Indoor Gardening Guide · Updated 2026
11 Herbs You Can Grow in Just Water
No soil, no pots, no yard. Just a jar, a windowsill, and a bit of patience, though how much patience depends entirely on which herb you pick.
Not every herb that “can” grow in water actually thrives there. Mint will live in a glass on your counter indefinitely and barely notice the difference from soil. Rosemary will root in water too, eventually, but it takes about two months, needs a rooting hormone to reliably succeed, and grows stronger long-term once it’s moved to soil. Cilantro and parsley, despite showing up on plenty of water-propagation lists, mostly don’t root from cuttings at all, since they grow from a single taproot without the leaf nodes other herbs use to sprout new roots.
This list sticks to 11 herbs that are genuinely worth growing in water, sorted into three honest categories: the ones that live in a jar forever, the woody ones that need real patience, and the ones you regrow from kitchen scraps rather than a cut stem.
Quick answer: mint, basil, lemon balm, stevia, watercress, and lemongrass genuinely thrive in water long-term. Rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme will root in water but grow best if eventually moved to soil. Chives regrow well from the base of a bunch rather than a true cutting.
Why Grow Herbs in Water Instead of Soil?
No potting mix, no drainage trays, no soil bugs showing up in your kitchen. A jar of herbs on a windowsill takes up less space than a pot, works in a tiny apartment kitchen as easily as a house, and lets you actually watch the roots develop instead of guessing what’s happening underground. It’s also close to free: most of these herbs start from a cutting off a plant you already have, or a bunch you were going to use in dinner anyway.
11 Herbs You Can Grow in Just Water
Here’s how long each one typically takes to root, and whether it’s happy staying in water forever or eventually wants soil.
Approximate rooting time from a fresh stem cutting. Watercress, lemongrass, and chives aren’t shown since they don’t root the same way, they regrow directly.
Mint
Cut a healthy sprig just below a leaf node, strip the lower leaves so nothing sits underwater, and drop it in a jar of water on a bright windowsill out of direct afternoon sun. Roots typically show up within about ten days, and mint is genuinely content living in water indefinitely, no transplant required.
Basil
Snip a 4 to 6 inch stem from a mature plant, remove the bottom leaves, and place it in water near a bright window. Basil is one of the fastest and most reliable herbs to root from a cutting, and it will keep growing in water for months if you keep the water fresh.
Lemon Balm
A soft-stemmed relative of mint, lemon balm roots readily in water and grows fast enough that regular harvesting actually keeps it bushier rather than leggy. Good for teas as much as cooking.
Stevia
Less commonly grown than the others here, but stevia is a soft-stemmed herb that behaves a lot like mint and basil in water, rooting readily from a fresh cutting and tolerating life in a jar long-term. Worth trying if you want a natural sweetener growing on your counter.
Watercress
Unlike the others on this list, watercress is naturally an aquatic plant, so growing it in water isn’t a workaround, it’s the plant’s actual habitat. Start from a store-bought bunch with stems still intact, or from seed directly in a shallow water tray, and change the water every couple of days to keep it from stagnating.
Lemongrass
Buy a fresh stalk with the base intact, trim the top, and stand it in a couple of inches of water. New growth usually appears from the center within a couple of weeks, and lemongrass will keep producing in water for a long stretch before it outgrows a small jar.
Oregano
Take cuttings from soft, green new growth rather than older woody stems, which root far more reliably. Expect three to four weeks before roots appear, and pinch the growing tips regularly to keep the plant bushy rather than leggy.
Thyme
Like oregano, thyme roots fastest from green, non-woody growth. Keep the leaves above the waterline to prevent rot, and expect around a month before real roots form.
Sage
Sage will root in water, but multiple growers report meaningfully better success rooting it in soil instead. If you’re set on water, take a cutting from a shoot below a leaf node and be ready to wait four to six weeks.
Rosemary
The slowest herb on this list, and the one most growers recommend dipping in rooting hormone before setting in water. Roughly two months to root, with a 50 to 70% success rate even under good conditions. Once it does root, it keeps growing steadily, but it’s happiest transplanted into soil rather than left in water indefinitely.
Chives
Chives don’t propagate well from a true stem cutting, they grow in clumps from a bulb-like base, so the reliable method is standing the white root end of a fresh bunch in water rather than cutting a leaf and hoping it roots. New growth typically shows up within a few days.
How to Start Growing Herbs in Water
That’s where the plant’s rooting hormones concentrate, and it’s the spot most likely to actually sprout roots.
Any leaf that ends up underwater rots and clouds the water faster than it should.
Let tap water sit out a few hours first if your water is heavily chlorinated, some herbs are sensitive to it.
Most herbs on this list want bright indirect light; a few, like basil, thyme, and stevia, do well with some direct sun.
Rosemary and sage in particular take weeks longer than mint or basil. That’s normal, not a sign something’s wrong.
Best Containers for Water-Grown Herbs
Mason jars and clear drinking glasses are the obvious choice, and they work well because you can actually see root development and spot problems, like cloudy water or rot, before they get serious. The one tradeoff: clear glass lets light reach the roots as well as the leaves, which can encourage algae growth over time in a very sunny spot. A jar with slightly tinted or frosted glass, or one wrapped loosely with paper for the lower half, cuts down on algae without hiding root growth entirely. Whatever you use, a wide mouth makes it easier to keep multiple cuttings upright without them tipping into each other.
How Often Should You Change the Water?
Every two to three days for most herbs, more often if the water looks cloudy or you notice a smell. Fresh water matters more than people expect, stagnant water is where root rot and algae both get started, and it’s the single most common reason a promising cutting suddenly wilts after a few good weeks.
Tips to Keep Herbs Healthy Without Soil
Overly long roots pull energy away from leaf growth, which matters more once you’re harvesting regularly.
Water alone lacks the minerals soil provides long-term. A few drops every few weeks, once roots are a couple inches long, makes a real difference.
Crowded jars compete for light and nutrients, and mint in particular will outcompete a shared container fast.
Regular trimming keeps most of these herbs bushy rather than leggy, and it’s the whole point of growing them within arm’s reach of the kitchen.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submerged leaves rot fast and cloud the water, which then affects the whole cutting, not just that leaf.
Stagnant water is the most common reason a healthy-looking cutting suddenly fails after weeks of progress.
Woody herbs genuinely take weeks to months longer. Giving up at week three is the most common reason people think rosemary “doesn’t work” in water.
Both grow from a single taproot without the leaf nodes needed to sprout new roots, so cuttings usually fail regardless of technique. Grow these from seed instead.
A dim corner keeps a cutting alive but rarely thriving. Most of these herbs want a genuinely bright windowsill, not just ambient room light.
Can Herbs Grow in Water Forever?
Some can, some can’t, and the difference comes down to plant structure. Soft-stemmed herbs like mint, basil, lemon balm, and stevia, along with naturally aquatic watercress, are genuinely happy living in water indefinitely, with people keeping the same jar going for years. Woody herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme will survive in water for a good while, but they’re built to pull minerals from soil in a way plain water can’t fully replace, so they grow more vigorously, and live longer, once transplanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can herbs grow in water permanently?
Soft-stemmed herbs like mint, basil, lemon balm, and stevia can. Woody herbs like rosemary and sage will survive for a while in water but grow best if eventually moved to soil.
Which herbs grow best in water?
Mint and basil are the most reliable and forgiving. Both root within a week or two and thrive in water long-term with minimal fuss.
Do herbs need sunlight if grown in water?
Yes. Water replaces soil, not light. Most herbs on this list need bright indirect light, and a few, like basil and thyme, do best with some direct sun.
How often should I change the water?
Every two to three days for most herbs, sooner if the water looks cloudy or develops a smell.
Can I grow basil in water?
Yes, and it’s one of the easiest herbs on this list. Basil roots in under a week and will keep growing in water for months.
Can mint grow only in water?
Mint can grow exclusively in water for its entire life with no issues. It’s one of the few herbs that genuinely doesn’t need soil at any stage.
Do herbs need fertilizer in water?
Not immediately, but a diluted liquid fertilizer every few weeks once roots are established helps replace the minerals soil would normally provide.
Can you propagate rosemary in water?
Yes, but it’s slow, typically around two months, with a 50 to 70% success rate even under good conditions. Rooting hormone improves the odds, and the plant grows best if moved to soil once rooted.
What herbs regrow from cuttings?
Mint, basil, lemon balm, stevia, oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary all regrow from stem cuttings. Cilantro and parsley generally don’t, since they lack the leaf nodes needed to root.
Is hydroponic herb gardening easy?
For soft-stemmed herbs like mint and basil, yes, it’s genuinely one of the easiest ways to keep fresh herbs going. Woody herbs take more patience and a higher tolerance for slow progress.
Final Thoughts
The honest version of this list skips a few herbs you’ll see recommended elsewhere. Cilantro and parsley in particular show up on a lot of “grow in water” roundups, but neither reliably roots from a cutting, so you’re better off starting them from seed and saving water propagation for the herbs actually built for it. Start with mint or basil if you want a fast, low-effort win, and treat rosemary or sage as a longer project once you’ve got the basics down.
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