10 Great Indoor Plants That Grow In Water – No Hydroponics Needed

People who do not want to grow plants in pots and handle all those troubles with potting soil, watering schedules, re-potting, pruning, etc. should be looking for indoor plants that grow in water. You are on the right page if you were looking for house plants that grow in water and need little to no maintenance.

We have here a nice selection of plants that grow in water vases or other types of containers without needing hydroponic systems. The best part is that you can propagate new plants from established ones, as they will take root in water.

If you want to learn more about propagation, check out our guide on how to propagate succulents. It is a good step forward, as you can apply many of the methods mentioned there to other plants. So let’s begin our quest to present you with great indoor plants that grow in water.

Of all philodendron varieties out there, the heart-leaf type is one of the easiest plants to grow in water.

• If you already have a philodendron at home, take a cutting of about 6 inches and put it in a clear bowl, jar, or vase.
• As long as you keep it in bright indirect light, you shall have a new philodendron in about 4 days.
• Just don’t change the water in the meanwhile!

For more information on how to care for philodendrons, check out our easy philodendron care guide!

Spiderwort – or the Wandering Jew plant – is a gorgeous and easy-to-maintain hanging plant. With its heart-shaped variegated green and purple leaves, it makes a spectacular addition to your home. What is better, is that it is one of the fastest plants that grow in water. It is also a great indoor plant with a dark color that fits a gothic owner.

• All you need are a couple of cuttings to put in a jar with water.
• If you want a bigger plant, grow about six cuttings in a larger vase.
• No matter how you proceed, you should know that this plant will show off some roots and sprouts in about 24 to 48 hours.

Put it on a bookshelf for a flowing piece of greenery or make it a statement piece on a coffee table.

One of the plants that are hard to kill but easy to maintain by even the most novice gardeners, the Chinese evergreen plant grows very well in water.

• You need 6 inches cut from the mother plant to propagate it.
• As long as you cut the stem just beneath a set of leaves, you should be fine.
• Put the cut into a jar with water and leave it on a windowsill to help it get some moderately bright light.

You should see the first roots coming out in about two weeks. Also, be mindful of when to water it to support its rapid growth. You can transplant it into a pot if you want or move it into a larger water container. In case it becomes too voluminous for your tastes, just trim it back into shape. The colors on this plant will become your home’s main attraction, that is for sure!

We have talked about geraniums in our guide on the best drought-tolerant plants for dry climates, so it makes sense these adorable flowers are also amazing plants that grow in water only. They are hardy, thirst-resilient, and yield amazing scented leaves and colorful flowers.

• Take a geranium and get a 4-6 inch cutting from below a leaf stalk, not a flowering one.
• Make sure you cut just below the node.
• Place the cutting in a water vase and wait for a month.

Your baby Geranium should start showing its roots by then. The best way to treat your new Geranium is to plant it outside in your garden if you don’t want to keep it in a pot inside the house.

⇒ Read our Guide on How to Grow & Care for Geraniums

One of the most enduring and low-maintenance plants to have indoors, the English Ivy is an excellent choice for plants that grow in water and need little of your time. It is one of the most versatile and useful plants out there:

• Put it in the bedroom to purify your air and remove formaldehyde, benzene, and other toxins from your home;
• It makes a great addition to your vertical garden in a small space as you can use it as a hanging plant from a shelf, for instance;
• You can build an entire indoor garden design around it, no matter if you grow it in water or you put it in a pot.

As growing in water goes, take a cutting from your English Ivy and put it in a glass of water or a jar. Make sure you get a cut of about 6 inches off the end of the stem and include at least 3-4 leaf sets in the cutting.

You should see the first roots in about 4 to 6 weeks. After that, you can transfer it into a container with proper potting soil, but you can leave it in water as well.

This is not bamboo at all, as we already mentioned, but it is still one of the easiest plants to grow in water in any indoor environment – home or office. Because of its tough stalks, the Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) also has the reputation of being one of the most resilient plants out there.

You have seen it in pots but you also stumbled upon it in tall transparent vases. It is one of the most beautiful and low-maintenance plants, and even under low-light conditions, that grow in water. According to Chinese mythos, it brings luck and prosperity to its owner.

• Take a Lucky Bamboo stalk and place it in a transparent water container with a few pebbles on the bottom.
• To grow this plant in water without putting it in soil, remember to replace the water every 2-3 weeks.

Just like with aquariums, clean the pebbles and the vase each time you refresh the water.

Begonias are plants that grow from cuttings in the water and even remain in the water container for a long time without making a fuss. We recommend you check out the American Begonia Society for more information on Begonia types and growing tips!

• You need a tall begonia for cutting, as you need to remove a 4 inches piece of the stem just beneath a node.
• Remove the leaves from the stem (let a couple, though, on the top end).
• Place the stem in a small jar and wait for about a month.

Begonias will show their roots then and be happy to stay in a water vase, entertaining you with their beautiful colors and the summer vibe they offer to anyone who stops to admire them.

Pick the coleus varieties that suit your fancy and propagate them in water. From their orange, purple, or chartreuse leaves to their low maintenance requirements, you cannot go wrong with coleus if a plant that grows in water with no hassle is what you want.

• Take a cutting of about 6 inches making sure it is below a leaf node.
• Gently remove the leaves at the bottom end of the stem and put the cutting in a glass of water.
• Leave it on a windowsill for some natural light and wait for the roots to come out in a couple of months.

This eye-catching plant makes an excellent addition to your indoor garden and resists well if you keep it in a vase for a while. If you want it to thrive, add some compost tea to the water during the monthly water change.

Echeveria is one of the most successful succulent candidates for water propagation as long as you use the leaf pulling method.

You can choose the best types of Echeveria for this experiment and give it a try. If successful, you can keep your gorgeous succulent in a beautiful glass container for years in case you don’t want to transfer it into a pot. Just make sure you offer it enough light to thrive.

Our last entry (for now) on our list of best plants that grow in water is the majestic African Violet. Just like the Echeveria above, this is an excellent plant to clone from leaves.

• Make sure you cut the leaf keeping at least 2 inches of the stem.
• Place the stem in a bottle of water.
• Pay attention to the bottle you choose, as it has to have a narrow neck to hold the stem upright and the leaf dry.

This is it. Wait for about a month to see the first roots. Over time, you will enjoy a fully grown plant – crown and all – that you can keep in a larger water container. The colors of this plant will keep you happy for ages!

As you probably know, many indoor herbs and spices grow in water containers with no problems. Lettuce and other vegetables are also excellent candidates for water propagation and keeping. But they make the subject of another guide or an update to this one, depending on your preferences as well.

Now, it is time for you to share your thoughts and opinions! Do you have plants that grow in water at home? What is your favorite? What tips can you share so we can all enjoy them for longer times in their stylish glass jars and vases? Let us know in the comment section below! Until next time, may the green odds be ever in your favor!