Growing houseplants in water is a twist on the same plant properties, all grown up. Many houseplants are genetically programmed to form roots from plant pieces exposed to moisture. It’s a survival and propagation adaptation; one that you can take advantage of to multiply your houseplant collection at no expense.
Here are houseplants that can grow hydroponically, meaning they can survive without potting soil, in just a vase full of water. Not only is this dirt-free method pet-friendly and low-maintenance, but it also happens to produce some stunning arrangements.
As an aside, with each of these plants, they can develop root problems as they mature. Just make sure to keep an eye out for it.
If that does happen, shift them from water only to water/gel beads, or use expanding clay as a base layer so they can get oxygen.
When root problems occur in plants grown in water only, the cause is mostly a lack of oxygen. Fix that with water/gel beads or by using expanding clay. Both allow air to circulate around the roots.
African Violet
Growing an African violet in water from leaves is usually a good way to get a clone of the parent plant, although some multicolor violets will yield plants with solid color flowers. Choose young, healthy African violet leaves to start new plants. Cut the leaf with about two inches of stem, and place the leaf in a narrow-necked bottle that keeps the leaf suspended and dry. Roots take about a month to form. Over time a tiny plantlet will form, complete with its own crown.
Begonia
The thick, succulent stems of begonias are very forgiving when harvesting the stems to grow in water. Practice with hardy wax begonias, which have very knobby leaf nodes that form roots easily. Even the fancy rex begonias and tuberous begonias will grow in water, and only a single leaf is necessary to start a whole new plant. It may take a couple of months for roots to form, and it’s wise to perform weekly water changes to prevent bacteria that can lead to rot.
Impatiens
Impatiens are a standby for shade gardens, but sometimes it can be difficult to keep them moist enough. In fact, impatiens can grow as marginal pond plants, that’s how much they adore the water. Snip off a few stems at the end of the growing season, and overwinter them in a vase, where they will root and grow as clones of the parent plant. In the spring, you’ll have a free supply of impatiens to start your shade garden.
Philodendron
Remember that trailing philodendron stem your mom had in the windowsill that seemed immortal? This ultra-easy houseplant is a no-fail introduction to growing plants in water. An established philodendron won’t mind donating several of its stems to water cultivation, and they look very pretty scattered about in vases of different sizes and colors. Philodendron plants grow in all light situations, but if it seems like there is more stem than leaf growth on your plants, a brighter light placement will enhance stocky growth.