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How To Grow Plants In Water?
Many houseplants grow happily in a jar of plain water, including pothos, philodendron and spider plants. Learn which plants work and how to keep them healthy.
To grow a plant in water, cut a healthy stem just below a node, strip the lower leaves and set it in a clean jar of water in bright, indirect light. Change the water every 1 to 2 weeks and feed lightly each month. Pothos, philodendron and spider plants are the easiest.
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You do not always need soil to grow a houseplant. Plenty of common plants will root and keep growing in nothing but a jar of water on a windowsill.
It works because roots need water, air and nutrients, not soil itself. In clean water with a little fertilizer, many plants grow water roots that are adapted to life without soil. It is an easy way to propagate, and a pretty way to display plants.
Plants that grow well in water
| Plant | How easy |
|---|---|
| Pothos | Very easy, roots in 2 to 4 weeks |
| Philodendron | Very easy |
| Spider plant babies | Very easy |
| Tradescantia | Very easy, roots in about a week |
| Lucky bamboo | Easy, can live in water long term |
| Monstera cuttings | Easy, but slower |
| Basil and mint cuttings | Easy, roots in 1 to 2 weeks |
Plants that store water, such as succulents, aloe and cacti, do not do well sitting in water. They tend to rot.
How to grow a plant in water step by step
- Take a healthy cutting. Cut a stem 4 to 6 inches long, just below a node, the small bump where a leaf meets the stem. Roots grow from nodes.
- Remove the lower leaves. Any leaves below the waterline will rot, so strip them off.
- Use a clean jar of water. Room temperature tap water left out overnight works well. Rainwater is even better.
- Place it in bright, indirect light. Direct sun heats the water and encourages algae.
- Wait for roots. Most cuttings show roots in 1 to 4 weeks.
How to keep plants healthy in water
Change the water every 1 to 2 weeks, or sooner if it looks cloudy. Rinse the jar and any slimy roots gently under the tap.
Water has no nutrients, so plants growing long term need a little food. Add a few drops of liquid houseplant fertilizer, at about a quarter of the normal strength, once a month.
Top up the jar as water evaporates, keeping the nodes covered but most of the stem above water.
Water propagation versus soil
Water rooting is easy and fun, because you can watch the roots form and see exactly when they are ready. The downside is that water roots are a little different from soil roots. When you move a cutting from water to soil, it can sulk for a few weeks while it adapts.
Starting a cutting straight in moist soil skips that step, but you cannot see what is happening. Many gardeners use water for easy plants and soil for tricky ones.
To move a cutting into soil, wait until roots are 1 to 2 inches long. Plant it in a small pot and keep the soil a little more moist than usual for the first 2 to 3 weeks.
For more on these plants, see our guides to pothos and monstera. Herb lovers can try it with basil too.
Growing In Water FAQ
Can pothos grow in water forever?
It can live in water for years if you change the water regularly and add a little liquid fertilizer each month.
Can aloe vera grow in water?
Not well. Aloe stores water in its leaves and tends to rot when its base sits in water. Root it in dry, gritty soil instead.
How often should I change the water for plants growing in water?
Every 1 to 2 weeks, or whenever it looks cloudy or smells bad.
We turn horticulture research and real growing experience into plain-English watering schedules you can actually follow.