You can actually grow herbs, vegetables, and plants using nothing more than a container and some water right in the comfort of your own home. Even better, cuttings of various plants and something to place them in are all you really need to grow them in water.
When picking containers for this DIY project, look for those with a narrow mouth to provide maximum support for the cutting, allowing it to more easily remain upright. If all you have is a wide-mouthed container, then cover the top with nylon netting and simply insert your plant cuttings through the holes.
Once everything is in place, all you need to do is add water regularly and make sure that the cutting gets the sunlight it needs. In a matter of time, your cutting should begin growing. Check out some of the herbs, vegetables, and plants that you can grow in a simple glass of water.
1) Rosemary
Taking longer to take root than other plant types, Rosemary has a semi-wooded stem, making it easier to keep cuttings upright. Rosemary is also a perfect plant for placing in an empty, sunny spot in your house.
While you cannot actually grow carrots in a glass of water, you can grow the leafy greens that adorn the top of them. Place the cut top ends of the carrots in a shallow container. Change the water every other day, and before you know it, the leaves should start growing again.
You can grow the houseplant pothos, called Devil’s Ivy, in water. Take tip cuttings, and insert the cut ends into the water, making sure to submerge them so that two or three nodes are submerged. As the cutting grows, make sure it has plenty of room to expand, or trim it as necessary.
Lavender is also a plant that you can grow in water. When doing so, take your cutting and pinch off the bottom three to five sets of leaves. Stick the bottom of the cutting into some rooting hormone before placing it in the water, If needed, stick some small rocks in the bottom of the container to help the lavender cuttings stay upright.
To grow lettuce in water, place the remaining stem of the head of lettuce in a shallow dish filled with 1/2-inch of water. Set the dish in direct sunlight, and change the water every one to two days. Eventually, new leaves should begin to sprout from the lettuce.
To grow green onions in a jar of water, take the bulbs, with at least one inch of green left above it, and place them in a transparent jar with the bulbs facing down. Fill the container with water, making sure to change out the water every other day.
The herb thyme can also grow in water if handled properly. The best time to gather cuttings is from mid-spring to early summer. Make sure that the cuttings are green in color, and place them in the water as soon as cutting, spraying the part sticking above the water. As it begins to grow, cut the stems to promote branching.
To grow cilantro in water, place the cuttings in a clear jar containing water. Once the cuttings establish roots, transfer them to a pot of soil. When harvesting cilantro, make sure to do so before it starts to flower to ensure the herb retains its flavor.
Similar to pothos, arrowhead is another plant with wedge-shaped leaves that you can easily grow in water. Unlike many plants, arrowhead can even grow in low-light areas, making it great for areas in your home that don’t get a lot of light.
Like lettuce and cabbage, bok choi grows easily in only water. High in vitamins and minerals, bok choi is a favorite in Asian countries. To grow bok choi, simply place the base of the stem in a small bowl of water. Once the bok choi starts growing again, transfer it into a bigger container.
Like a vast majority of leafy greens, spinach grows when placed in a container of water. Start by placing rock wool cubes containing spinach seeds in a small container filled with only an inch of water. Once the seedlings start to show roots, transplant the plants to another container. The container should allow you to place the roots of the spinach plant in the water while holding the plant upright.
To grow philodendron plants in water, place cuttings six to eight inches long in a container filled with water. When growing philodendrons in water, you must place a piece of rock, or other heavy object, in the bottom of the container to keep it from tipping as the plant grows.
Known for its herbal and medicinal qualities, tarragon grows easily in water, especially if you take cuttings in the spring when the plant first starts to grow for the season. When growing tarragon, keep the cuttings in a warm area that gets plenty of sunlight.
To grow cabbage in water, cut the bottom of the head off and place it in a shallow bowl with some water. Replace the water every few days, and make sure to cut the leaves back as they grow for a better taste.
To grow lemon balm in water, take cuttings in either the spring or fall. Place the cuttings in a container of water kept in a warm space that gets plenty of sunlight. Change out the water regularly, and keep in mind that the cuttings might take three to four weeks to take root.
Peace lily is another plant that easily grows in water. Simply divide the plant up or place the whole thing in a bowl full of water. In addition, make sure to change the water in the bowl every two weeks and keep the plant out of direct sunlight.
Stevia, a tropical plant used in the production of sweetener alternatives to sugar, easily grow in water. To start, place cuttings from the soft branches of an actively growing plant in a container of water. In addition, place the cuttings in a warm area with good access to light.
Like many plants and vegetables, tomatoes easily grow in nothing more than a container of water. Place the cuttings in a container of water in a warm area. Once the cuttings begin to root, transplant the tomato plants in soil.
To grow fennel in a container of water, place a fennel bulb in a small bowl of water. Keep the water in the bowl at the same level as the bulb, and change it out every couple of days. Make sure that the fennel gets plenty of sunlight to ensure that it grows.
The green and silver leaves of the aluminum plant make a great addition to a home and can also be grown in water. Place the cuttings from the plant, gathered in the spring, in a bowl of water, and position it so that the plant gets plenty of bright, indirect light.
While eventually you need to transplant a pineapple plant to a soily environment, you can start the process using a bowl of water. Start by cutting off the leafy part, making sure not to cut into any part of the fruit. Stick toothpicks into the cutting, and suspend it over the water. Place in a warm room, and make sure to change out the water each day. Once roots appear, replant the cutting in soil.
Growing sage in water is easy. Take cuttings from your plant in the spring, and place them in a container of water. To prevent mildew, place the sage cutting in a well-ventilated area that gets plenty of sunlight.
Commonly known as Lucky Bamboo, Dracena grows great in only water. To grow in water, place the cutting in a narrow-mouthed container filled halfway with water. To ensure maximum growth, keep the plant in bright light and change the water at least every two months.
To grow a bell pepper plant from a cutting, fill a small drinking glass with water and cover it with plastic wrap, making sure to secure the wrap with a rubber band. Poke a small hole in the wrap, and stick the cutting into the hole until it almost touches the bottom of the glass. Keep the cutting in indirect sunlight, adding water as needed. Replant in soil once roots start to grow.
To grow garlic sprouts for use in cooking or salads, place a garlic clove with green sprouts into a glass of water. Fill the water level in the glass up to the level of the clove. Once the sprouts reach three inches in height, you can cut off about a third of the shoot for use in the kitchen.
To grow dieffenbachia in water, place sections of stem four to six inches long in a glass of water, making sure to remove all of the leaves. Change the water in the glass when it becomes dirty. Place the glass in a warm area with access to indirect sunlight.
While you can’t grow a full-grown avocado tree in water, you can get them started there. Begin by taking and cleaning the pit from an avocado fruit, making sure the fruit is completely clean. Next, stick toothpicks into the base of the avocado pit and suspend it in a dish of water with the pit halfway submerged. Place on a windowsill, and replenish the water often. Once the tree that comes out of the top of the avocado pit is seven to eight inches tall, replant it in soil.
To grow basil in a bowl of water, place the cuttings in a water-filled container in good light. Make sure to get your cuttings before the plant starts to flower. Make sure to change the water every few days and keep the cutting in good sunlight.
To grow beet greens in a bowl of water, start by cutting off the top third of a beet. Place the beet top, cut side down, into a container on a windowsill. Change the water in the container every few days, and harvest the greens as they grow.
The best container for growing cucumbers in water is a large bucket specially prepared for the process. Then it is just a matter of adding water and the correct amount of hydroponic nutrients to make your cucumbers grow. Find out more here.
Oregano is another herb that you can grow in a glass of water. Used to flavor veggies and other meals, oregano is a perfect herb to keep a good supply of. Place cuttings in water, and make sure to pinch the tips as soon as they start growing.
Cultivated as an indoor plant, Chinese evergreen, or agloanema, is easy to grow in a glass of water. To propagate the cuttings, peel off and discard any leaves from the bottom half and place the cutting in an 8-ounce drinking glass. Make sure the plant gets plenty of diffused light, and refill the water as needed. Transplant the cutting to soil once the roots reach 1/2-inch in length.
Leeks are the larger cousins of green onions, and you can grow them in a glass of water much like you do onions. To do this, place the leeks, roots down, into a shallow glass filled to the brim with water. Place the glass on a windowsill, and make sure to change the water every few days.
To grow spearmint in a glass of water, cut the stem just below a node, removing all but the top leaves. Stick the cuttings in a glass with one inch of water. Place the glass with cuttings out of direct sunlight, and make sure to change the water daily. Once the roots start to show, replant in a small pot.
You can grow ginger in water, but you must root it in compost first. Once you notice stems and leaves growing from the piece of ginger root, place it in a specially prepared hydroponic container, as detailed at Gardening Know How for further growing.
You can also regrow celery using the base of the stalk and a bowl of water. Place the stalk base in a shallow container of warm water, and put it on the windowsill. Change the water daily. As soon as leaves start to appear, transfer it to a pot of soil, covering the stalk base completely.
To regrow a sweet potato in water, cut the sweet potato in half, and suspend it above the water in a container using toothpicks. Cover about half of the potato with water and place in bright light. As soon as the new roots grow to four inches, break them off and place them in water. Once the roots grow an additional inch, replant them in soil.
Also known as the spider plant, chlorophytum grows great in water as long as the stems and leaves do not get in the water. The easiest way to prevent this is to place the cutting in a narrow-mouthed container so that the leaves fall outside of the water with little to no chance of contact. You should also change the water in the vessel on a regular basis.
While taking a little longer to grow in water than other herbs, marjoram is easy to grow using this method. Like other herbs, place the marjoram cuttings in a glass of water with the bottom part of the cutting submerged. Leave on a windowsill, and change the water regularly.
Known for its medicinal uses, as well as its cooling sensation on the skin and tongue, peppermint is easy to grow in water. Simply place the cuttings in water with the bottom part submerged. As with most herbs, leave in a well-lit spot and change the water every few days.
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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Whether you want to grow herbs, plants, or veggies, you have a wide selection of options to pick form when choosing something to grow in water. You can also start out many bigger plants, such as avocado and pineapple by growing them in water and transplanting them to soil later on. These herbs, plants, and veggies are just some of the many that you can easily grow in water.
40 Herbs, Houseplants, And Vegetables You Can Grow In Water
Cheryl Knight
09.09.18
You can actually grow herbs, vegetables, and plants using nothing more than a container and some water right in the comfort of your own home. Even better, cuttings of various plants and something to place them in are all you really need to grow them in water.
When picking containers for this DIY project, look for those with a narrow mouth to provide maximum support for the cutting, allowing it to more easily remain upright. If all you have is a wide-mouthed container, then cover the top with nylon netting and simply insert your plant cuttings through the holes.
Once everything is in place, all you need to do is add water regularly and make sure that the cutting gets the sunlight it needs. In a matter of time, your cutting should begin growing. Check out some of the herbs, vegetables, and plants that you can grow in a simple glass of water.
