Indoor water gardens are a beautiful way to bring freshness and tranquility into your home. The best plants for indoor water gardens not only thrive in jars, bowls, or mini ponds but also improve air quality and add a touch of elegance to any space.
Many of them are low-maintenance, making them perfect for busy households or small apartments.
By growing plants in water, you can create a clean, modern look without dealing with soil. These plants adapt well to glass containers, aquariums, and decorative vases, transforming tables and windowsills into vibrant green displays.
Let’s explore 19 plants that are easy to grow in an indoor water garden and can instantly elevate your living space.
#1 Hyacinth
Hyacinths add bright, colorful blooms that cheer up any room. You can place bulbs in a narrow-neck glass vase filled with water just below the bulb base.
Keep them in a cool spot with bright indirect light for best growth. Within weeks, you’ll enjoy their fragrant flowers. Replenish water regularly to keep roots healthy.
#2 Spider Plant
Spider Plants adapt easily to water and bring lush greenery indoors. Place cuttings in a glass jar with their roots submerged, but leaves kept above water. They thrive in bright, indirect light.
Change the water every week to prevent stagnation. Over time, the plant will produce small offshoots you can propagate.
#3 Miniature Yellow Waterlily
This charming waterlily shows golden cup-shaped blooms and round green pads. It grows best in bright light, making it ideal near a sunny window.
Keep water fresh and deep enough to submerge the roots. If cared for properly, you’ll enjoy long-lasting flowers. Its vibrant color adds a tropical touch to small ponds or bowls.
#4 Coleus
Coleus stands out with its colorful, patterned foliage that looks stunning in clear jars. Place stem cuttings in water and keep them on a bright tabletop away from harsh sunlight.
Roots develop quickly, making it an easy choice for beginners. Refresh the water weekly to maintain healthy growth. The bold leaf colors add energy to any indoor setting.
#5 English Ivy
English Ivy looks striking when grown in glass containers, with trailing vines spilling gracefully over the sides. Place cuttings in water and position the jar on a coffee table or windowsill.
Indirect light suits it best, and regular water changes keep it thriving. Trim vines occasionally to maintain shape. Its lush greenery brings a cozy charm indoors.
#6 Umbrella Grass
Umbrella Grass is simple to grow and adds an exotic look to water gardens. Place cuttings in a tall jar filled with fresh water and set in a bright location.
Indirect light keeps it vibrant and healthy. Replace water every week to prevent algae buildup. Its tall, fan-shaped leaves create a bold focal point in small spaces.
#7 Peace Lily
Peace Lilies grow beautifully in water alone, producing elegant white blooms and glossy leaves. Keep the base of the plant submerged and change the water every 4–6 days.
Indirect sunlight helps them flower best. Clean the roots gently when replacing water. This plant also purifies indoor air while adding beauty to your décor.
#8 Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew features a stunning mix of purple and green leaves that shine in glass jars. Place stem cuttings in water and set them near a bright window for strong growth.
Refresh the water weekly to keep roots healthy. Trim regularly to encourage fuller foliage. It’s one of the easiest plants to keep vibrant indoors.
#9 Paperwhite
Paperwhites bloom quickly and bring fragrant flowers to your home. Place bulbs in a shallow container with just enough water to touch the base.
Keep them in a bright spot, and blooms will appear within four to five weeks. Rotate the container to keep stems straight. Replace water often to prevent rot.
#10 Mosaic Plant
Mosaic Plant is known for its striking rosette of diamond-shaped leaves floating like a mosaic on the water’s surface. It thrives in bright light with roots submerged.
Use shallow bowls for the best display. Replace water weekly to keep leaves fresh. Its patterned foliage makes it a standout in any water garden.
#11 Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet Potato Vine grows vigorously in water, creating lush, trailing greenery. Place cuttings in a sunny window and change water every 4–6 days.
Its bright leaves add a lively touch to jars or vases. Clip stems to control length and encourage bushiness. The plant’s cheerful look makes it perfect for kitchen counters.
#12 Caladium
Caladium brings bold color with its heart-shaped leaves patterned in pink, red, and green. Place cuttings in tall, narrow vases filled with clean water.
Keep near a window with filtered light for vibrant foliage. Change the water weekly to avoid stagnation. This plant adds a tropical, artistic flair to tabletops.
#13 Perry’s Baby Red
This dwarf waterlily produces fragrant red blooms with ornamental pads. Grow it in full sun near a bright window or under grow lights.
Ensure roots are submerged in fresh water at all times. Replace water frequently to keep blooms healthy. Its compact size makes it perfect for indoor displays.
#14 Chinese Money Plant
Chinese Money Plant looks adorable with its round, coin-shaped leaves. Place stem cuttings in water and set the jar where it gets bright, indirect light.
Change water every week to prevent root rot. It adapts quickly to glass containers. This plant is a favorite for adding charm to desks and shelves.
#15 Water Lettuce
Water Lettuce floats on water surfaces, forming rosettes of soft, green leaves. Grow it in bowls or aquariums placed near a sunny window.
Add a little water-soluble fertilizer occasionally for healthy growth. Refresh the water regularly to prevent algae. Its floating foliage adds softness to water gardens.
#16 Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo is a symbol of good fortune and thrives in jars of water with pebbles to support its stems. Place it in bright, indirect light and refill water weekly.
Change the water completely every two weeks to keep roots healthy. Its upright, glossy stems bring structure and beauty to modern interiors.
#17 Pothos
Pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow in water, with vines that drape gracefully over containers. Place cuttings in a jar and position them in indirect light.
Replace water every 1–2 weeks. Fertilize monthly with a diluted solution for faster growth. This plant brings fresh greenery to any corner with minimal care.
#18 Snake Plant
Snake Plants can adapt to growing in jars of water, displaying bold, sword-like leaves. Place cuttings in a tall glass with the base submerged.
Set them in bright, indirect light for best results. Replace the water every two weeks to avoid root rot. This sturdy plant adds height and texture to your indoor garden.
#19 Water Wisteria
Water Wisteria is an aquatic plant that grows well in shallow jars or aquariums. It adapts to both high and low light conditions, making it very versatile.
Place it where it receives at least 2–3 hours of sunlight. Keep roots submerged in clean water, refreshed weekly. Its feathery leaves bring movement and texture to water displays.