20+ Beautiful Plants That Grow in Water

Hydroponics is to grow plants in water. The difference between growing plants in water and soil is the substrates. In fact, plants can grow well no matter what kind of culture substrate they are in, as long as they can provide the necessary conditions for plant growth, including sunlight, temperature, water, air and various elements. Even if you plant it in the palm of your hand, the flower will bloom in your hand with these conditions.
The advantages of hydroponic plants: they are attractive, clean, have few limitations in container selection, and do not use traditional fertilizers.
Hydroponic plants are easy to care for, which can also act as a natural humidifier in your home during the dry winter months. Don't worry about your hydroponic plants. Pinch a branch, wash the roots, change the water... It's easy to take care of. Which plants should we choose for hydroponics? How do you care for hydroponic plants? Here are 20+ best plants that grow in water to try at home.

Water Plants List with Pictures

Aluminum Plant

Aluminum Plant is an evergreen perennial in the family Urticaceae, also known as the Pilea cadierei. Aluminum Plant usually grows in soil. Hydroponic Aluminum Plant is relatively rare, and many people do not know that this plant can be completely hydroponic. The bright color and silver-white stripes of the Hydroponic Aluminum Plant are more clear, which makes it more beautiful against the clear water and delicate containers.
Learn more about how to grow Aluminum Plant in water here.

Arrowhead Plant

You may know of arrowhead plant by one of its other various names, such as five fingers, American evergreen, nephthytis, or goosefoot vine. Arrowhead vine is lovely in water container or hanging basket by itself, or with a companion plant. Most Arrowhead Plants have variegated leaves that evolve as the plant matures from a simple arrow shaped structure, into a divided, long-lobed leaf. Growing arrowhead plant in water is really easy. Simply popping the cutting into a glass of water is probably the most common method. The node will need to always remain below the surface of the water with the leaves hanging on the lip of the glass or whatever container you choose to use.
Learn more about how to grow Arrowhead Plant in water here.

Baby's Tears Plant

Baby Tears Plant is a creeping perennial with small, bright green leaves, ideal for a pot flower background. Baby Tears Plant is a popular small foliage plant grown for ornamental purposes. Baby Tears Plants are adaptable, easy to grow in water with small and elegant plant clusters, clear green and white leaves, beautiful patterns.
Lear more about Baby Tears Plant care here.

Basil Plants

Basil plant is one of the easiest plants to grow in water. If you propagate it with seeds, roots will sprout slowly. If you cut a stem from a potted plant and insert it into the water, it is easy to root. When growing Basil plant in water, pay attention to do not let leaves soak in water and change water every day.
Learn more about Basil plant care here.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonemas)

Chinese Evergreen can grow in water and it takes root fastest in water. Hydroponic Chinese evergreen looks more ornamental. To hydroponic Chinese evergreen, the most important is to change water. Only a reasonable change of water can let Chinese evergreen grow new roots.
Learn more about how to grow Chinese Evergreen in water and Chinese Evergreen Care here.

Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) is often featured in Scandinavian interiors, the place its brilliant inexperienced pancake-shaped leaves grant an lovely and welcome burst of shade towards white walls. Make sure the water stage submerges simply the roots but not any other parts of the plant. 
Learn more about how to grow Chinese Money Plant in water here.

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

Dumb Cane (scientific name: Dieffenbachia picta Lodd.) is an evergreen shrubby herb with thick, fleshy stems that can reach up to 1.5 meters in height. Dumb Cane is a kind of plant suitable for indoor, its leaves are wide, colorful and very beautiful with high ornamental value. It can grow in water. When caring for Dumb Cane plants in water, spray water regularly to keep wet for better growth.
Learn More about how to grow Dumb Cane Plant in water here.

Devils ivy

Devil Ivy can also grow in water. First, select a whole devil's ivy with three parts: roots, leaves and stems. Fill a bottle with water and put it in. Next change clear water regularly, change for 3 days commonly, such repeat about half a month or so can see new roots successfully.
Learn More about how to grow Devil Ivy in water here.

Goldfish Plant

Goldfish plant gets its name because the flowers look so much like goldfish. goldfish plant can not only be foliage plant but also flower-watching plant, which is suitable for an indoor potted plant or hanging potted plant, placed on the top of the cabinet, a few shelves or windowsill. The Goldfish plant can be propagated in water, but it is different from many hydroponic plants. In general, there is as much water as possible for many hydroponic plants. But goldfish plant not, it can be hydroponic, but water can not exceed a third of the root. If the water is too high, the old root in the water for a long time will rot.
Learn more about Goldfish plant propagation in water here.

Jade Plant

Grow a jade plant in water is a favorite for many, since it’s often quicker and easier. And perhaps even more importantly, you get to see the roots growing in real time!
For Jade plant water propagation, once your stem cutting has healed, just pop it into a glass or vase of water. Then move the whole thing into bright, indirect sunlight.
The only thing you need to do from that point is changing out the water once or twice a week. Once the roots have grown about two inches, you can repot your new little jade plant. Or not: you can leave it in water as long as you want for something a little different.
Learn more about Jade Plant propagation here.

Lipstick Plant

Lipstick Plant is one of the most beautiful flowers, with its beautiful color and leafy branches. The Lipstick Plant is used as a potted Plant, and is one of the smallest and most beautiful plants in the world. One of the most important things when growing Lipstick Plant in water is to take care of the Plant by changing the water frequently, taking advantage of light and ventilation, so that it can grow in perfect conditions.
When caring, it is necessary to control the temperature of the environment. The temperature of the environment is about 20℃, so as to cool down in summer and keep warm in winter.
Hydroponic Lipstick Plant must change water once a week in spring and autumn, twice a week in summer, and once every two weeks in winter.
Learn more about Lipstick Plant care & propagation here.

Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a commonly houseplant that can grow hydroponically or in soil. While its stalks resemble those of a true bamboo plant, the lucky bamboo plant is actually a part of the Asparagaceae family. You will need a small container and some sort of supportive material, such as pebbles, rocks, glass gems, or polymer beads. Before grow lucky Bamboo in water, wash the container and fillers in warm water to remove any impurities. Place the Lucky bamboo stalks in a container and then sprinkle the supportive material around the root networks. Pour distilled or purified water into the container to cover the roots. A few inches of water should be sufficient.
Learn more about how to grow Lucky Bamboo in water here.

Marble Queen Pothos

Growing Marble Queen Pothos in water is a very good choice for hydroponic plant. Hydroponic Marble Queen Pothos is very shade resistant, which can be placed in the indoor facing sunshine. In the dark indoors, it should be moved to a strong light environment for a period of time, otherwise it is easy to make the leaves grow smaller.
Learn more about how to care for Marble Queen Potho here.

Moses in the Cradle Plant

Moses in the Cradle is a famous residence plant, associated to the Wandering Jew plant. Propagating Moses in the Cradle Plant in water is very simple. Directly cut off some branches, remove the bottom of the leaves, the cutting begins to take root growing in water after 7 ~ 10 days, and about three weeks or so it can grow new leaves.
Learn more about Moses in the Cradle Plant Care here.

Peace Lily

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) is a plant with both flowers and leaves. The leaves of Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) are large, dense, and shiny. The yellow-white fleshy inflorescence is covered by white buddha bracts, and the back of buddha buds also has bright green ridges.
Peace Lily can grow in water, which is more convenient. Just need to change water regularly, and the possibility of infection with pests and diseases is smaller.
Learn more about Peace Lily Care here.

Pearls and Jade Pothos

To grow a pearls and Jade Pothos, you want one of its vegetative components – stems, roots, leaves, and rhizomes. They develop effortlessly in water as lengthy as you furnish them with adequate daylight and nutrients.
To grow pearls and Jade Pothos in water, take a wholesome vine – keep away from brown or yellowing leaves – and reduce it proper beneath a node. Make positive your chosen stem has at least three nodes. Remove all the leaves beneath the node. This is imperative to make sure that the leaves do not decay underwater and suffocate the new roots.
Learn more about Pearls and Jade Pothos Propagation in Water here.

Peperomia Obtusifolia

Peperomia Obtusifolia also called Baby Rubber Plant, is an ornamental foliage plant with beautiful round leaves. Peperomia Obtusifolia is not tall so it can plant in a small pot. Peperomia Obtusifolia can also grow in water. Cut longer branches or the whole basin to wash the root soil, remove dead roots, dead leaves. Soak the Peperomia Obtusifolia plant in 0,05% potassium permanganate solution for 10 minutes, after cleaning. Then plant it in a hydroponics container. Water can soak 1/2-2/3 of the root system.
Learn more about Peperomia Obtusifolia propagation in water

Pilea Peperomioides

Pilea Peperomioides, a perennial herb, is a very common indoor foliage plant. Its leaves are smooth and green, which is very beautiful. Pilea Peperomioides can grow in water. Pilea Peperomioides likes a warm, humid and shading environment. When growing pilea Peperomioides in water, take out the plant from the original pot, carefully remove the cultivation substrate, and properly trim the long roots after washing them with water. Pour an appropriate amount of water into the hydroponic vessel, and then put the treated Pilea Peperomioides in the hydroponic vessel, fix the plant with small gravel and then the plant slowly survive.
Learn more about how to grow Pilea Peperomioides in water.

Prayer Plant

The Prayer Plant is a popular foliage plant for its beautiful decorative leaves. Prayer Plants fold up their leaves at night and extend at day, which is very unique and interesting. It is very important to choose small and healthy plants to grow prayer plant in water. If the plant is too large, the hydroponic container is not easy to choose, and it is easy to topple over and not easy to care for.
Learn more about how to grow Prayer plant in water here.

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a tropical plant suitable for indoor plants with small dehiscent green leaves. rhaphidophora tetrasperma prefers wet conditions, and plants can grow poorly if they are deprived of water for a long time. When grow Rhaphidophora tetrasperma in water, cuttings in water container can be placed in the ventilated window sill side, to a little soft scattering light, keep a warm environment (temperature between 20~25 degrees), every two or three days to change the water once, about a week or so, the root system can grow longer.
Learn more about Rhaphidophora tetrasperma care here.

String of Pearls Plant

String of Pearls is named for its small oval, full green leaves, which are shaped like Pearls. String of Pearls are succulents with high ornamental value, which are very much loved by many flowers. String of Pearls can be propagated in water. First you need to prepare the container required by hydroponic, preferably transparent glass container. When growing String of Pearls in water, you can put some medical stone at the bottom of the container, which can play a role in fixing the root system. Then fill the container with water and cover about a third of the root system. 
Learn more about String of Pearls Plant propagation in water here.

Do Plants Grow Better In Water Or Soil

Not all plants are suitable for growing in water. Hydrophonic plants have the following advantages: 

• Because water can evaporate freely, in the same environment, hydrophytic plants can adjust the air humidity obviously.
• Hydrophytic plants can omit the care of basin soil, which is clean and hygienic; 
• If you choose some plants whose roots can be exposed to light, with appropriate containers, the whole plant can be fresh and elegant, with higher ornamental value.

There are two main groups of plants that can grow in water. One group is aquatic plants. They grow in the water in nature, such as lotus, water lily; Another kind is the plant that can hydropics, below normal circumstances they grow in soil or culture matrix, such as rich bamboo, hyacinth. They have low nutrient requirements and can almost grow in tap water, and some require only a small amount of nutrient solution.

How To Grow Plants In Water

The hydroponic method that elaborates here, basically is to switch soil culture to hydroponic culture. So cleaning roots is very important firstly. As we all know, soil cultivation is organic nutrition, and after changing to hydroponic culture, it is completely changed to inorganic nutrition cultivation, so the soil and organic matter attached to the root should be strictly cleaned before growing in water so as not to affect the normal growth of hydroponic plants and avoid the infection of diseases and insect pests.

Dig out the plants to grow in water from the soil and slightly shake the root, making the soil fall off. Then soak the plant in clean water for 15 ~ 20 minutes, gently wash the root with hand, after 2 ~ 3 times of water cleaning, until the root is completely clean without soil. 

After washing the soil, according to the growth of plants root system, cut off the old roots, sick roots and yellow leaves, and dry the plants properly. Because the root of plants that grow in water is also an important part of ornamental, so when sorting out the root system, we should also consider the beauty of its form. After pruning its roots and leaves, we should clean them again in clean water to wash the root hair residue left when cutting. The daily care of water plants is quite simple, we will talk about how to care for water plants in the next section.

How To Care For Water Plants

Best Water For Plants

The most important part of a hydroponic plant is water. What kind of water is best for plants that grow in water? The advantages and disadvantages of several types of water are discussed in detail below.

• Mineral Water

The author thinks mineral water is best for hydroponic plants. First of all, it is relatively clean and has no impurities other than trace elements and is very transparent. All in all, it's beautiful for hydroponics. Secondly, it is rich in trace elements and low in salt with rich nutrients, will not harm the roots.

• Magnetized Water

A small magnet is added to clean water, and after a period of time the water will become magnetized. Magnetized water contains fewer minerals and is clean enough. It can promote plant metabolism, cell growth, enhance stress resistance, and make water plant leaves healthy, green and shiny. It also slows the growth of algae in the water, which has a good effect on the roots of water plants.
The downside is that magnets are not everywhere and magnetized water is not readily available.

• Rainwater

The high oxygen and nitrogen content of rainwater can make hydroponic plants' leaves greener and roots stronger, making it good water.
But it cannot be obtained at any time and must be accumulated in advance in rainy days, somewhat dependent on the weather. At the same time, if the local air pollution is serious, the rainwater will shout a lot of pollutants, at this time, it is not suitable to use rainwater to hydroponic plants.

• River/Lake Water

River/lake water has similar advantages to rainwater, with fewer minerals, less hardness, and some local micronutrients, which are also good for plants that grow in water.
The disadvantage is that the water impurities, which is easy to breed small organisms, green algae and so on. You need to change the water more frequently. The water quality may be polluted by a variety of other chemical substances, sometimes can not be used safely.

• Homemade Nutrient Water

This is more complicated, self-made nutritional water can be rice washing water, beer water, tea, milk water, vitamin water, etc., more suitable for hydroponic with other water. This water is rich in nutrients, which can promote the growth of aquatic plants, making them strong and beautiful in a short time.
The disadvantages are that it cannot be used for long periods of time, and concentration is not easy to master. If you burn the roots by high concentration of nutrient water, it's not good for the plant. In addition, the homemade nutrient water has been fermenting for a long time, and the water will stink, which will greatly reduce the beauty of water plants.

• Cold Boiled Water

Some people worry that boiled water will make nutrients disappear, indeed, after heating the nutrients in the water will be damaged to varying degrees. It is best to use with nutrient solution. However, after boiling cold water, impurities and calcium content will become less, bacteria can also effectively reduce, maintain a high degree of cleanliness. Growing plants in cold boiled water will keep the roots clean and beautiful for a long time, which is better than running water.
These are some of the pros and cons of different types of water for hydroponics. If you're going to grow plants in water, you can contrast that with the present. Whatever water you use, change it regularly and remember to clean the roots and keep the roots and container clean.

How Often To Water Hydroponic Plants

Changing water and watering is an important step to ensure the good growth of hydroponic plants. So how often to change the water? How often to water hydroponic plants? How much water is for hydroponic plants?

• According to different plant species and their adaptation to hydroponic conditions, the water should be changed regularly. Some plants, especially aquatic plants, are well adapted to the environment of hydroponic culture. For these plants, change water at longer intervals. However, some plants do not adapt to the hydroponics environment very well after hydroponics, and their recovery and growth are slow, and even root rot will occur after hydroponics. For these plants, in the early stage of the hydroponic environment, should often change water, or even 1 ~ 2 days to change water. Gradually reduce the frequency of changing water until the new roots germinate and return to normal growth.
• Change water every about 10 ~ 15 days at 20 ~ 25℃ (spring and autumn). Appropriately extend water change time when the temperature is lower, and shorten when the temperature is higher.
• When growing plants in water with fishes, change water should be frequent. It is best to buy a miniature air pump, appropriate inflation, which can greatly prolong the time for changing water (generally 1 ~ 2 months for changing water).
• The temperature difference between original water and new water should not be too large.
• Due to the adsorption, metabolismof roots and algae activities, foreign matters will be covered on the surface of roots after a period of time. When changing water, they can be carefully washed away with water. Old dead roots should be removed when changing water.
• The water in the bottle should not be too much, and about 2/3 of the length of the root system should be immersed in water.
• Plant growth conditions are mainly water, nutrients and air. The oxygen content in water will gradually decrease with the growth of hydroponic plants. When it is reduced to a certain extent, the growth of plants will be affected by hypoxia. Although the oxygen in the air will continuously supplement to the water, the amount of oxygen supplement is far from enough. So be sure to change the water in time.
• The roots of plants that grow in water, on the one hand, absorb nutrients from the water, and on the other hand, discharge some organic substances, waste or toxins into the water, and deposit them in the water. And these organic matters in soil cultivation is mainly to dissolve the soil nutrients that are not easy to be absorbed by the root system, while the waste and toxins are distributed in the space of the soil or flow out from the hole in the bottom of the basin, and will not be absorbed by the root system and affect the normal growth of plants. And hydroponic containers have no bottom hole, these organic matter, waste or toxins are deposited in the water, it is easy to be inhaled by plants again, so repeated absorption, excretion, absorption, excretion vicious cycle, is not conducive to the normal growth of flowers and play a normal physiological function.

Most of the hydroponic plants, especially indoor foliage plants that grow in water, like higher air humidity. If the indoor air is too dry, it will cause leaf curling. Thus affecting the ornamental value of water plants. Accordingly, we should often spray water to plant at ordinary times, raise the humidity of the air thereby, which is helpful for water plants growth.
As we talked about above, the growth of hydropic palnts is directly related to the oxygen content in the water, and the amount of oxygen content in the water is related to the activities of indoor ventilation. When indoor ventilation is poor, the oxygen content in the water decreases rapidly, which will affect the growth of hydroponic plants, and maintaining good indoor ventilation can increase the oxygen content in the water. Accordingly, strengthen ventilation when growing plants in water.

Fertilizer For Plants Growing In Water

When fertilizing hydroponic plants, attention should be paid to the amount of fertilizer. When it exceeds the concentration of fertilizer that plants can bear, it will cause harm to the plants in water. Also, pay attention to the use of professional hydroponic fertilizers. When growing plants in water, we should apply thin fertilizer frequently and fertilize when changing water to supply the nutrient.

As we all know, the medium of the hydroponic plants is water, which only contains mineral inorganic nutrition. There is almost no amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium required by plants, and the amount of trace elements in water is also greatly different from that in soil, which is far from meeting the normal needs of plant growth. Therefore, timely and reasonable fertilization for hydroponic flowers is necessary. It is undoubtedly a very important care measure. How to fertilize plants growing in water? What fertilizer for plants should be applied?

Firstly, it uses a container that does not have a bottom hole when growing plants in water. Applying fertilizer in water is different from that in soil. The surface of soil particles can absorb part of the nutrient, and the excess nutrient can also be automatically lost through the hole in the bottom of the basin, so it has a certain buffer effect on the concentration of fertilization. But the fertilizer for plants in water is different. All kinds of nutrient elements in the nutrient solution that we apply are dissolved in water. As long as it slightly exceeds the tolerance of plants to the concentration of fertilizer, it will cause harm. Due to the above characteristics, it is very important to strictly control the amount and type of fertilizer of aquatic plants. Therefore, it is best to choose fertilizer specially for water plants and strictly in accordance with the use of instructions, avoiding excessive application and excessive concentration.
Fertilizers for plants growing in water should be adjusted according to different circumstances, scientific.

• Apply fertilizer to different plant species

This is because different plant species have different adaptations to fertilizer. Plant species with slender roots do not require large amounts of fertilizer and high concentrations. Additional, For foliage hydroponic plants, the fertilizer should be given priority to with nitrogen fertilizer, assist with phosphorus, potassium fertilizer, in order to ensure leaf hypertrophy, leaf surface is smooth, leaf color is pure. For plants species with color stripes or patches on the leaf surface, apply less nitrogen fertilizer appropriately, because it will make the leaf color fade or even disappear when nitrogen fertilizer is too much, and increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer appropriately. For flowering plants, in the stage of flower bud differentiation and flower bud development, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be the main fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen fertilizer appropriately, so as to avoid the adverse consequences of plant growth, excessive vegetative growth and reproductive growth, resulting in small flowers, few flowers, light color, and even no flowering.

• Apply fertilizer in different seasons

Generally in summer, the adaptability of plants to fertilizer concentration is reduced, so the concentration of fertilization should be reduced at this time, especially some of the plants that are afraid of the hot summer. When the plants in water are into a dormant state, the physiological activities in the plant body are slower, growth is also in a semi-stopped and stopped state, stop fertilizing at this time.

• Apply fertilizer for different growing stage

Indoor lighting conditions are relatively poor. Although indoor plants are mostly shading tolerant, but in the long period without light, or in the case of a weak light for a long time, the growth of plants in water is not strong. In this situation, stop fertilization or apply less fertilizer and try to reduce the concentration of fertilizer.

• Notes

1. For hydroponic plants, which have not yet adapted to the environment in the water, there will be yellow leaves or rotten root current. Do not fertilize at this time for ten days or so, fertilize after the plants in water adapting to the environment or taking a new root.
2. Don't directly put urea in the water, because urea is a kind of artificial synthetic organic fertilizer. If the direct applying urea, not only the plant can't absorb nutrition, but also can make some harmful bacteria or microbial breeding quickly and cause water pollution。
3. If there is rot root and water quality polluted caused by thick fertilizer, cut off the rot root of water plants quickly, wash the root and change water timely.
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