Plants to propagate in water are perfect if you want more greenery without the mess of soil. This simple method lets you grow new plants from cuttings while watching the roots develop right in a glass of water. It’s clean, rewarding, and surprisingly fast.
By re-growing plants in water, you save money and enjoy the joy of multiplying your collection. Many common houseplants, herbs, and ornamentals respond beautifully to this method, often sending out roots within just a couple of weeks.
All you need is a clean jar, fresh water, and a bit of patience. Here are 10 plants that are incredibly easy to propagate in water, plus tips to help you succeed with each one.
#1 Purple Heart
Purple Heart is known for its striking purple foliage, and it roots quickly when placed in water. Take a stem cutting with a few healthy leaves and submerge the lower nodes in a glass jar. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
Once you see new roots forming, you can pot it up or keep it as a water-grown accent. Its bold color makes a stunning display on any windowsill.
#2 Angel’s Trumpet
Angel’s Trumpet has dramatic, bell-shaped flowers and propagates surprisingly well in water. Snip a healthy stem tip and place it in a jar filled halfway with clean water. Position the jar in bright, indirect light to encourage rooting.
After a few weeks, roots will appear, and you can transfer it to a pot with soil. Keep the soil moist, and you’ll soon enjoy its exotic beauty again.
#3 Pothos
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate in water. Cut a vine just below a node and remove the lower leaves before placing it in a jar of water.
Roots usually appear within a week or two, making it a quick way to expand your collection. You can leave pothos to grow in water long-term or transplant it into soil. Its trailing vines bring instant greenery to shelves and windows.
#4 Fiddle Leaf Fig
Fiddle Leaf Fig is popular for its bold, glossy leaves, and water propagation is a fun way to start new plants. Cut a healthy stem with at least one leaf and place it in a tall glass of water.
Keep it in bright, indirect sunlight, and change the water weekly. Root growth may take longer than smaller plants, but once established, you’ll have a brand-new fig to grow indoors.
#5 String of Hearts
String of Hearts is a delicate trailing plant that looks stunning when propagated in water. Simply snip a vine with a few leaves and place it in a shallow jar of water. Position it near a bright window, but avoid harsh direct sunlight.
Roots usually appear within two to three weeks. Once planted in soil, its cascading vines will continue to spill gracefully from pots and hanging baskets.
#6 Rosemary
Rosemary cuttings can thrive in water if given the right care. Trim a 4–6 inch stem, strip off the lower leaves, and place it in water so only the bottom nodes are submerged.
Place the jar in a sunny window to encourage strong root growth. Change the water every few days to prevent bacteria. Once rooted, you’ll have a fresh supply of rosemary ready for cooking.
#7 African Violet
African Violets can be propagated from leaf cuttings in water with ease. Snip a healthy leaf with its stalk and place the stalk in a small jar of water, making sure the leaf itself stays above the waterline.
Roots will form at the base of the stalk in a few weeks. Once new plantlets appear, you can pot them in soil. This method gives you multiple young violets from a single cutting.
#8 Basil
Basil is one of the fastest herbs to propagate in water. Cut a stem just below a node and remove the lower leaves before placing it in a glass of water.
Keep it on a sunny windowsill and change the water often. Roots appear quickly, sometimes in under a week. You can keep it in water for a while or transplant it into soil for a steady supply of fresh basil leaves.
#9 Begonia
Begonias are versatile plants that propagate beautifully in water. Take a leaf cutting with a piece of stem and place it in a clear jar with fresh water. Set the jar in indirect sunlight, and roots will soon begin to form at the nodes.
Begonias prefer consistent moisture during propagation, so top up the water as needed. Once rooted, they make vibrant additions to indoor displays.
#10 Impatiens
Impatiens are bright, cheerful plants that root easily in water. Take soft-stem cuttings about 4 inches long and remove the lower leaves. Place the stems in a jar with clean water and put them in bright, indirect light.
Roots typically emerge in two weeks, and you can then pot them in soil. These cuttings will soon burst into colorful flowers, adding charm to both your home and garden.