12 Pretty Plants That Only Need A Little Bit Of Water To Propagate

Is there anything more tranquil than an indoor jungle? We doubt it. Having lush greenery in your home gives it a certain aesthetic that can make it feel like your own little secret garden. Unfortunately, creating that oasis can get expensive quickly, especially if you want to buy plants that tend to be a little more exotic looking than your standard spider plant. Luckily, there's a solution that lets you grow your houseplant collection without needing to source pricey foliage — propagation. 

Propagation essentially means taking pieces off a living plant in order to create new baby plants. There are a few types of propagation, and each method works best for different types of plants. Most houseplant experts consider water propagation to be the easiest for beginners to do since it's low maintenance and is a fast way to establish plant growth. This method is also known as hydroponics, but don't let the scientific name scare you. It's a method you can use right now to save a dying houseplant plant or root a cutting with only a few materials. The most important material, of course, is the plant! But which plant should you pick? Here are a few of our show-stopping favorites.

The blushing bride tradescantia is a clump-forming hybrid of the spiderwort family. Don't be disappointed if your cutting is pure green in the beginning. Be patient with your propagating plant as new growth will reveal splashes of blush pink accents once it settles in. It can occasionally produce white flowers with bright yellow stamens, too. Tradescantia cuttings can grow in full sun but you should probably keep it in shadier areas to maintain its bright pink colors. 

Like its albo cousin, the variegated monstera aurea (aurea variegata) is a favorite of exotic houseplant collectors. The aurea has bursts of colors on its leaves ranging from pale to bright yellow which makes it stand out from "normal" white variegations. Despite its different coloring, the aurea has similar care requirements to the variegated albo: it needs bright, indirect light to maintain its yellows and will grow in water if your cutting has at least one node. To maintain and increase this monstera's variegation, make sure it gets enough sunlight. However, too much light can scorch its leaves, so finding balance is key.

Hailing from the Philippine rainforests, the alocasia zebrina is one of the few alocasias that can work in water propagation thanks to its moist origins. It's pale white stems (known as "petioles") are flecked with dark brown stripes, giving it the "zebra" of its "zebrina." It has bright green heart-shaped leaves that can even get dark green veining if you happen to pick up the rarer reticulata variation. Zebrinas are sensitive to leaf burn so keep your cutting away from direct sunlight and opt for bright, but indirect light instead. Once it's rooted, your alocasia will need nutrient-rich soil that's well-draining and consistently moist. 

The alocasia nebula (alocasia scabriuscula) is full of surprises. The colorings of a mature plant can include marbling in shades of green, black, purple, or even silver which can give off some truly out-of-this-world vibes, hence the "nebula" in its name. If you're lucky enough to get your hands on the rare Imperialis cultivar, you'll notice leaves that have a skeletal, monochromatic look that could appear in a scene of "The Nightmare Before Christmas." To propagate your alocasia zebrina, keep your water-filled jar in bright, indirect light and maintain temperatures between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The watermelon peperomia (peperomia argyreia) is an excellent plant for those who are just getting into water propagation. This plant comes from the forest floors of South America and has leaves that look like the skin of a watermelon. They don't grow too big, maxing out around twelve inches, and are not considered toxic for pets or humans, making them great for most locations in your home. It can even handle low-light conditions and medium-to-low humidity, which is why you might find them in offices. That said, your cutting should be placed in bright, indirect light at first to encourage root growth. Make sure it has at least one leaf on its stem, too, so that it's easy for the plant to photosynthesize. 

The pearls and jade pothos (epipremnum aureum) is a gorgeous cultivar with thin leaves that are rimmed with white or green. Pothos are not only incredibly easy to care for but have a secret weapon that many plant lovers use to boost other propagations. The plant actually has two natural rooting hormones (auxin and cytokinins) that can help slower-growing plants get a little boost just by sharing the same propagation glass. Just make sure your aureum cutting has at least one leaf to ensure propagation success.