Plants You Can Grow Indoors Without Soil
If you want fresh greenery inside but don’t have a green thumb, growing plants in water is a foolproof option. Hydroponic and aquatic plants are basically carefree compared to typical potted plants. As long as you keep their roots submerged, they’ll thrive with minimal effort on your part. From my experience, these water-only plants are perfect for small spaces or people who tend to forget to water their plants. Here are some top picks to get you started.
Pothos
Pothos is like the cockroach of houseplants – it’s practically indestructible! This vining plant is known to survive severe neglect. You can grow pothos in a glass jar, vase, or empty water bottle. Its heart shaped leaves come in different variegated colors like golden, marble queen and neon. Pothos is extremely low maintenance since it only needs to have its roots submerged in water. I’ve even seen pothos growing out of the tops of tanked aquariums! Its long trailing vines look lovely hanging from a shelf or trailing up a bookshelf. Pothos is probably the easiest plant to keep alive with zero effort.
Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen is another great choice if you want bold, tropical looking foliage without fuss. Its waxy leaves come in shades of dark green with cream or pink variegation. Chinese evergreen thrives in still water and tolerates low light. You can grow several stalks together floating in a jar or vase. It’ll add an exotic touch to any room. From my experiences growing all sorts of houseplants, Chinese evergreen stays consistently attractive with water culture.
Spider Plant
Spider plants have long strappy green leaves with tiny white/green baby plantlets growing off the leaves called plantlets or “pups.” These removable pups can be potted to multiply your spider plant colony quickly. Spider plants are super hardy – I’ve rescued several half dead spider plants that bounced right back to health submerged in water. You can grow spider plants hydroponically in a jar, letting the roots and plantlets hang freely. They’re low maintenance except for occasionally trimming off pups to propagate.
Water Hyacinth
For a true aquatic plant, check out the floating water hyacinth. Its thick, glossy round leaves and lilac flowers give it a tropical jungle vibe. Water hyacinth thrives floating in a bucket, outdoor pond or indoor aquarium. It quickly multiplies via runners. You basically cannot kill water hyacinth – I’ve seen carpets of it engulfing entire ponds! It does need sun though. Water hyacinth is a great option for anyone who loves the look of a pond or bog garden without the commitment of a water feature. Its flowers attract hummingbirds too, which is kind of dope.
English Ivy
English ivy escapes outdoors in warmer zones but makes a lush indoor hydroponic plant as well. Simply trail the stems of English ivy in a jar of water, letting the roots soak below. It’ll send out lateral vines and lush dark green leaves. English ivy tolerates low light and thrives on neglect. You can train the vining stems along a bookshelf, ledge or let it cascade down the side of an entertainment center. It adds instant greenery wherever you put it. English ivy is perfect for apartments or offices lacking natural light.
Peace Lily
The striking white blooms of peace lilies are a favorite among indoor gardeners, including myself. While peace lilies are typically potted, they can also thrive hydroponically in water. Just submerge the root ball in a jar, changing the water every couple weeks. Peace lilies signal when they need water by drooping their leaves. As long as you keep the filter clean, peace lilies grow great floating in aquariums too. Their flowers are stunning floating above aquatic plants. For people sensitive to toxins, be warned peace lilies are poisonous to pets if eaten.
Purple Waffle Plant
Purple waffle plant gets its name from its purplish green, ridged leaves shaped like waffle grids – pretty unique, right? While it has some soil requirements when young, an established purple waffle plant can survive solely in water. The ridges along its leaves trap water, so it stays hydrated longer suspended in a vase or jar like aquatic plants. Purple waffle plant color intensifies in brilliant sun. Its dramatic texture and hue make it a real showstopper among foliage houseplants.
Other Aquatic Plants
- Duckweed – Tiny green mats of duckweed multiply rapidly on the surface of standing water.
- Frogbit – Tiny lilypad shaped leaves float cutely on top of the water.
- Water Sprite – Feathery emerald leaves gently root in rippled mounds.
- Anacharis – Also called elodea, these thin wispy stems pump oxygen into the water.
So in summary, if you want carefree greenery without soil, try hydroponically growing the above plants by simply suspending their roots in water. They’ll thrive with only weekly top ups as long as roots stay submerged. From my own experiments, pothos and spider plants can go months without a fresh refill. You’ll add a relaxing, natural element to your space for minimal effort. Who knows, maybe you’ll get hooked on aquatic plants and graduate to an indoor bog someday! With ones like peace lily and water hyacinth, you might even attract hummingbirds to serenade you.
While water plants are lower maintenance than soil varieties, they still require light, clean water, and occasional trims. Be sure to research each species light and care needs. As always, start with the hardiest picks if you’re new to gardening. Consult sources like your local nursery, gardening blogs, or the book “Houseplants for a Healthy Home” for expert growing tips. With some trial and error you’ll become a hydroponic pro in no time! I hope this helps you find the perfect low maintenance floor, desk or tabletop plants to nurture your indoor jungle.
Hope this gives you enough options to get started expanding your collection in a low effort way. Let me know if you have any other plant questions! Growing things is super rewarding even for us black thumbs. Wishing you good luck and green fingers with your aquatic adventures. And remember, if a plant starts to look poorly it’s never too late for a fresh start just floating the roots in some clean water. Plants are pretty resilient – kinda like us humans sometimes!
Popular Indoor Aquatic Plants
| Plant | Description | Water Type | Light Needs | Care Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anacharis | Long green strands, fast growing | Tap, filtered, salt | Low to medium | Trim regularly, propagate by cuttings |
| Duckweed | Small rounded green leaves, spreads rapidly | Tap, filtered, salt | Low to medium | Acts as natural fertilizer, feeder plant for fish |
| Java Fern | Green waxy leaves, suitable for low-tech tanks | Tap, filtered | Low to high | Attach to rocks or wood, fertilize weekly |
| Water Hyacinth | Thick green leaves, beautiful pink or blue flowers | Tap, filtered | High | Rapid grower, divides easily, may need pruning |
FAQ
- What kind of plants can grow in water?
Lots of different plants can basically live just floating in a glass of water. Some common ones are pothos, peace lilies, lucky bamboo, spider plants, and philodendrons.
- How do I plant them in water?
It’s kinda simple – just remove the plant from its original pot, shake or brush off as much of the old soil as you can, and place the bare roots in a glass of water. Make sure the roots are fully submerged. You may need to trim them so they fit. That’s pretty much it!
- Do they need sunlight?
Surprisingly, yes – even though they’re growing in water instead of soil. Most underwater plants need at least indirect sunlight each day to photosynthesize and live. Putting them on a windowsill or near a grow light is best. Without light, they’ll become leggy and weak over time.
- How often do I change the water?
Most folks change the water every 5-7 days to keep it fresh. you can tell it’s time for a change when the water looks dirty or you see algae forming. Pour out the old water and replace it with fresh, room temperature water. Was that clear?
- How long will they live growing this way?
As long as their conditions stay good, water plants can kind of last forever! You just continue clipping off roots and trimming stems to keep them healthy. Some people have had the same pothos plants living in cups of water for like 10 years. Those hardy roots must bring back fond memories!
- Will they ever need repotting?
At some point, the roots may get kinda gnarly looking from being submerged for so long. You can replant the underwater plant into soil then. Or, if you notice it’s not thriving for no obvious reason, moving it to soil may give it a boost. So repotting is optional but can revitalize an older underwater plant. Neat!
- What are some other fun facts about water plants?
Did you know pruned cuttings from water plants will often grow into whole new plants? It’s amazing how tenacious those roots are. Decorating with water plants is also a great way to spruce up your space if you don’t have good soil or sunlight. But is it worth it in the long run compared to traditional potted plants? I dunno – what do you think?