrange the paperwhite bulbs with their pointed ends facing upwards atop the layer of stones.
Then, add another layer of stones to fill any gaps, almost covering the bulbs while ensuring their pointed tips remain visible. Grouping paperwhites together not only enhances their aesthetic appeal but also provides support. Expect blooms to last one to two weeks; for longer life, keep in cooler, dappled light.
Baby's Tears is a popular choice among indoor plant enthusiasts for its charming appearance and easy maintenance. With its dense, lush foliage of tiny, round leaves, Baby's Tears creates a beautiful carpet-like effect, perfect for terrariums or hanging baskets.
Simply take a cluster of stems, with or without roots, and observe how effortlessly this plant grows in water. However, because Baby's Tears produce numerous leaves along their stems, submerged leaves may deteriorate. To prevent this, change the water weekly, remove any floating leaves, and decrease water levels once roots are established.
16. Coleus
This beginner-friendly plant is easy to grow in water. Many gardeners prefer propagating coleus by taking cuttings, especially before the next growing season. Simply cut a section of the stem, removing the lower leaves, and place it in water. Within weeks, you'll witness roots forming, resulting in a fully established plant.
You can choose to continue growing coleus in water or transfer it to a pot with soil. Enhance its growth by adding compost tea to the water during monthly changes. Coleus does well in both full sun and shade and adapts well to container gardening and traditional garden beds.
Stingray Alocasia is a tropical plant prized for its distinctive foliage resembling the wings of a stingray. With large, arrowhead-shaped leaves featuring elongated lobes, it adds a dramatic flair to any indoor or outdoor space. Preferring bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, this plant thrives in humid conditions.
To transition your alocasia into water cultivation, start by removing it from its container and gently washing the soil off the roots. Submerge only the roots in water, ensuring they are fully covered. Change the water weekly to maintain freshness and prevent stagnation. Feed the plant water-soluble fertilizer every three weeks.
Named for its habit of folding its leaves upward at night, resembling hands clasped in prayer, the Prayer Plant adds a touch of dynamism to any indoor space. Its lively green leaves, adorned with intricate patterns of contrasting colors, offer a visually striking spectacle.
When a stem cutting is submerged in water, the plant is likely to develop roots and new foliage. To nourish water-grown specimens, apply water-soluble hydroponic fertilizer every three weeks. Regularly changing the water every two to three weeks ensures optimal growth. The ideal habitat for a prayer plant entails moist, well-draining soil.
19. Arrowhead Vine
Arrowhead vine is a versatile choice for indoor cultivation as it can thrive in both soil and water. Its leaf structure evolves as it matures, transitioning from a simple arrow shape to a more deeply lobed form. The range of leaf colors varies from dark green and white to lime green and bright pink.
To propagate, take stem cuttings from a mature plant, ensuring each cutting has at least one node. Submerge the cuttings in a container of clean water, making sure the nodes are covered.
Place the container in a spot with bright, indirect light. Change the water every one to two weeks to prevent stagnation and provide fresh nutrients to the plant.
Growing these tropical beauties in water can often be simpler than determining their water requirements in traditional orchid-growing mediums. The key to successfully growing orchids in water lies in ensuring only a portion of the root system is submerged. Orchids need their roots to dry out a bit.
Remove the orchid from its container, clear all growing medium from the roots, and gently untangle them, discarding any damaged ones. Place the orchid in a clean vessel filled with non-chlorinated water, covering 1/2 to 2/3 of its roots while keeping leaves dry.
Change the water every one to two weeks and provide support for stems if needed.
