Houseplants that grow in water in America are a terrific hobby for inexperienced gardeners (excellent for kids, too!), those with limited room or intolerance to filthy earth, and those with trouble watering their plants. This technique of plant cultivation is not only minimal maintenance but also resistant to disease and pests.
The easy growth of many plants in water makes it a popular technique of plant multiplication. Some people choose to repot houseplants in containers like bottles or jars.
An indoor water-based garden may comprise anything from a few growing house plants in water sitting on the kitchen ledge to cuttings from existing houseplants placed in bottles and covering every surface.
House Plants That Grow in Water
1. African Violet
A clone of the original plant may typically be obtained by growing an African violet in freshwater from its leaves, while some multicolored violets will produce plants with blooms of a single hue. To establish new plants, choose African violet leaves that are fresh and healthy.
Cut the leaf off at the stem, leaving approximately two inches, and put it in a container with a small neck so it may hang freely and stay dry. It takes a month for roots to develop. A little plantlet with a new crown will eventually develop.
2. Philodendron
The heart-leafed philodendron is the most suited to growing in water of all the philodendron species in the United States. Keep a 6-inch-long cutting in a bowl or jar made of transparent glass in a spot with plenty of indirect light. It will continue to grow if the water is changed every 3 to 4 days.
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3. Arrowhead Plant
The arrowhead plant is quite easy to cultivate indoors in water, much like other vining and climber plants. Biweekly, keep adding fresh water, and it will keep expanding. When the cutting develops new roots, you may transfer it all into potting soil if you’d like.
4. Croton
Of all the houseplants, croton has the most striking leaves. It’s a wonderful houseplant for kids’ rooms as well. Although it might not grow in water indefinitely, you can utilize this technique to root the cuttings.
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5. Pothos
The houseplant that is simple to cultivate thrives in water. Auxin, a hormone that controls plant development and encourages the formation of roots, is abundantly produced by pothos. To hasten development, many growers of houseplants combine pothos cuttings with some other stems you want to propagate.
Additionally, it is a vining plant that develops aerial roots, making rooting it out much simpler. The only thing these roots need to experience water is a growth surge. Any vining plant, including English ivy, hoyas, and monstera, behaves in the same way.
6. Chinese Evergreen and Dumbcane
Chinese Evergreen and Dumbcane plants can be cultivated in water and have variegated, leathery leaves with a silvery pattern. The cuttings may be propagated in a clear vase with tiny aquarium pebbles.
7. Lucky Bamboo
The fortunate bamboo is among the greatest water-grown indoor plants and is well known for its tolerant character. Depending on the size, this plant looks great in narrow vases.
Assemble some pebbles around the roots for a secure placing, and ensure they are immersed in water.
8. Baby’s Tears
A thick but delicate trailing mat is created by the multitude of tiny leaves that baby’s tears plants grow on their creeping vines. Watch how quickly this plant adjusts to growing in water by pinching off a group of stems, either with or without roots.
A baby’s tears plant produces a lot of leaves along its stems. Therefore, leaves that are drenched often may start to rot. Once the roots are adequately formed and supply the plant with moisture, you may let the water level decrease and change the water every week to eliminate unwanted floating leaves.
9. Spider Plant
Spider plants have unusual-looking infant spiderettes and slender, arching leaves. Once your cuttings have taken root, you may either leave them in a glass container forever or transplant them into a new pot. Alternate the water every two to three days.
10. Begonia
The thick succulent stems are pretty forgiving when collecting begonia stems to grow in water. Work on your root formation skills with resistant wax begonias with highly knobby leaf nodes.
Even the extravagant tuberous and rex begonias will flourish in water; all it takes is one leaf to establish an entirely new plant. The formation of roots may take a few months. Therefore, it’s advisable to make weekly water adjustments to avoid germs that might cause rot.
11. Wandering Jew
In warm regions, wandering Jews are hardy plants that proliferate like weeds. They are coveted houseplants because of their unique variegated and purple colors. The most admirable aspect is that you can cultivate them in terrariums with water.
12. Coleus
It’s simple to create a whole garden around the purple, chartreuse, and orange leaves of the tropical plant since so many new coleus types are introduced to the market each spring.
Since coleus plants are simple to reproduce and develop in water, you may raise a colony of these attractive houseplants for a fraction of the cost as their popularity has risen.
Cut the leaves from the end four inches of a six-inch cutting. After many weeks, the cutting will start to produce roots if you place it in a bottle or water-filled vase. Your coleus plants will flourish if you add a little amount of compost tea to their water when you replace it every month.
13. Dracaena
Numerous indoor dracaena species can withstand growing in water. They do well in narrow jars and glass jugs. Just keep in mind to drink water free of fluoride and chlorine.
Additionally, be sure to change the water in the container 2 or 3 times each week and never let it grow murky or mushy.
14. English Ivy
The next plant for your indoor water garden might be English ivy. Its cuttings may be grown for a very long period in vases. Take an ivy stem, cut off all the bottom leaves, put them in a glass container, and appreciate it on a sunny windowsill.
15. Impatiens
Impatiens are a go-to plant for shady gardens, but keeping them sufficiently hydrated may sometimes be challenging. Because they love the water so well, impatiens may even become marginal pond plants.
After the growing season, cut a few stems and store them in a vase for the winter. The stems will take root and develop into clones of the original plant. You will have a constant source of impatiens to begin your shadow garden in the spring.
16. Paperwhite
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs may be readily forced to bloom by growing them in water. Use a glass terrarium for this, and fill one-fourth of it with shells and gravel. To secure the bulbs to their location, position them carefully and cover 50% of them with gravel.
After that, add water to the terrarium until it reaches the base of the bulbs without actually soaking them. All you have to do is maintain them in a light area, and in 4-5 weeks, they will begin to bloom.
17. Decorative Sweet Potatoes
Your kitchen windowsill can take on a tropical feel if you place a decorative sweet potato vine inside a glass jar. Remove the bottom leaves from a few 6 to 8-inch-long stems, trim them underneath the leaf node, and then partially immerse the stems in water. It will grow if the water is changed often.
18. Caladium
Caladiums may be easily cultivated in water. Keep the aquatic plant on the tops of dining tables, desks, and tabletops for a fashionable appearance.
19. Alocasia
After extracting the offsets and clumps with a clean knife, you may grow aloe in glass jars with clean water.
20. Spiderwort
More than any other low-care plant can, spiderwort plants fulfill a color void in the collection of houseplants. The purple-leafed cultivar and the zebra-striped variation are well-suited to indoor life and provide an attractive focal point in spaces with moderate lighting.
You may detect root nubs just starting to sprout if you look attentively at its leaf nodes across a spiderwort stem. You may quickly produce spiderwort offspring to add to the collection by placing several stems in a vase or mason jar filled with water.
21. Ti Plant
Remove the bottom leaves from a healthy plant’s cutting, which should be between 5 and 8 inches long, and place them in a fresh vase or water-filled container.
22. Satan’s Ivy
This robust vining plant, called the golden pothos, has lovely heart-shaped leaves with green and yellow variegation. The stems of this plant trail downward as they develop because of its vining tendency.
Use the stems’ pendulous growth to your advantage by setting them in a taller vase, a wall-mounted container, or even on a shelf where they may fall. It grows vertically if given anything to climb, such as a pole coated with moss.
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Tips for Water Plant Growth
Just about any container that can hold water may be used to grow an indoor water garden. As previously indicated, plants grown in bottles are a popular method, but almost any watertight container will do—with the exception of those made of brass, copper, or lead. When metals react with fertilizer, they may corrode and harm plants.
Additionally, an opaque or dark container will aid in limiting the growth of algae. Once you’ve chosen the right container, fill it 3/4 full with pearl chips, gravel, marbles, beads, pebbles, sand, crushed Styrofoam, or any other comparable material that appeals to your creative side. To keep the water pure and odor-free, sprinkle in a tiny amount of small pieces or powdered charcoal.
Finally, combine a water-diluted fertilizer solution with water with a water-soluble fertilizer in a quantity equal to one-fourth of the manufacturer’s recommended.
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The Ideal Pots for Water-Growing Plants
Plants may be grown in any glass, jar, bottle, vase, or container. Make an effort to choose containers that are appropriate for the plant size.
A freshly cut stem may need a little bottle or even a shallow bowl of water, but as it develops, it will want a bigger container. Here are some suggestions for containers to grow indoor plants in water:
- Vases: Vases are available in a multitude of styles, dimensions, and hues. They may be made of glass, earthenware, or any other substance. Just make sure they are watertight to prevent leakage. You should use a vase with a short neck for one or two stems to assist in keeping the plant erect.
- Jars: Who doesn’t have a disorganized assortment of glass jars stashed away in a basement, kitchen, or pantry corner? Use these jars as permanent homes for houseplants or as containers to grow root cuttings.
- Glasses: Broken glasses shouldn’t be thrown out with the trash. They can be stuffed with little pieces of foliage instead.
- Test Tubes: Test tubes are one of the most popular methods to showcase indoor plants in water. These may be purchased online, in scientific supply stores, or through labs. Additionally, replica test tube sets for plants exist. The thin tubes make great plant propagators when you are rooting plant clippings in water or displaying a collection of solitary stems. Similar goods are also available with wooden supports and glass lamps.
- Wall Vessels and Vases– Since aquatic plants don’t need direct sunlight, they may be positioned in wall-mounted vases and jars. There are many sizes and designs to choose from, including hanging glass globes, wall-mounted vases, and test tubes placed on wood.
Conclusion
House plants that grow in water can be the best option for beginners or people who don’t want to deal with the mess of soil indoors. If you’re a newbie plant enthusiast, don’t worry! Start with any of the above houseplants that grow in water in the United States, and then take it from there!
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Hi! I’m Sophia, and I love plants – especially an expert in growing house plants. I stay in Chicago, United States of America, and through my blog and social media platforms, provide tips and tricks on how to grow healthy, vibrant plants indoors. Check out more here.