51 Plants You Can Grow in Water

Growing plants in water is a fun way to grow new plants without using any soil.

All you need is a watertight container, some water, your plants, nutrients, air, and an area that offers light.

With this method, there’s no soil to deal with, and you won’t have to worry about watering them every day. Just remember to change the water every 2 to 3 weeks for the best results.

This article highlights 50 plants that grow well in water.

Vegetables

Here are 11 vegetables to grow in water:

• Cabbage
• Scallions (Green onions)
• Leeks
• Carrot
• Lettuce
• Napa Cabbage
• Spinach
• Sweet Potato
• Bok Choy
• Beet Greens
• Garlic

Don’t throw out these vegetable kitchen scraps. Instead, put them in jars of water to regrow them on your windowsill.

Yes, there’s no need to waste perfectly good carrot tops and green onions. Instead, try regrowing them in your garden or kitchen.

It’s a fun way to reuse parts of vegetables you typically discard, and it’s also a great way to get free produce.

Herbs

Almost any soft-stemmed herb will thrive in water. The key is to cut from the soft, green stem for the best results—not the woody stem.

However, woody-stemmed herbs will still survive, but take care to place them in a sunny spot. Woody-stemmed herbs tend to get mushy before they start taking root.

Additionally, don’t forget to give your herbs plenty of indirect light; they need all the help they can get to thrive. The roots will start sprouting from the stem in about 10 to 14 days.

Start planting your herbs in the dirt once their roots reach 2 inches long. But if you want to keep them in water, you can always upgrade to a larger jar to give the little roots more room to grow.

Here are the 17 most common herbs grown in water:

• Basil
• Lemongrass
• Mint
• Lemon Balm
• Oregano
• Cilantro
• Fennel
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Thyme
• Catnip
• Celery
• Ginger
• Rosemary
• Stevia
• Tarragon
• Lavender

Houseplants That Can Grow in Water

Looking for a low-maintenance way to grow houseplants? Lucky for you, there are a ton of indoor plants that can grow without soil.

You can even use some as centerpieces in vases or jars. Here are 23 house plants that grow in water:

• Philodendron
• Spiderwort
• Pothos
• Wandering Jew
• Dracaena
• Impatiens
• Spider Plant
• Arrowhead Plant
• Monstera
• Coleus
• Croton
• Begonia
• Caladium
• Paperwhite
• Lucky Bamboo
• Alocasia
• Hoya
• Chinese Money Plant
• Baby’s Tears
• English Ivy
• Prayer Plant
• Rubber Plant
• African Violet

Growing Requirements

If you want to put plants in water to grow, it’s not as hard as you might think. All you need is a watertight vessel to hold your cuttings or plants, and then you can add water and nutrients as needed.

Additionally, monitor your plants regularly to ensure that they’re getting enough light and air. And voila—in no time at all, you’ll have new growth.

Unchlorinated water is always best for plants. So, by letting tap water sit at room temperature overnight, your plants will get the most benefit from it. Plus, if you have rainwater straight from the sky, that’s even better.

Also, keep in mind that different plants need different levels of care. It all depends on the plant, the type of vessel, and the sunlight requirements.

Remember to also refill your water container regularly. The water will evaporate over time, so make sure to top it off every week or so.

Pour fresh water into the pots every two to three weeks, and throw away the water when it starts to have a murky look.

Now that we’ve covered the basic growing requirements, you’re ready to get going.

Care and Maintenance

To grow an indoor water garden, you can use almost any pot or container that will hold water.

Choose a container like a Mason jar, and you can easily create your own garden oasis. Just make sure the container is waterproof and that you avoid using any metal containers that might corrode.

After you select the perfect container, fill it up 3/4 of the way with gravel, sand, pebbles, beads, or any similar material that you think might work. Don’t forget to add a little powdered charcoal to keep the water clean-smelling and clear.

Water really doesn’t have many nutrients in it. And even the little bit there is will be used up quickly by your plants.

Therefore, since the plants can’t get access to the nutrients they would normally extract from the soil, you need to help them.

As a result, water your plants with liquid fertilizer to keep them growing. You can either add it periodically or choose a formulation designed specifically for hydroponics.

See also: Shade-Loving Plants.

Takeaway

Growing plants in water is possible as long as you provide them with what they need. No more dealing with messy soil, and you won’t even need to water your plants every day.

Besides, it is a fun way to increase your plant collection and spruce up your home. Not only do the plants add color and life to a room, but many houseplants also act as air purifiers.

Moreover, if you’re on a budget, consider regrowing your vegetables and herbs; it’s a great way to save money and get fresh produce.