Growli

Best plants

87 best houseplants to propagate in water

The cheapest way to grow your collection is a glass of water and a pair of scissors. These species root readily from a cutting placed in plain water — no rooting hormone, no propagation kit — so one plant becomes several, and a snipped stem becomes a gift.

How this list is built: houseplants whose documented propagation method is rooting a cutting in water— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of compost is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in growthToxic to pets
Alocasia Tiny DancerBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksToxic to pets
Aluminum Plant (Watermelon Pilea)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top quarter-inch of soil dries out (roughly weekly in summer)Pet-safe
Angel's TrumpetDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-3 days in peak summer growth; far less when dormant or overwinteringToxic to pets
Arrowhead plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Baby Tears (Pilea)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top inch of soil begins to dry, often every few days in summerPet-safe
Balao AnthuriumBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 15-20% of the mix dries outToxic to pets
Baltic Blue PothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days; let the top 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of soil dry out firstToxic to pets
BegoniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Weekly wateringMildly toxic to pets
Begonia 'Cracklin' Rosie'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) of soil are dryToxic to pets
Cebu Blue PothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When top 2-3cm of soil is dry; roughly every 7-14 days indoorsToxic to pets
ColeusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 daysMildly toxic to pets
CrotonBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysToxic to pets
DieffenbachiaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Diversifolia Wax PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 1-2 weeks in spring and summer; less in autumn and winterPet-safe
DracaenaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
Dracaena WarneckiiBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; let the top 2-5 cm (1-2 in) of soil dry out firstToxic to pets
English ivyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Epipremnum Pinnatum AlboBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in growth; let the top 3-5 cm (1-2 in) dry firstToxic to pets
Ficus RubyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Fiddle leaf figBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Finlaysonii Wax PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; let the top half of the mix dry out firstPet-safe
Flowering coleusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Twice-weekly wateringMildly toxic to pets
Golden pothosMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Happy Bean PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
Heart-Leaf KrohnianaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) of mix are dryPet-safe
Heartleaf philodendronMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Hindu rope plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is nearly dry, roughly every 10-14 days in growthPet-safe
HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is mostly dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Hoya callistophyllaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-14 days in spring/summer, less in winterPet-safe
Hoya Carnosa TricolorBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; let the top inch dry outPet-safe
Hoya heuschkelianaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in summer; every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
Hoya kentianaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; let the mix dry out between wateringsPet-safe
Hoya Krimson QueenBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 1-2 weeks; let the top 1-2 inches (or more) of soil dry firstPet-safe
Hoya RetusaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in spring/summer; reduce sharply in winterPet-safe
Hoya sigillatisBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; let the top 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) of mix dry out firstPet-safe
Hoya SunriseBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top of the mix is dry, roughly every 7-14 daysPet-safe
Hoya wayetiiBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top inch of soil is dryPet-safe
ImpatiensMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
Jewel OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days; keep the mix evenly moist, never bone dryPet-safe
Manjula PothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 25-50% of the mix is dry, roughly weeklyToxic to pets
Maranta 'Lemon Lime'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm (about the top inch) of soil dries out, often roughly weeklyMildly toxic to pets
Metallic PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 1-2 weeks; when the top 2-3 cm (1 in) of soil is dryPet-safe
MonsteraBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Moses-in-the-Cradle (Oyster Plant)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of soil dry outMildly toxic to pets
Neon pothosMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Nummularioides Wax PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in the growing season; roughly every 2 weeks in winterPet-safe
Peperomia HopeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
Persian ShieldBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of soil driesMildly toxic to pets
PhilodendronMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Philodendron 'Burle Marx Fantasy'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When top 2-5 cm of soil is dry, roughly weekly in summerToxic to pets
Philodendron 'Florida Beauty'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 5-10 days; when the top 1-2 inches of mix dries outToxic to pets
Philodendron 'Florida Green'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in spring/summer, every 10-14 days in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron 'Jungle Boogie'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksToxic to pets
Philodendron 'White Princess'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (top inch) of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summerToxic to pets
Philodendron Bipennifolium (Horsehead)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-5 cm (1-2 in) of mix is dry, roughly weekly in growthToxic to pets
Philodendron BrasilMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Philodendron CamposportoanumBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) of soil are dryToxic to pets
Philodendron JoepiiBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksToxic to pets
Philodendron MelanochrysumBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly; when the top 2-3 in (5-7 cm) of soil is nearly dryToxic to pets
Philodendron micansBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Philodendron Rugosum (Pigskin)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly; when the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of soil is dryToxic to pets
Philodendron Serpens (Fuzzy Petiole)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-5 cm (1-2 in) of mix driesToxic to pets
Philodendron SquamiferumBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) of soil dries out, roughly weekly in summer and every 10-14 days in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron White KnightBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in spring-summer; every 14-21 days in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron White WizardBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Pixie Lime PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2.5-4 cm (1-1.5 in) of mix is dry, often every 7-12 daysPet-safe
Polka dot plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 4-7 daysPet-safe
PothosMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Prayer plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-6 daysPet-safe
Purple HeartBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top inch of soil dries out, roughly weekly in summer and every 2 weeks in winterMildly toxic to pets
Red Prayer PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil feels dry, roughly every 5-7 days in growthMildly toxic to pets
Rubber plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Ruby Cascade PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 10-14 days; let the top 2-3 cm dry out firstPet-safe
Shingle PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of mix dries outToxic to pets
Shooting Star HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, roughly every 5-9 days in growthPet-safe
Silver pothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Spider plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
String Bean HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is almost fully dry, roughly every 10-14 daysPet-safe
String of FrogsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm (top inch) of soil is dry, often 1-2x per week in spring/summerToxic to pets
String of needlesBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
Sweetheart plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 14-21 daysPet-safe
Swiss cheese vineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysMildly toxic to pets
Trailing Jade PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-14 days in spring/summer; less in winterPet-safe
Turtle VineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (about 1 inch) of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in summerMildly toxic to pets
Wandering dudeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysMildly toxic to pets
Wax plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe

Best houseplants to propagate in water — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best houseplants to propagate in water?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is houseplants whose documented propagation method is rooting a cutting in water, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 87 plants qualify today.

How many houseplants to propagate in water are there?

Growli currently lists 87 plants that meet the criterion (houseplants whose documented propagation method is rooting a cutting in water). The list updates as the plant-care library grows; each entry links to a full care guide.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Not necessarily — this list is selected by houseplants whose documented propagation method is rooting a cutting in water, not by pet safety. Each plant is tagged with its pet-safety status below, and links to a full ASPCA-sourced pet-safety guide. If you have pets, see the dedicated best pet-safe houseplants list.

More plant shortlists