12 Herbs that Grow in Water Without Any Difficulty
Propagating herbs in water can save your time and energy as well. Our best picks of herbs that grow in water are listed below!
Herbs not only enhance the flavor of the culinary dishes but are also used to make many concoctions such as herbal teas. Also, there are many medicinal uses of herbs, and some herbs being aromatic are used in aromatherapy as well. You’ll be delighted to know that many herbs grow in water and do not require a growing medium such as soil! So if you don’t want to go through the trouble of growing herbs in soil or any other medium, here is the list of herbs that root in the water!
1. Oregano
Scientific Name: Origanum Vulgare
Oregano is a popular herb that’s used for thousands of years in culinary dishes and herbal medicines. It’s rich in antioxidants and some vitamins and minerals and thus has many health benefits. Oregano is soft-stemmed, and thus is easy to propagate oregano cuttings in the water and further grow them in water.
2. Basil
Scientific Name: Ocimum Basilicum
Growing basil in water is easy and fun! Take cuttings from a basil plant and place them in a jar filled with clean and non-chlorinated water. Basil will root in a couple of weeks and continue to grow in pots if you make sure to change the water every 2-3 weeks.
3. Mint
Scientific Name: Mentha
Mint is a popular herb that contains 15-20 plant species such as peppermint and spearmint. It’s used widely in chewing gums, candy, toothpaste, and beauty products. Propagating mint in water is pretty easy, and all you need to do is take a cutting and placing it in a clean glass of water. Soon the roots will start to form.
4. Lemon Balm
Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis
Also known as balm mint, it’s a member of the mint family and offers a distinct mild lemon-scented foliage. It also bears white flowers during summers, which attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The leaves are used to make herbal teas, flavoring dishes, and the essential oil extracted from them is used in aromatherapy.
5. Stevia
Scientific Name: Stevia rebaudiana
Stevia is used as an alternative to sugar and is sold under different trade names in the market. It’s also known as candy leaf, sweetleaf, or sugarleaf and is a non-nutritive sweetener, which means that it contains little to no calories. The stevia-derived sweeteners are generally healthy alternates to sugar and aid in weight loss and diabetes.
6. Sage
Scientific Name: Salvia officinalis
It’s an aromatic herb used to season and flavor various dishes both in its fresh and dry forms. It goes well with thyme as stuffing for chicken, turkey, and pork, also used in sausages. Also, going by the name common sage or garden sage, some sage varieties have attractive foliage and flowers and are grown for ornamental use.
7. Thyme
Scientific Name: Thymus Vulgaris
As mentioned above, thyme and sage go hand in hand when it comes to flavoring and seasoning poultry. Thin stems grow out in clusters and sport small oval-shaped leaves that are fragrant and flavorful. The cuttings root easily in water and take around a couple of weeks.
8. Rosemary
Scientific Name: Salvia Rosmarinus
This woody perennial fragrant and used commercially in perfumes, culinary dishes, and also in aromatherapy. The needle-like foliage gives this plant a distinct appearance, which is intensified by the flowers that range from white, pink, purple to deep blue. It’s a hardy plant and is even considered invasive in some parts of the world.
9. Cilantro
Scientific Name: Coriandrum sativum
Chinese parsley, dhania, or coriander are some other names of the popular annual herb cilantro. Apart from fresh leaves, dried seeds and it’s powdered form is also used to add a savory note to various culinary dishes. It’s a popular herb and is used liberally in Mexican and Indian cuisines.
10. Catnip
Scientific Name: Nepeta Cataria
Catnip is a mint family member with light green leaves having toothed edges and lavender flowers that grow on the flower stalks. Catnip fares well in water, and it’s cutting root in no time in the water. Choose a healthy plant to take a cutting that contains at least one node and remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting. Take a clean jar, fill it with water, and place the cutting in it, and soon the roots will start to form. Transplant it to a well-draining sterile potting soil once the plant roots.
11. Lavender
Scientific Name: Lavandula
The vibrant flowers and aroma of lavender make it a prized possession for gardeners. Historically it was used in herbal medicines, and the essential oil derived from lavender flowers is used in aromatherapy. Apart from uplifting the mood, the aromatherapy from lavender also improves cognitive function and can nullify cancer treatment’s side effects as found by the NCA. It’s in our list of herbs that grow in water, which means that lavender cuttings root in water.
12. Lemongrass
Scientific Name: Cymbopogon Citratus
Lemongrass grows from the stalks to propagate it in water and cut the plant’s bottom portion to get the stalk of 5-6 inches in length. Place the stalk in a bowl or jar filled with clean water, and in a couple of weeks, the roots will start to form. Ensure that the top half of the stalk remains above the water and the stalk isn’t fully submerged. Lemongrass grows well in a spot that receives around 6-8 hours of direct sun.
Also Read: How to Grow Lemongrass
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