Curious about houseplants that can grow without soil? Keep reading to learn more.
Gardeners often like to spend a lot of time outside, getting their hands dirty and enjoying some of the soil that is all around them. There’s something to be said about dirt under your fingernails!
But if you are worried about getting your home messy, while still wanting to have some fresh plants inside, you may be interested in finding which plants can be grown in your home without all of that messy soil. All the benefits of gardening without all the hassle! Plus, these plants work great for people who live in apartments or are otherwise somehow restricted in how they can grow outdoors.
The good news is there are a number of houseplants that can be grown indoors - and even without soil. While this may not seem like reality since we have been told that all plants need soil to live and grow, there are nonetheless a few plants that may be the perfect fit for you.
Let’s take a look at some of the best houseplants that grow without soil.
The 9 Best Houseplants That Grow Without Soil
There are a ton of great houseplants out there that you can choose to work with, but not all of them will give you the benefit of growing them without soil - and without the mess in your home.
Some of the best houseplants to grow without soil include:
1. Air Plants
The air plant, or Tillandsia, is a type of plant that is able to grow in the air rather than in soil like a traditional plant. This may sound a little strange, but can be a fun addition to your home and may even turn into the ice breaker that you need when people come over to visit. There are actually over 650 varieties that exist and some will have colorful blooms while others have more foliage to share.
The leaves of these plants are able to grow into a rosette formation. This is important because that is responsible for helping the plants to gather water and nutrients out of the environment. When they are displayed in your home, you can either mount them up to brighten a corner or add them to a decorative dish that will look nice as well.
These little beauties will grow particularly well in your bathroom, for more bathroom plant ideas, you can check out this article.
2. Spanish Moss
Spanish moss may not sound like one of the glamorous plants to grow, but it certainly will work well in your home and can be grown without soil. With the drooping, gray-green tendrils, this type of moss is able to evoke thoughts and memories of those humid summer days and even the romance of the southern areas.
This is a plant that will often grow on trees, absorbing the nutrients and water it needs from the atmosphere around it. With the right kind of care though, it does have the ability to grow inside.
To maintain this plant as a type of houseplant, it is important to mist it with some water two times a week or more. You can also use a high-phosphorus liquid fertilizer every two weeks. You should choose a trusted supplier to provide you with the Spanish moss you would like to grow inside. Bringing some from the wild will mean small insects get into your home, which can be a nightmare to deal with.
3. Marimo Moss Balls
Some homeowners like to instead work with a type of plant that is known as the Marimo moss ball. This is technically a type of spherical algae, but it will also do well without having to grow in soil so it can keep your home clean.
There are two main ways that most homeowners will choose to work with this plant/algae. They may add it to an aquarium and let it thrive along with the fish for a unique look - or they can add it to a jar of water and let it grow in there.
There is a little bit of maintenance work that needs to be done with the Marimo Moss Ball if you choose to add it to your home. You should keep them in a low amount of indirect sunlight. You do need to change out the water, but this only needs to be done every few weeks. It may not be the most exciting option on our list - but it can still be a great option to keep your home with some greenery without having a ton of work to do in the process.
4. Paperwhites
This plant, also known as the Narcissus Tazetta, is another option if you would like to have something that is able to flower for you. The paperwhite is a variety of daffodil that can be forced from bulbs indoors during the winter if you so choose. These fragrant plants will grow in almost anything that you would like. In fact, they are fine being with some water and a few pebbles if you want to liven the area up.
Thanks to the blooms that are white and yellow in color, these paperwhites are just what you need to add a little brightness throughout your home, even in the winter months. They are simple to grow and you can even choose some pebbles or a container that is nice and bright as well to make sure your room looks better than before.
5. Orchids
Orchids can be a really pretty addition to your home, with pretty pink or purple flowers that will look nice no matter which room you decide to put them in. Most tropical orchids are known as epiphytes, which means that they are going to grow on other plants rather than needing to rely on the soil in order to do well.
Even though it may seem a little bit different, orchids are not parasitic. Instead, the roots will be covered in a squishy membrane-like material that is able to suck up any water in the atmosphere.
Many orchids are going to be sold as a houseplant and they are sold with some kind of planting medium. This can be stones or moss in many cases. You will find that they can grow on other mediums as well. Once their roots take hold, for example, it is possible for them to grow on something simple like a piece of bark.
6. Philodendron
Another option that you may want to choose for your home if you need some plants without all the mess is the philodendron. This is a plant that is known for its lush, trailing, heart-shaped leaves. It does well in a lot of different environments, being able to tolerate bright and low light, and it does not require a lot of care so if you are busy, it will fit into your lifestyle pretty well.
This plant is often grown in a traditional pot, even though it can still do well without soil and you can choose to place it in a jar of tap water and call it good. If you wish to propagate this plant, you just need to snip off six inches of the plant and then remove the two lower sets of leaves that are there.
Then, submerge that cutting into a jar or glass of water and wait ten days to see the roots forming. This makes it easier to get more of this plant to add to your home, all without soil.
7. Spearmint
Herbs are not only beautiful plants that can make your home smell nice and require minimal work, they can have a number of benefits as well. For example, when you grow your own herbs, you will always have some of the fresh spices that you need for your favorite meals. Herbs are also a great plant to use because they will not need soil to grow if you do not want to use soil.
Herbs are traditionally grown in soil. However, there are many kinds of herbs, including spearmint, that will do great when you plant them, not among soil, but among water and stones. There are different ways that you can grow the spearmint, but one of the most common, and the easiest, is to do it from the cuttings. To do this, just get a piece from an already grown mint and then use it in a transparent box or a pot. Then add in enough water to that so the roots have room to grow.
The spearmint will need some warmer temperatures and indirect light to grow well. Keep in mind that it will often grow in the same direction as the light so you may need to rotate the pot around to help the spearmint grow in an even direction. When the growing period is over, you can enjoy some fresh spearmint without having to worry about the soil. You can keep your delicious home-grown herbs for even longer with our tips on preserving them.
8. Lucky Bamboo
Despite the name it is given, this plant is actually not a type of bamboo at all. It may look similar to bamboo plants, but it is more of a decorative houseplant that is perfect for those who may have struggled to keep a plant alive for very long in their homes before. In fact, this plant is seen to be almost indestructible, so it is perfect if you are not that great with plants or you are worried about a cat or dog knocking it over.
This plant can technically do really well when it is placed into the soil so that is still an option if you choose to do it. However, many gardeners have had success with growing it hydroponically. This means that you rely on water and a type of nutrient solution to make the plant happy and healthy.
All you really need to help this Lucky Bamboo do well in your home is a glass of water at least an inch deep. Add in a little support system, such as gravel or another similar medium, to make sure the plant stays up straight, and you are good to go.
Bamboo is a great option to use in your home. It is a great ice breaker to help you have something to talk about with others if you would like. And it looks really fun. There are a number of nurseries that offer this if you would like and you can choose from a number of shoots. You can put them all together in one pot with a chosen medium to keep it upright, or you can choose to have them spread out around the home to complete the look.
9. Aechmea
The final plant on our list is the Aechmea. This is one of the many plant members of the Bromeliad family. It is an absolutely stunning tropical plant.
It is common to find this one sold in a decorative container in most nurseries. These plants are able to grow in a very small amount of soil. But in the wild, they are considered a grappler that is not a parasite. Similar to the other option on our list that did the same thing, these like to grow with their roots anchored on to another plant that is the host.
The Aechmea is easy to work with. It can thrive whether it spends a lot of time in the shade or in the light. And it is not susceptible to many pests so that is less of a worry when you decide to grow this one. Given how easy it is to care for, the lack of soil that is required, and the bright colors that come with this plant, it is no wonder that they are the perfect gift to give someone who needs a new houseplant. You may be able to shop around a little bit to find the right color of aechmea for your own home or to give to someone else.
Tips for Growing Houseplants without Soil
There are a lot of different houseplants that you can consider growing. Many of them will require you to have soil and all the messy work that tends to come with them. If you want to avoid the mess and save some hassle, then you need to consider which ones can be grown without soil at all.
All of the great plants that we listed above can be done in this way, adding a bit of nature, and greenery, to your home, without any worry of the soil and mess. Some of them work with water while others may want to have rocks or another medium around to at least help them stay upright.
If you're looking for ways to brighten up particular areas of your home, you can choose from our list of the perfect plants for your home office, and plants that will improve your air quality.
There’s no single best houseplant that grows without soil for every indoor gardener. Choose what is best for you to have some amazing houseplants - without all the mess.
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