Here are stunning red plants that you can grow in water to turn simple glass jars into colorful indoor displays with very little effort!
Green isn’t the only foliage color that looks beautiful in a water-filled vase. Plenty of houseplants with rich red foliage or blooms adapt surprisingly well to water, giving you a colorful spectacle without reaching for a bag of potting mix. Here are the best ones!
Red Plants You Can Grow in Water
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1. Red Ruby
Botanical Name: Aglaonema ‘Red Ruby’
If you’re trying water propagation for the first time, this Chinese evergreen variety is one of the most forgiving Aglaonemas to begin with. Its sturdy stems stay firm in water, and once the roots begin to develop, the rich red foliage looks even more striking against a clear glass vase.
In dim corners, fresh growth often emerges with more green than red. So, an easy rule of thumb? More bright, indirect light results in a deeper red shade on the leaves.
A ribbed glass propagation vase like this beautifully shows off both the colorful stems and the developing roots.
2. Aglaonema ‘Red Lipstick’
Botanical Name: Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora’
One glance at the leaves is enough to see where this Aglaonema variety gets its name. The thin red edges on every leaf look so neatly painted that they almost seem artificial.
And if you’re growing it in water, just keep the stems above the waterline and adjust any leaves before they dip into the water. A thing many people don’t realize is that Aglaonemas dislike frequent disturbances, so once your cutting begins rooting in water, try not to move the jar around too often.
Pro Tip: A long-neck glass vase keeps the stems upright while showing off the roots below.
3. Red Anthurium
Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum
These glossy red spathes can last for weeks in water, and besides, Anthurium is one of the longest-flowering houseplants you’ll find around. While it’s usually grown in bark, mature plants also adapt well to semi-water culture, where only the roots (not the crown) remain in contact with water.
You can try this lightweight LECA growing medium; it’s a great companion if you decide to try semi-hydroponic growing.
Caution: Avoid submerging the crown of the plant because constant moisture around the crown can lead to rot, even if the roots are healthy.
4. Polka Dot Plant
Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya
The polka dot plant is one of those cuttings that rewards impatient gardeners. Fresh cuttings often begin rooting within a 2-4 weeks.
As it grows, make sure to pinch the tips every now and then; plus, the extra branching gives you a much fuller splash of color in the jar. Here are some more amazing polka dot plant varieties.
Fun Fact: The colorful spots become much more vibrant when the plant receives bright, filtered light.
5. Mosaic Plant
Botanical Name: Fittonia albivenis
The bright red veins of a Fittonia almost look as though they’ve been carefully painted onto each leaf. It enjoys consistently moist conditions, which is why it adapts surprisingly well to growing in water.
Just take a 4-inch piece of stem using sharp scissors and make sure there are 2 to 3 leaf nodes for propagation. You can also try growing them in self-watering planters!
You’ll need a wide-mouth glass jar to make it easy to monitor the roots and refresh the water now and then.
6. Syngonium Red Arrow
Botanical Name: Syngonium erythrophyllum ‘Red Arrow’
The deep burgundy undersides of the leaves are easy to miss until the vines begin climbing or trailing. That hidden flash of deep red color is what makes it such a favorite among collectors.
When propagating in water, keep refreshing the water every 3 days until the roots are about 2 inches long. After that, once a week is fine. Earlier, if the water turns cloudy. Check out this care guide for more details.
A narrow-neck propagation bottle or even a propagation station with individual glass tubes makes it easy to root several cuttings at once.
7. Philodendron Red Emerald
Botanical Name: Philodendron erubescens ‘Red Emerald’
The glossy green leaves may catch your eyes first, but it’s the rich red stems that make this philodendron stand out the best. Besides, fresh cuttings root readily in water, and replacing the water once a week keeps the roots healthy and well oxygenated.
If you’re growing it in water for a long time, a diluted liquid hydroponic fertilizer every 4–6 weeks will help with steady new growth.
Check out this detailed care guide to learn and grow a philodendron red emerald successfully indoors.
8. Bloodleaf
Botanical Name: Iresine herbstii
Bloodleaf isn’t a plant that blends into the background. The vivid crimson-red veins stay remarkably bold, especially when the plant receives plenty of bright, indirect light.
It’s an easy one to multiply if you’d like more colorful plants in jars around the house, and it roots in just 2-3 weeks. Here’s a tip, if the newer leaves begin looking greener than red, it’s usually a sign the plant could use a brighter spot.
Feed it once or twice a month with a pinch of balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer to help support healthy new growth if you’re keeping it in water for an extended period.
A little color goes a long way, especially when it’s growing right on your windowsill. Just pick your favorite red plant, place it in a clear jar of water, and enjoy the changing roots, fresh leaves, and shades that make these houseplants so rewarding to grow!
