Are you tuned to the new trend in indoor houseplants? Growing plants in water has become very popular because it is easy, affordable and minimalist in look.
Imagine a clear jar with water and the beauty of the roots followed by stems and leaves. The visibility of the entire plant system is fascinating!
- What indoor plant can live in water?
Plenty of ornamental and common houseplants can be grown in water. When you think deeper about that, it is no doubt that this is possible because most plants grow roots in water before we plant them in soil. And why not turn the water into a growing medium?
- Can you keep plants in water forever?
Yes, you can but if you follow the next recommendations. First, change the water once a week. If you use tap water, leave it overnight to let the chlorine dissipate. Otherwise, use water with fewer minerals like rainwater.
In this post, we will lead you through the variety of plants that can best grow in water, including tips how to do it properly.
1. Coleus
All coleus varieties can be easily propagated and grown in water. Cut a stem approximately 6 inches long and remove the bottom leaves. Put the cutting in a glass or jar of water and in several weeks you will be able to see the roots.
This plant doesn’t like direct light so you can use it as a centerpiece on a side or dining table. To urge the thriving of this plant, add compost tea to the water with the month change.
2. Impatiens
It is great news that impatiens can also be grown in water because you can enjoy their beauty for quite a long time. They are one of those plants that love water.
All you need to do is to cut stems from a matured plant at the end of the season and clean the bottom leaves before you place them in a glass jar or vase filled with water.
Once spring comes, you can transplant the cuttings in the garden or leave them in the water medium.
3. Pothos
This is one of the best indoor plants to grow in water. You can find pothos with leaves variegated with white, pale green or yellow splashes.
The plant looks fantastic grown in pots and also in water. With its heart-shaped leaves that grow on a trailing stem, the pothos is a great choice to enrich the indoor houseplant collection.
Before placing the cutting into water, tear off the leaves on the lower part. Also, keep the water fresh to keep the oxygen level in the right amount.
4. African Violet
Similar to the impatiens, growing the African violet in water is the perfect and quick way to increase the number of plants in this variety.
To start with, choose the matured and healthy leaves that will be used to grow new plants. Cut the leaf together with two inches of its stem and then place it in a suitable container that will keep the leaf away from the water.
5. Philodendron
Philodendron is probably the easiest to adapt plant for growing in water. Take cuttings from a matured philodendron, clean the bottom leaves and place them in a jar of water.
The philodendron is not pretentious to light conditions but yet, if the stem grows and the leaves do not, then the plant needs more bright but indirect light.
via Retro Den
6. Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo is exotic, it brings luck and is a great addition to a zen or minimalist-inspired home decor. You have probably seen an indoor centerpiece from lucky bamboo woven into a spiral.
But have you noticed that usually there is gravel in the water container? That’s because the top parts of the plants become quite heavy and water can keep the steady, hence the white or colorful gravel to support them.
7. Chinese Evergreen
If you love indoor plants with variegated leaves, then you should get an aglaonema variety. All of them feature beautiful and pretty large leaves with natural splashes.
Aglaonemas can be grown as fantastic houseplant centerpieces in soil or in water. If you want to use as a centerpiece in a glass vase, take a cutting approximately six inches long from a healthy Chinese evergreen plant. Remove the bottom leaves and place the stem in the water.
To encourage the growth of the roots, you can add drops of liquid fertilizer every month. It is recommended to change the water every three or four days when the water looks blurry.
via House Plant 411
8. Spider Plant
The spider plant can be grown permanently in water. Take a cutting from a matured spider plant with scissors and place it in a container filled with water.
This plant develops roots very quickly. To encourage its growth, change the water every week and add drops of liquid fertilizer once a month.
9. Arrowhead Plant
All arrowhead plants can be easily grown in water. In time, you will see how its leaves change in texture. Cut a healthy stem from a matured plant right below a node and dip it in the water.
This plant also requires changing the water every week. To encourage its growth, keep the container in bright indirect sunlight and at a medium temperature.
10. Wandering Jew
This family of plants fascinates with the purple and white striped variegation on the small heart-shaped leaves.
When grown in water, the plant looks best in a tall glass container that follows the shape of the vine.
11. Dracaena
You may be surprised by this example in our collection of the best indoor plants grown in water. To start growing a dracaena in water, you need to cut a stem from an old healthy plant.
Leave the leaves at the top of the stem so that the part in the water is clean from leaves. It is important to change the water once a week.
Place the container at bright indirect light and at medium temperatures. These will encourage the algae growth and in approximately 2 months you will see the root system. Another helpful tip is to encourage the growth of the dracaena by adding drops of liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
12. Croton
Another plant variety that can be part of your indoor water garden is the croton. It adds a striking effect to the indoor houseplant collection with its variegated leaves with colorful speckles.
Mind that you cannot keep the croton cutting in the water forever. The cutting will feel well in this environment until it develops roots.
To encourage its growth, change the water often and fertilize once a month.
13. Begonia
The begonia is one of the flowering plants in our collection of best indoor water plants. Cut stems from a healthy matured plant and place them in a suitable container. A small glass jar is perfect for growing plants in water like begonia.
Once you see the water has changed its color, change it. The roots will develop in two months. This method is far easier and more affordable for propagating begonias compared to rooting in potting soil.
14. Paperwhite
Growing the paperwhite plant in water is the easiest way to encourage the plant’s bloom. Because of the bulb roots of this plant, you need to ensure support in the glass container. You can use seashells, gravel, or small river rocks at the bottom of the vase.
When grown in water, the best place for this plant is a spot with a cooler temperature and dappled light.
15. Ornamental Sweet Potato
This ornamental plant looks as amazing as part of the indoor water garden. It is a vining variety that develops wide heart-shaped leaves.
When propagated through rooting in water, the roots appear in 10 days. Cut a stem, and place it in a jar with a narrow neck to keep the leaves outside the water.
Change or refill the water every two or three weeks to maintain the environment free from algae and bacteria.
16. English Ivy
This is another climbing variety in the collection of indoor water plants. It can grow in water for a long time so it can be part of your indoor decor adding a beautiful nature-inspired statement.
The ivy plant cuttings feel well in water and develop roots in three weeks. Similar to the previous varieties, prepare the stem by taking off the leaves at the bottom of it before you place it in the container.
17. Caladium
Caladium is one of the most different varieties in the section of water indoor plants. It is famous for its wide leaves with red, pink, white, purple or green variegation and green edges.
Growing this plant in water means transplanting the entire plant into the water. Gently take the plant out of the pot with potting soil and clean the roots from it.
The roots should be under the water, and the foliage out of water. The best place for growing caladium in water is partial to full shade.
18. Alocasia
This is one of the best indoor plants that grow in water. You need a matured plant, a nice tall glass vase and tap or distilled water.
Similarly to the caladium, you need to gently take the plant out of the potting soil and clean it from the roots.
Wash them well with tap water and submerge the roots in the container. Place the plant in bright but indirect light and change the water once a week.
19. Ti Plant
This ornamental variety is also known as the good luck plant. To propagate it through cuttings in water, take a cutting from a mature healthy plant measuring five to eight inches in length.
Support the stem in the water garden with pebbles or gravel. They will also maintain the tap water dechlorinated.
The exotic plant cuttings will develop roots in three weeks. To stimulate their growth, add a liquid fertilizer once a month.
20. Sweetheart Hoya
Another amazing example of indoor plants that grow in water is the Valentine’s Day sweetheart plant. The name comes from the thick heart-shaped green leaves.
The plant can be part of your indoor water garden by planting a ten-inch cutting with at least two nodes and more than six leaves in a glass container with water.
Place the container in a spot with bright indirect light and change the water once it looks blurry.
21. Moth Orchid
Orchids can be easily grown in water. Keeping only part of the root system in water is the key to maintaining a healthy and blooming plant.
The distilled water should cover 1/2 to 2/3 of the roots of the orchid. Change the water every two weeks and add suitable fertilizer to the fresh water.
22. Prayer Plant
Prayer plant is another great variety you can grow in your indoor water garden. The key to growing a healthy plant is finding its best spot that mimics its original habitat.
The prayer plant should be kept out from strong direct light. The cuttings produce roots in the water container in 6 weeks.
23. Aluminum Plant
This is an easy-to-distinguish plant in our collection of indoor plants that can grow in water. Its leaves are variegated with grey speckles, hence the name.
The aluminum plant can be propagated through stem cuttings submerged in water. To give the baby plant the needed nutrients to grow, feed it with suitable fertilizer once a month. It is also very important to keep the water clean.
24. Chinese Money Plant
This plant looks amazing in clear glass containers. It is known as the Chinese money plant or coin plant because of the coin-shaped leaves.
You can transplant the entire plant in water or cut stems from a healthy plant to propagate it. To help the stem develop roots, you should give the plant the needed nutrients it gets from the potting soil so fertilizing once a month is a must.
via Living 4 Media
25. Diffenbachia
The last variety in our collection of indoor plants that can be grown in water is dieffenbachia. This tropical plant can’t reach the maximum of its height when grown in water.
Growing this plant in water means transplanting it into a water environment. Remove it from the potting soil and wash the medium from the roots.
Prepare a glass container filled halfway with distilled water and then place the roots in it. The best spot for the dieffenbachia is with filtered sunlight.
