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Types of Plant That Can Grow in a Water Vase

Many types of plants can be grown without soil. For the best results, avoid vases made of metal, which can corrode. You might want to add 1/2 inch of crushed charcoal to the bottom of each vase to keep the water clear. Use gravel or marbles to hold the plants upright. The plants will get nutrients from water that comes from rain, a spring, a well -- and if the minerals haven't been filtered, a bottle. Keep the water level just below the plants’ leaves to prevent rotting. Once a month, replace the old water with fresh water, adding 1/4 teaspoon of all-purpose plant food crystals. For practical and decorative reasons, some plants are better suited to water vases than others.

  1. Water Plants

    • Plants that naturally flourish along the edges of ponds or rivers will be quite content growing in a vase on the edge of your windowsill. Two such plants are corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus spiralis), effusive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 4 to 9, and papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), perpetual only in USDA zones 9 to 10. You can give papyrus up to 12 inches of standing water but corkscrew rush no more than 4 inches. If the water is highly alkaline, add a few drops of vinegar.

    Herbs

    • Herbs that root easily in water will usually tolerate being grown in that liquid also. Two to try include peppermint (Mentha x piperita), virtually indestructible in USDA zones 3 to 10, and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), only perennial in USDA zones 10 to 12. To root cuttings destined for use as hydroponic plants, take tip pieces that are about 4 inches long from healthy outdoor plants, strip off the lower two-thirds of their leaves, and pop the cuttings into a clear or amber glass of water. You should set them on a bright but sun-free windowsill until they root, which can happen in as little as a week for the mint.

    Flowers

    • As anyone who has neglected to irrigate one can tell you, busy Lizzies (Impatiens walleriana) revel in moisture, and fall into a dramatic swoon if they don't get it. Annual in all USDA zones except 9 to 12, they often have short stems, so you may need equally petite vases. On the other hand, some statuesque arum lilies such as Zantedeschia aethiopica, which is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11 and grows 2 to 3 feet, can stand tall in 6 to 12 inches of water with nary a complaint.

    Foliage Plants

    • English ivy (Hedera helix), which hangs tough in USDA zones 5 to 11, will twine elegantly around your vase, and the extra humidity provided by evaporating water should help protect it from its common indoor scourge of spider mites. Allow only about half of that water to evaporate before topping it up again. You can take cuttings of coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), whose winter survival outdoors can only be assured in USDA zones 10 to 12, to brighten up a windowsill water garden instead with its boldly colored leaves. It's OK to keep your cuttings in clear containers permanently, if you like being able to see the roots.

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Indoor Growing
  1. Plants That Grow in a Few Weeks
  2. Plants That Grow in Full Shade
  3. Types of Seeds That Grow Into Plants
  4. Plants or Flowers That Can Grow in Pebbles
  5. Plants That Need a Lot of Water to Grow
  6. Plants That Keep Water
  7. Can a Jade Plant be Straightened to Grow Upright?
  8. Plants That Can Grow in Water Inside With No Sunlight
  9. Can Plants Grow in Water From Seeds?
  10. What Liquids Can Plants Grow In?
  11. Can Plants Grow in Coca-Cola?
  12. Plants That Repel Water

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