10 houseplants that can easily be grown in water

The best part about these low-maintenance plants?

You can never overwater or underwater — the number one killer of house plants — they grow in water.

1. WANDERING JEW

Hanging plants are often the easiest to root in water alone. Simply submerge cuttings from a mature Wandering Jew plant in a jar of water, taking care to submerge only the stem and not the leaves, as the latter submerged in water will rot the cutting. Leave in an area with plenty of sunlight, and watch it root in just a few weeks' time.

2. JADE

You'll want to grow this well — known as the money plant, this succulent is said to bring good luck and fortune into your life. It won't take much effort, either. Propagate a jade plant putting a few leaves by a water source — not even in one! — and they'll start rooting. We kid you not, here's the proof! After which, though, you'd want to plant them in soil.

3. PAPERWHITES

Grown from bulbs, Paperwhites need nothing more than water — and perhaps some pebbles to anchor them in the vase — to grow into clusters of beautiful blooms. Take care to keep the water level just below the base of the bulbs, but no higher, to prevent rotting.

4. BASIL

Simply leave a few stems in a container of water — the warmth of your kitchen in Singapore allows basil to thrive wonderfully. Once they've grown out, mature leaves are great sprinkled on homemade pizza or thrown into your omelette.

5. SAGE

Like basil, sage stems grow roots in water, and begin to sprout more leaves in a matter of weeks. Make sure your sage plant has enough light and fresh air, and replace the water to keep it clean, as it's an easy target for mould to grow.

6. THYME

Pluck a few stems of an almost-mature thyme plant, just before the plant starts to flower (these are most likely to sprout), and place them in water. Thyme tends to dry out pretty quickly, but TLC isn't tedious - simply sprinkle them with water when needed.

7. SPINACH

Who needs the supermarket when you can grow your own salad? There's a reason why hydroponic farmers love growing leafy veggies like spinach, lettuce, and bok choy - and it's the same reason why you'll love it - they grow wonderfully in water beds without much need for extra care.

8. LEMON BALM

Take a few fresh stems and place it in a jar of water. Better yet, keep the plant outside until it grows fresh leaves before bringing it indoors. Bonus: the lemony, minty scent will fill your kitchen with a fresh fragrance.

9. ARROWHEAD

After all, these are pond plants. Grow arrowhead plants from its corms in a pot of water, with some pebbles to allow the plant to root itself. Arrowhead plants grow quickly, and will begin to vine, too, so if you intend to grow them for a long time, it's more advisable to grow it in soil.

10. ALUMINIUM PLANT

This tropical houseplant is well-loved in Singapore for its striking metallic silver patterns embossed on its deep green leaves. Tip: They're beautiful when grown in hanging baskets!

This article was first published in Her World Online.