15 Best Hydroponic Houseplants and How to Grow Them
Growing houseplants hydroponically is a modern way to get beautiful growth without soil, pots, or laborious maintenance. However, some plants grow better than others in these tech-savvy systems. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you the best hydroponic houseplants and how to grow them.

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You may be reading a lot about hydroponic gardening in magazines and social media. It’s an efficient and environmentally friendly way of growing produce. But did you know that you can grow houseplants too?
Hydroponic gardening uses several systems to provide consistent water and nutrients to your plants without soil. Some systems use wicks to absorb the water into the plant’s growing medium. Other systems, such as Deep Water Culture (DWC), suspend your plant’s roots in a reservoir of nutrient-rich water.
Growing plants hydroponically has many advantages. Plants can develop quicker and larger compared to soil-cultivated crops. You also won’t have to worry about over and underwatering or harmful pests.
Besides common leafy greens, herbs, and small fruits, you can successfully grow several houseplants hydroponically. All you need are the right tools to get started. Below are the 15 best hydroponic houseplants and how to make them thrive.
Peace Lily

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common name Peace lily |
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botanical name Spathiphyllum spp |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 1-3” |
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hardiness zones 11-12 |
Peace lilies are magical houseplants with glossy leaves and stunning white spathes. Gardeners in tropical regions can grow them outdoors, but for the rest of us, they’re perfect as indoor houseplants. They’re one of nature’s best air filters and are easy to grow.
Skip the soil and pots and try growing these majestic houseplants hydroponically. You’ll need a hydroponic system, such as a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) or Deep Water Culture (DWC). Set up the reservoir and tools such as the pH meter and adjusters.
Once your peace lily is placed in the system, its roots will absorb nutrients and water from the nutrient solution in the reservoir. You’ll start to see rapid growth and vivid white blooms. If the roots seem to suffer, provide some oxygen via a bubbler.
Heartleaf Philodendron

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common name Heartleaf Philodendron |
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botanical name Philodendron bipinnatifidum |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height Up to 20’ |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
Heartleaf philodendrons are some of the most popular houseplants. Of the almost 500 species of philodendrons, heartleafs are the most common. They’re incredibly easy to cultivate, and they thrive indoors.
They have big, heart-shaped leaves that will make your indoor space look like a tropical biome. They’re also fantastic air purifiers.
These tropical evergreens will grow vigorously in a hydroponic system. They’ll absorb the water and nutrients they need and you won’t have to troubleshoot common growing problems as long as all other conditions are met.
Money Tree Plant

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common name Money Tree Plant |
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botanical name Pachira aquatica |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 6-8’ |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
Money plant tree plants are adored for their easy-growing nature and braided trunks. Although they’re native to South America, they’ve spread around the world as a common houseplant and bonsai. In Japan, money tree plants are adorned with ribbons for good fortune.
Although these plants can be quite large, they’ll thrive in a soil-less environment. Once your money tree plants take root in their nutrient-rich solution, they’ll put on big and full foliage. As they mature, cross the flexible stems and secure them with a rope or twine. After a few months, your plants will get the iconic braided trunks.
Spider Plant

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common name Spider Plant |
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botanical name Chlorophytum comosum |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 15” |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
Spider plants are popular for their long, wavy leaves. They’re easy to care for and bring a wonderful warm-climate vibe to your home. They’re perfectly suited as indoor houseplants.
These tropical and subtropical plants are native to southern Africa. They spread globally in the late 19th and 20th centuries, becoming naturalized in many warm-climate regions.
When you grow spider plants hydroponically, they’ll develop quickly, and within a month or two, you’ll enjoy low-hanging foliage. Try growing them in a high place or along walls. Their leaves will sweep down and cascade along the wall.
English Ivy

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common name English Ivy |
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botanical name Hedera helix |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height Up to 80’ |
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hardiness zones 4-13 |
English ivy is native to Western Europe. It’s famously grown as a creeper along walls and facades of old cottages and castles. It’s also a popular houseplant, grown for its long foliage and beautiful leaves.
It climbs on almost everything, from bookcases to kitchen walls. As an indoor houseplant, it will turn your space into a lush garden in no time.
Try growing this vigorous houseplant in a hydroponic system. It will mature so quickly that you’ll have to prune leggy growth consistently.
Lucky Bamboo

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common name Lucky Bamboo |
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botanical name Dracaena sanderiana |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 5’ |
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hardiness zones 10 |
Besides being a popular houseplant, gardeners cultivate lucky bamboo as a popular symbol of good luck. It’s also a great gift for birthdays, coworkers, or friends on lucky occasions.
Although this houseplant is usually grown in stylish containers, it’s one of the best hydroponic houseplants you can add to your collection. When grown in a soil-free environment, the stalks will be big, bright green, and full of foliage.
Small hydroponic systems work the best with this plant. Fit these compact systems in various parts of your home. Try growing other flowers and houseplants side by side for a stunning indoor bouquet.
Pothos

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common name Pothos |
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botanical name Epipremnum aureum |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height Up to 66’ |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Pothos is a radiant and almost indestructible houseplant. It can survive in low-light conditions and needs very little maintenance. Its toughness makes it a great houseplant for newbie gardeners.
The plant has long, vine-like branches that cascade off its main stems. Its long branches can bring a touch of green to any space.
Cultivate this plant in any soil-less system. Try planting it side by side with other vine-like creepers to create an abundance of warm indoor foliage. Propagate pothos as water cuttings and easily expand your collection.
Inchplant

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common name Inchplant |
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botanical name Tradescantia zebrina |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 6-14” |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
An inchplant is a beautiful creeping houseplant that grows vigorously. In its native habitat of Central and South America, it grows along the floor of subtropical and tropical forests. Indoors, it is easy to maintain no matter what level of green thumb you have.
The plant sends out long, vine-like branches with multi-colored leaves of green and purple. The vines stretch out and can reach the floor if you don’t prune them.
This creeping houseplant will do well in any soil-less system. Give it the right nutrient solution and watch it flourish. Try growing it near walls or as a hanging houseplant for a verdant canopy in your home.
Nasturtium

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common name Nasturtium |
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botanical name Tropaeolum majus |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height Up to 10’ |
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hardiness zones 9-11 |
It’s hard to beat nasturtiums as houseplants. Every part of these climbers is edible. Plus, they have colorful blooms of red, orange, and yellow.
There are over 50 species of edible nasturtiums. They’re one of the easiest plants to cultivate both indoors and outdoors.
In a soil-free system, your plants will grow incredibly fast. You’ll enjoy colorful and tasty flowers year-round. They also grow well as companion plants to other houseplants and edibles.
Marigold

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common name Marigold |
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botanical name Tagetes erecta |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 8”-4’ |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
Marigolds are colorful flowers grown outdoors or even indoors. Although most gardeners plant them outside in garden beds and yards, you can try them as indoor houseplants. They have bright, colorful blooms and soft, delicate foliage.
Although they’re annuals, they produce tons of seeds you can use to propagate. As a hydroponic houseplant, you can grow them throughout the year. They’ll transform your system into a colorful bouquet.
These flowers are easy to maintain. Give them the right nutrients and tons of light and they’ll thrive in a soil-free environment.
Moss Rose

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common name Moss Rose |
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botanical name Portulaca grandiflora |
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sun requirements Full sun |
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height 8” |
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hardiness zones 2-11 |
If you’re looking for a hardy succulent to try growing, it’s hard to beat the moss rose. This small flower grows in a variety of climates and growing conditions. It has colorful blooms and spike-like needle leaves that are soft to the touch.
They’re from dry regions and don’t need much water or fertilizer. This makes them incredibly easy to grow as hydroponic houseplants. The most basic systems work wonderfully.
Unlike some other houseplants, these succulents need a ton of bright sun. Grow them near a bright, south-facing window or in a greenhouse.
Chinese Evergreen

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common name Chinese Evergreen |
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botanical name Aglaonema spp. |
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sun requirements Bright, indirect light |
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height 10”-3’ |
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hardiness zones 10-11 |
Chinese evergreen plants are a diverse group of houseplants that can either grow vertically or crawl. They have colorful foliage with reds and greens and delicate flowers.
These houseplants are native to tropical and subtropical Asia. They’re grown as a lucky houseplant in China and some other regions in Asia.
As a hydroponic houseplant, they thrive in almost any growing system. They need a basic amount of nutrients and light, making them perfect for beginning gardeners.
Sweet Pea

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common name Sweet Pea |
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botanical name Lathyrus odoratus |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 3-10’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Sweet peas may not be known for their edible pea pods but you can grow them as lovely houseplants. They have stunning, multi-colored flowers that brighten up any indoor space.
There are several varieties to choose from. Their blooms cover the entire spectrum of the rainbow. As hydroponic houseplants, they grow easily in every growing system.
They grow as vines, with vigorous growth reaching the far corners of your garden. Let them grow or prune the back. Don’t be afraid to harvest them throughout the year.