Add more color to your houseplant collection with these variegated plants that grow in water. They’re easy to care for and perfect for clear glass vases!
Growing variegated foliage plants in water is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the colors without dealing with messy potting soil. A simple glass jar, fresh water, and a healthy cutting are often all you need to get started. Here are some of the prettiest variegated plants you can grow in water at home.
Variegated Plants You Can Grow in Water
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1. Variegated Monstera
Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa ‘Albo Variegata’
Even a single cutting of a variegated Monstera in a clear glass vase becomes a beautiful display as thick white roots develop beneath the water and the dramatic foliage unfurls above.
Make sure your cutting includes at least one healthy node, since that’s where new roots will emerge. Here are more Monstera types that grow in water!
Pro Tip: Avoid placing the cutting in direct afternoon sun, as the white portions of the leaves can scorch more easily than the green sections.
2. Creeping Basket Plant
Botanical Name: Callisia repens ‘Pink Lady’
The tiny leaves are splashed with soft pink, cream, and green, giving this trailing plant plenty of presence even in a small glass jar. It roots quickly in water, and before long, the colorful stems begin to cascade over the sides.
Keep your ‘Pink Lady’ jar in bright, indirect light to help the pink tones stay vibrant, and refresh the water every 5–7 days for healthy root growth. You can even grow it in a wine glass!
Do pinch back the tips once in a while to encourage a fuller, bushier plant instead of long, sparse stems.
3. Marble Queen Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’
Marble Queen keeps things interesting because no two leaves ever seem to look exactly alike. Some come out almost white, and others are green with pretty white patterns.
You only need a couple of cuttings in water, and in a week or two, you’ll have creamy foliage gently spilling over the rim of the jar with new roots inside. Here are some of the best spots to keep pothos!
One thing to know is that it’s perfectly normal if the first roots growing in water look different from roots in soil. These “water roots” are thinner and better adapted to life underwater.
4. N’Joy Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum ‘N’Joy’
N’Joy grows a little more slowly, which often helps the white variegation stay cleaner and more defined, unlike some faster-growing pothos varieties.
Its neat growth and white variegation are a lovely choice for a bedside table or office desk, where every new leaf gets noticed all the time. This stylish bedside table can be a nice option!
Don’t forget to change the water every 3-5 days for this one. And ASAP if you notice it getting cloudy or milky white; it’s a bad sign.
Pro Tip: Rotate the jar every week so all sides receive even light and the vines grow evenly. Or try placing it in a rotating plant stand to make things easier!
5. Philodendron Pink Princess
Botanical Name: Philodendron erubescens
If you like multiple colors in a houseplant, then the philodendron pink princess is a great choice for its pink and purple contrast! The roots grow so quickly that you’ll find yourself checking the jar every morning to see how much progress you made overnight. Fun, right?
As the vines mature, the newer leaves often emerge brighter before gradually deepening in color. Here are the six best varieties of pink princesses you need to check out!
Caution: Don’t worry if an older leaf turns yellow after being moved from soil to water; it’s just part of the adjustment process.
6. Variegated Heartleaf Philodendron
Botanical Name: Philodendron hederaceum ‘Variegata
This variegated heartleaf looks at its best with the scattered patches across the leaves. And as fresh leaves unfurl, you’ll often notice each one carries a different pattern that kind of keeps the fun for a plant parent!
This guide to philodendron varieties with detailed indoor care can help you choose the right one for your home decor.
Pro Tip: Older vines usually root faster than soft new growth, so taking cuttings from mature stems often gives quicker results.
7. Satin Pothos
Botanical Name: Scindapsus pictus
Despite its name, the satin pothos isn’t actually a true pothos; it’s from the Scindapsus genus. The velvety leaves and silver patches are what set it apart.
Every leaf with silver markings unfolds, a mix of green and white; gradually, the stems mature and begin trailing naturally when propagated by water.
If you’re taking fresh cuttings, wearing gardening gloves is a good idea, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Go with a tall glass bottle or a propagation station that looks cool for a beautiful setup and helps show off both the foliage and the developing roots.
8. Tradescantia ‘Nanouk’
Botanical Name: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’
Those soft pink stripes are usually the first thing people notice, but wait until you see the roots begin to fill the jar. Nanouk grows quickly in water, and every fresh leaf seems to bring a new mix of pink, cream, and green.
Plus, a clear propagation vase makes the colorful stems and roots part of the display. And keep the setup in a bright spot if you want the colors to keep looking fresh!
This is one of those plants that tells you when it’s happy. Give it enough light, and the pink-purple tones become noticeably richer on new growth.
9. Manjula Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Manjula’
Those lime-green streaks almost look as though someone painted them by hand. Yes, you need to give it fresh water every week, but otherwise the maintenance is pretty easy.
The wavy edges are part of what makes Manjula different from other pothos varieties, giving each leaf a softer, almost ruffled appearance.
Pro Tip: A few drops of liquid indoor plant food once a month can keep new growth looking healthy if you’re growing it in water long-term.
One of the nicest things about growing variegated plants in water is that you get to enjoy every stage of their growth.
New leaves slowly unfurl, fresh roots fill the jar, and before you know it, a single cutting has turned into your favorite little corner of the house. All it takes is a clean jar, fresh water, and a bit of patience.
Check out these sophisticated glass jar options for some style and one that makes your work easy!
