I’ve had one growing in a jar on my windowsill for years—and it’s still going strong. No soil, no fuss, just water and a little love now and then. These easygoing beauties can handle life in a vase like pros.
Perfect if you’re into low-effort greenery that still looks great. Trust me, once you try one, you’ll want a few more floating around.
1. Pothos
This golden-streaked beauty is the ultimate beginner’s water plant. Its trailing vines can reach impressive lengths with just occasional water changes and a dash of liquid fertilizer every few months.
Place a cutting in water, and you’ll see roots forming within days. Pothos tolerates low light conditions beautifully, making it perfect for bathrooms or offices where other plants might struggle.
2. Lucky Bamboo
Despite its name, this plant isn’t actually bamboo but a type of Dracaena that’s associated with good fortune in many Asian cultures. The stalks can be trained into spirals, braids, or other decorative shapes as they grow.
Maintenance couldn’t be simpler – just keep the roots covered with water and provide indirect light. Some specimens have lived in water for decades, growing taller and adding new shoots year after year.
3. Peace Lily
Known for its elegant white blooms, the peace lily transitions beautifully from soil to water culture. Unlike many water plants, it actually produces flowers regularly when grown hydroponically, adding a touch of sophistication to any room.
The roots will spread throughout the container, creating an interesting visual element. Just make sure the container is opaque or add activated charcoal to prevent algae growth that could harm this stunning plant.
4. Spider Plant
Famous for its arching leaves and baby plantlets, the spider plant adapts wonderfully to water growing. The little “spiderettes” that dangle from the mother plant root quickly when placed in water, making propagation incredibly easy.
You’ll notice the roots developing a fascinating structure unlike their soil-grown counterparts. The plant’s natural air-purifying abilities continue working even in water, helping clean indoor air of common toxins.
5. Chinese Evergreen
With its striking patterned leaves, this tropical beauty brings color and texture to water gardens. The Chinese Evergreen develops an extensive root system that becomes an attractive feature when displayed in clear containers.
Cuttings taken from established plants root readily in water and can live this way indefinitely. The plant’s tolerance for lower light conditions makes it versatile for placement throughout your home, even in spots where other plants might struggle.
6. Wandering Jew
The vibrant purple undersides of this plant’s leaves make it a showstopper in water displays. Its rapid growth means you’ll quickly have a cascading waterfall of colorful foliage spilling from your container.
The striped leaves develop more intense coloration when given bright, indirect light. Place a few cuttings in water, and within days, you’ll see roots forming at the nodes, ready to sustain the plant for years with just occasional water refreshing.
7. English Ivy
This classic climber transitions beautifully to water culture, where its elegant vines can be trained along shelves or allowed to cascade down. The distinctive lobed leaves maintain their rich green color even without soil nutrients.
Ivy develops an impressive root structure in water that’s fascinating to observe. Unlike soil-grown specimens that can become dry and brittle indoors, water-grown ivy maintains lush, flexible stems and vibrant foliage year-round.
8. Philodendron
Whether you choose the heart-leaf variety or split-leaf types, philodendrons thrive spectacularly in water. Their aerial roots are naturally designed to absorb moisture from the air, making the transition to water culture seamless.
The plant’s adaptability is remarkable – it will adjust its growth patterns to suit its watery home. You’ll notice new leaves emerging regularly, often with deeper coloration and glossier finish than their soil-grown counterparts.
9. Coleus
The kaleidoscope of colors in coleus leaves makes this plant a spectacular choice for water growing. Each variety brings unique patterns of burgundy, green, yellow, and pink that seem to intensify when grown hydroponically.
A stem cutting placed in water will develop roots within days, quickly establishing itself. The plant continues producing new growth from the stem tips, creating a bushier appearance over time without any need for pruning or soil amendments.
10. Mint
This aromatic herb thrives so well in water that it often outperforms its soil-grown cousins. The vigorous root system develops quickly, supporting lush foliage that you can harvest regularly for culinary uses.
Unlike many herbs, mint doesn’t become leggy or weak when grown in water. Place it near a sunny window, and you’ll have an endless supply of fresh leaves for teas and cooking, all without the invasive spreading that makes mint notorious in garden beds.
11. Arrowhead Plant
The distinctive arrow-shaped leaves of this plant create an architectural element in water displays. Young plants have simple leaf shapes, while mature specimens develop more complex, deeply lobed foliage with interesting variegation.
The arrowhead plant develops an extensive network of fine white roots that create a beautiful contrast against clear glass. With minimal care, it continues producing new leaves from the central growing point, gradually becoming fuller and more impressive.
12. Sweet Potato Vine
Starting with just a sweet potato and a glass of water, you can grow a stunning ornamental vine that will thrive for years. The heart-shaped leaves come in varieties ranging from bright chartreuse to deep purple, adding dramatic color.
The plant produces an impressive root structure that becomes a feature itself in clear containers. Unlike many water plants that grow from cuttings, the sweet potato continuously sends energy from its tuber to fuel rapid, lush growth.
13. Basil
This kitchen favorite adapts surprisingly well to water culture, producing aromatic leaves you can harvest for months. Unlike soil-grown basil that often becomes woody and bitter, water-grown specimens maintain tender stems and sweet flavor longer.
Start with a cutting from an existing plant, and you’ll see roots forming within days. The plant will continue producing new leaves from the growing tip, creating a bushier appearance as you harvest the lower leaves for culinary use.
14. Begonia
The stunning leaf patterns and colors of begonias translate beautifully to water growing. Rex varieties with their swirling patterns and metallic highlights are particularly spectacular when displayed in clear glass containers.
A single leaf cutting placed in water will develop tiny plantlets along the cut edges, eventually growing into full plants. The process of watching these new plants emerge from a single leaf is fascinating and makes for an engaging display.
15. Impatiens
These popular bedding plants transition beautifully to indoor water culture, continuing to produce their cheerful blooms year-round. The succulent stems absorb water efficiently, supporting both foliage and flower production without soil.
A cutting taken before frost can be kept flowering indoors all winter in just a glass of water. With bright, indirect light, impatiens develop a bushier growth habit in water than they typically do in garden beds.
16. Dracaena
With their striking architectural form, dracaenas make dramatic statements in water displays. The tall, woody stems topped with fountain-like leaf clusters create instant impact in any room.
Simply cut the top from an existing plant and place it in water to root. The plant will maintain its upright growth habit, continuing to produce new leaves from the central growing point while developing an extensive root system below the water line.
17. Moses-in-the-Cradle
The dramatic contrast between this plant’s purple undersides and green topsides makes it a standout in water displays. Each leaf forms a cradle-like shape that gives the plant its common name and creates interesting reflections in glass containers.
Cuttings root readily in water, quickly establishing themselves without the fungal issues that sometimes plague soil-grown specimens. The plant maintains compact growth, producing new leaves from the center that unfurl with vibrant coloration.
18. Paperwhite Narcissus
These fragrant bulbs perform beautifully in water, often producing stronger stems than when grown in soil. The starry white blooms create a dramatic display above the clear water, with the added bonus of watching the fascinating root development.
Simply place the bulbs on decorative stones or glass marbles with water just touching the base. They’ll send down roots while pushing flower stalks upward, blooming for weeks before entering dormancy to potentially rebloom next season.
19. Croton
The psychedelic leaf colors of crotons become even more intense when grown in water. The fiery oranges, reds, and yellows seem to glow against the transparency of glass containers, creating living art displays.
Cuttings develop roots slowly but surely, eventually supporting new growth. The plant maintains its compact, bushy form in water culture, with each new leaf unfurling to reveal its unique pattern of splashy colors.