If there’s one plant I always recommend to friends, especially the I forget to water kind, it’s the snake plant. In fact, some of the healthiest snake plants I’ve grown lately are lounging in nothing but filtered water and a handful of smooth river rocks.
I started growing mine this way after a friend gave me a jar setup she called her clean plant experiment. No gnats, no dirt on the windowsill, just bright green leaves rising from a vase.
It looked so stylish I thought, surely it’s just for show. But no, these plants thrive in water, and they grow roots that are surprisingly strong and healthy. Add a few decorative rocks and it suddenly feels like a mini indoor spa for your favorite plant.
Why Grow Snake Plants in Water?
At first, it feels a little counterintuitive, putting a drought-tolerant, desert-loving plant like a snake plant into water.
But once you try it, it just makes sense. Snake plants are incredibly resilient and adaptable. When their base is kept just barely touching clean water, they respond by sending out roots. You don’t need to worry about overwatering because the key here is control.
In addition, this way makes your plants tidy due to no messy potting mix, no bugs flying around, no risk of compacted soil choking the roots. Instead, you get this calming, minimalistic setup.
And honestly, for beginners or forgetful waterers, it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to grow a plant indoors.
What You’ll Need
- A healthy leaf cutting or young pup from a mature snake plant
- Sharp, clean scissors
- A clear jar or vase
- Decorative stones
- Filtered, rain, or distilled water
Make sure the rocks are scrubbed and rinsed. Besides, the water should be free of chlorine or heavy minerals, especially at the beginning when roots are just forming.
