48 Plants You Can Grow in Water

Many vegetables, herbs, and houseplants can produce roots or new growth in water. However, they don’t all grow the same way.

Vegetable scraps may only produce a few fresh leaves. Herbs and houseplants can form roots in water and later be moved to soil. Some plants can live in water for years, but they need nutrients and regular care.

Knowing the difference will help you get better results. This guide covers 48 plants you can grow, regrow, or root in water.

Different Ways to Grow Plants in Water

There are three main ways to grow plants in water:

• Regrow leaves or shoots from vegetable scraps.
• Root plant cuttings before moving them to soil.
• Keep plants in water long-term with added nutrients.

Before you begin, find out which method works best for your plant.

Vegetables You Can Regrow in Water

Several vegetable scraps can produce fresh leaves or shoots when placed in water. This is a fun way to reuse kitchen scraps, but most will not produce a full new vegetable in plain water.

Here are 12 vegetables you can regrow in water:

• Cabbage
• Scallions
• Leeks
• Carrot tops
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Napa cabbage
• Sweet potato
• Bok choy
• Beet tops
• Garlic
• Onions

Scallions and Leeks

Scallions and leeks are among the easiest vegetables to regrow. Place the white root end in a shallow glass of water. Keep the green part above the water.

Place the glass near a bright window and change the water often. You may see new green growth within a few days.

Lettuce, Cabbage, Celery, and Bok Choy

Lettuce, cabbage, Napa cabbage, celery, and bok choy can produce new leaves from their cut bases.

Place the base in a shallow dish with a small amount of water. Do not cover the entire base. These scraps usually produce only a little new growth. They are unlikely to grow into full-sized vegetables while sitting in water.

You can move them to soil after new roots and leaves appear. However, even after planting, they may not grow as large as a new plant grown from seed.

Carrot and Beet Tops

Carrot and beet tops can produce fresh leaves. However, a carrot top will not grow a new carrot, and a beet top will not grow a new beetroot.

The leafy growth can be used as a garnish if it is healthy and clean. This is also a simple project that can help children learn how plants grow.

Garlic and Onions

Garlic cloves and onion bottoms may produce green shoots in water. Keep only the root end in the water. Don’t submerge the whole bulb or clove, as it may rot.

You can cut and use a small amount of the green growth. However, garlic and onions usually need soil, space, and time to form new bulbs.

Sweet Potato

A sweet potato can produce roots and leafy shoots called slips.

Place the lower part of the sweet potato in water while keeping most of it above the water. Toothpicks can help hold it over the jar.

When the slips are several inches long, remove them from the sweet potato. Place the slips in water until they form roots. You can then plant them in warm soil.

Sweet potatoes need a long, warm growing season to produce a good harvest.

Do not expect a large supply of free food from vegetable scraps. Treat this as a fun growing project that may provide a small amount of fresh growth.

Herbs You Can Root in Water

Many herbs can form roots in water. Soft, green stems usually root faster than thick, woody stems.

Take a healthy cutting just below a leaf joint, also called a node. Remove the leaves from the lower part of the stem. Place the bare part of the stem in water, but keep the remaining leaves above the water.

Here are 13 herbs that may root or regrow in water:

• Basil
• Mint
• Lemongrass
• Lemon balm
• Oregano
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Thyme
• Catnip
• Rosemary
• Stevia
• Tarragon
• Lavender

Soft-Stemmed Herbs

Basil, mint, lemon balm, oregano, marjoram, catnip, and stevia are good choices for water propagation. Some may begin forming roots within one or two weeks.

Take a cutting from a healthy stem that has not started flowering. A stem that is growing leaves often roots more easily than one that is producing flowers.

Woody Herbs

Rosemary, thyme, sage, and lavender have woody stems. They may take several weeks to produce roots, and some cuttings may fail.

Take young, soft growth rather than an old, hard stem. Lavender can sometimes root in water, but many gardeners have better results using a light, moist growing medium.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass can regrow in water if the stalk still has its lower base attached.

Place the base in a shallow amount of water and keep the upper part dry. New roots and green shoots may appear. Move the stalk to soil once it has a healthy root system.

Cilantro, parsley, and fennel are not included because they do not reliably root from ordinary stem cuttings. They are usually grown from seed.

Keep herb cuttings in bright, indirect light. Once the roots are about 1 to 2 inches long, you can move the cuttings to potting soil.

Plants grown from cuttings are normally copies of the parent plant. This means the new plant should have the same main features as the plant from which the cutting was taken [1].

Basil and mint can remain in water for a long time. However, plain water does not contain all the nutrients they need. If you want to keep them in water, add a diluted hydroponic nutrient solution after they develop roots.

Houseplants You Can Grow or Root in Water

Many houseplants are easy to start in water. Some can remain there for months or years when given the right care and nutrients.

Here are 23 houseplants you may be able to grow or root in water:

• Philodendron
• Inch plant
• Pothos
• Dracaena
• Impatiens
• Spider plant
• Arrowhead plant
• Monstera
• Coleus
• Croton
• Begonia
• Lucky bamboo
• Hoya
• Chinese money plant
• Baby’s tears
• English ivy
• Prayer plant
• Rubber plant
• African violet
• Peace lily
• Swedish ivy
• Peperomia
• Polka dot plant

Easy Houseplants to Root in Water

Pothos, philodendron, inch plant, coleus, arrowhead plant, Swedish ivy, and Monstera are among the easiest plants to root in water.

Make sure each stem cutting has at least one node. A node is the small area where a leaf joins the stem. New roots often grow from this area.

Keep the node underwater, but do not let the leaves sit in the water.

Plants That Need a Different Method

Not every houseplant should be started from a regular stem cutting.

Spider plants are usually started from the small plantlets that grow from the parent plant. Place the base of the plantlet in water while keeping its leaves dry.

You can start African violets from a healthy leaf and its stem. Place the stem in water while keeping the leaf above the water.

Chinese money plants are often started from offsets or stem pieces. Peace lilies are usually divided rather than started from stem cuttings. A divided peace lily can be cleaned and moved to water, but it needs added nutrients for long-term growth.

Begonias and peperomias may be started from stem or leaf cuttings, depending on the type.

Houseplants That May Root Slowly

Croton, rubber plant, Dracaena, and Hoya cuttings may take longer to produce roots. Some cuttings may fail, so starting more than one can improve your chance of success.

Prayer plant and polka dot plant cuttings should include at least one healthy node. Keep them warm and give them bright, indirect light.

Caladium and Alocasia are not included because they are not the best choices for ordinary water propagation. Caladiums grow from tubers, while Alocasia plants are often grown from corms or divided roots. Both may rot if they remain too wet.

Paperwhites are also not included. Their bulbs can be placed over water and forced to bloom, but they are not normally kept as long-term water-grown houseplants.

How to Root Plant Cuttings in Water

Growing plant cuttings in water is simple, but choosing and preparing the right cutting makes a big difference.

Start with a healthy plant that has no signs of pests or disease. Use clean scissors or pruning shears to take the cutting.

For most plants, cut just below a node. A cutting should normally have at least one or two healthy leaves.

Remove any leaves that would sit below the water. Leaves left underwater may rot and make the water cloudy or smelly.

Place the cutting in a clean jar. Keep at least one node below the waterline. Set the container in a warm place with bright, indirect light.

Check the cutting often. Some plants root within days, while others take several weeks. Different plants root at different speeds.

Once a cutting has several healthy roots that are about 1 to 2 inches long, you can move it to potting soil. Keep the soil slightly moist for the first week or two while the plant adjusts.

There are also many plants that you can regrow from cuttings and scraps. Some form roots in water first, while others do better when planted directly in a growing medium.

What You Need to Grow Plants in Water

Growing plants in water does not require many supplies. You need a clean, watertight container, suitable water, and the right amount of light.

A glass jar makes it easy to watch the roots grow. However, light can enter clear glass and cause algae to form. Clean the jar when needed or place it inside a darker outer container.

Keep the plant in bright, indirect light. Strong, direct sunlight can heat the water, harm new roots, and help algae grow.

Rainwater or filtered water can work well. Tap water is also suitable for many plants.

If your tap water contains chlorine, letting it stand for a few days may allow some of the chlorine to escape. However, this will not remove chloramine [2].

Don’t submerge too much of the plant. In most cases, only the roots, node, or vegetable base should touch the water. Keep the leaves and most of the stem above the waterline.

Caring for Plants Growing in Water

Choose a jar, glass, or other container that can safely hold water. Avoid metal containers that may rust or react with fertilizer.

Change the water every three to seven days while roots are forming. Replace it sooner if it becomes cloudy or smells bad.

Gently rinse the roots and clean the container when changing the water. This helps control algae and unwanted bacterial growth.

Plain water may be enough for a cutting that will soon be moved to soil. However, it is not enough for most plants kept in water for a long time.

Plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In hydroponic growing, these nutrients are supplied through the water rather than through soil [3].

Use a nutrient solution made for hydroponic growing. Follow the product label and begin with a weak solution. Too much fertilizer can burn the roots or cause salts to build up.

Do not add fertilizer to a new cutting that has no roots. Wait until healthy roots have formed.

Practical Tips

• Start with healthy vegetable scraps or plant cuttings.
• Wash jars and cutting tools before using them.
• Keep all leaves above the waterline.
• Place at least one node underwater when rooting a stem cutting.
• Change the water every three to seven days.
• Replace cloudy or bad-smelling water right away.
• Keep the container away from hot, direct sunlight.
• Clean away algae when you see it.
• Move the plant to soil if its growth becomes weak.
• Use hydroponic nutrients for plants kept in water long-term.
• Check the roots for soft, dark, or rotten areas.
• Use separate jars until you know each cutting is healthy.

See also: Shade-Loving Plants.

Takeaway

Growing plants in water is a fun and low-cost way to start new plants or reuse kitchen scraps.

Scallions, lettuce, celery, carrots, and other vegetable scraps may produce a small amount of fresh growth. Herbs such as basil and mint can form roots before being moved to soil. Houseplants such as pothos, philodendron, and Monstera may live in water for much longer.

Remember that rooting a cutting is different from growing a plant in water for years. A cutting may only need clean water and light for a short time. A plant kept in water long-term will also need space, regular cleaning, and the right nutrients.

With proper care, you can use water propagation to grow more plants and add fresh greenery to your home.