Fresh herbs are a staple in the kitchen that add so much flavor and depth to your food. They liven up dishes and add that subtle aroma that truly completes your meals. But, it’s no surprise that herbs can be quite costly to buy in the grocery store. A fool-proof way to cut costs and have an abundance of herbs to enjoy is by growing your own in water instead!
Herbs can grow in more than just your garden. In fact, many herbs will thrive growing in only water. Cuttings from herb plants can easily be rooted and placed into a glass of water to continue growing for weeks. You can grow them indoors on a sunny window sill or under a grow light — all while skipping the soil and mess.
Learn all about five herbs that you can grow in water at home.
Table of Contents
1. Basil
Basil is one of the easiest herbs to start growing in water. Popular basil types include ‘Genovese,’ ‘Sweet Thai,’ and ‘Greek.’ You can propagate by cuttings, which root quite quickly.
When t taking a cutting from a basil plant, trim a 4-inch section with clean, disinfected scissors. Always trim below a leaf node — the part on the stem where new leaves grow. Also, it’s important that the cutting is from a mature basil plant that has not gone to flower yet.
Remove any lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only the top few leaves intact. Next, place into a large glass of water, submerging a couple of inches of the stem. Change the water every three to four days or when it appears foggy. Basil plants will develop roots in one to four weeks.
Pro Tip: Basil is sensitive to chlorine, commonly found in tap water. Consider using filtered water or collected rainwater when rooting a basil plant in water.
2. Oregano
Oregano grows very quickly in water and is a herb you need to try growing indoors. This perennial herb grows best in hardiness zones 5 and above; however, other zones can take advantage of growing it indoors no matter what time of year. Some species of oregano to consider include Greek (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) and Italian (Origanum x marjoricum), also sometimes referred to as marjoram.
Oregano will root in water in only a few weeks. When taking a cutting from an oregano plant, always look for new growth from which to trim. Choose a section of the plant with green stems and avoid older stems that appear brown or woody. Older ones like this will not root properly in water.
When propagating oregano, trim a section 3 to 5 inches long. Remove any leaves from the bottom of the oregano cutting, leaving at least two leaves at the top. Place the stems into water and move to a bright location that receives plenty of indirect sunlight.
3. Mint Â
Mint is one of the best herbs to grow in water because it is resilient and fast-producing! You can enjoy mint in all kinds of different ways — from sauces to homemade teas to refreshing cocktails. The most common species of mint are spearmint (Mentha spicata), peppermint (Mentha x piperita), and its cultivar ‘Chocolate Mint’ (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate Mint’).
Mint will develop roots in water in as little as 10 days. To start, take a cutting off of an established mint plant that is at least 6 inches long and includes a few leaf nodes. After removing any bottom leaves, place the cutting in water and watch how fast it grows! Mint grows very quickly and will continue to flourish in water for weeks.
4. Thyme
If you are a thyme lover, consider growing this aromatic herb in water. Thyme gives off a light fragrance whenever you touch it and adds tons of flavor to a variety of dishes. It’s also fast to root in water, taking approximately two weeks to develop roots. The most popular choices for culinary use include common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus).
The best time to take cuttings off your thyme plant is in the spring when new growth appears. Trim a few inches off the plant below a leaf node when it’s not flowering. Next, remove any lower leaves from the stem. Place the cutting into water and change it every few days. Leave your plant in a location that receives partial shade.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is another great choice to grow in water. However, keep in mind that this plant will take a while to start producing roots. It may be a little slower to grow, but nonetheless, this herb will be very happy growing on a sunny windowsill in water! There are quite a few cultivars of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), including ‘Tuscan Blue,’ ‘Arp,’ and ‘Miss Jessup’s Upright.’
Like oregano, when trimming rosemary, only trim off new growth. Take your cuttings in the springtime and look for stems that appear greener in color, instead of brown. Trim a 6-inch section of the plant, removing the bottom 2 inches of leaves. Place rosemary cuttings into a glass of water and leave it in a bright location.
Pro Tip: To speed up the rooting process, use a rooting hormone on rosemary cuttings. Dip the cut stem into a rooting hormone before placing it in water.
Get Growing Herbs in WaterÂ
Growing in water is a fun way to experiment and ensures you have plenty of fresh herbs to enjoy all year round. Make sure to place your indoor herb garden in a spot that receives plenty of bright light, and remember to change the water regularly. So, what are you waiting for — try growing one of these herbs indoors today!
Have you tried growing herbs in water before? How did it go? Leave a comment down below.
