🌿 Practical guide
💧 Hydroponics
🌿 In brief — Hydroponic plants
Principle: roots grow in water, no soil · Advantages: zero soil, zero fruit flies, very infrequent watering · Care: top up and change water, hydroponic fertilizer · Light: bright indirect, supplemental LED · Ideal for: beginners, offices, small spaces, and decor
Hydroponics is increasingly popular: a plant whose roots plunge directly into water, displayed in a clear glass jar, without a speck of soil. The result is as aesthetic as it is practical—you see the roots, forget daily watering, and say goodbye to soil gnats. It’s the perfect solution for beginners, greening an office, or creating minimalist decor. This guide explains how hydroponics works, which plants are suitable, and how to care for them daily.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics, or water culture, involves growing a plant without soil, its roots directly immersed in water. The plant draws oxygen and, with some suitable fertilizer, the nutrients it needs from the water. Presented in a glass container, it reveals its root system—a living spectacle that becomes a true decorative object.
From cutting to established plant
Many indoor plants naturally root in water when propagated: you dip a stem in a glass and roots appear. Hydroponics takes this further by keeping the plant permanently in water. Some species thrive and can live for years this way.
A clean and modern method
Without substrate, hydroponics eliminates dust, fruit flies, and messy repotting. It fits into a minimalist decor trend where glass, water, and plants interact. It’s also an excellent educational tool to observe root growth.
Why shop a hydroponic plant?
- Zero soil: no soil, so no dirt or messy repotting
- Goodbye fruit flies: no moist substrate, no more soil gnats
- Infrequent watering: just check and top up the water level from time to time
- Visible roots: a living decorative object, fascinating to watch in the glass
- Ideal for beginners: hard to get the water level wrong
- Perfect for the office: clean, compact, and decorative on a corner of the table
These qualities make hydroponic plants excellent low-maintenance plants for everyday life, and ideal companions for a professional office.
Our hydroponic plants
Verdeia offers a wide selection of hydroponic plants in glass, from mini jars to models with built-in LED. The plants in jars and vases collection is available online.
The Clusia is the hydroponics champion: thick, shiny green foliage, and unbeatable tolerance. In its round jar with cork stopper, its roots are elegantly revealed.
See this Clusia →
A Calathea with graphic foliage placed in a Samoa jar equipped with LED lighting. The light highlights the roots and glass, creating a perfect plant nightlight on a desk or bedside table.
See the Calathea LED →
The miniature version of the arrow plant, with very graphic variegated small leaves. Compact and easy, it thrives in hydroponics in its glass vase and brings a delicate fresh touch.
See the Syngonium →
Two hydroponics stars together: the perforated Monstera Adansonii and the shiny Clusia, each in its cylinder vase. A graphic duo that structures a shelf or windowsill.
See the duo →
Three hydroponic plants presented in black metal cages with LED, for a chic industrial effect. A ready-to-display set that adds character to a desk or console.
See the LED trio →
Three surprise hydroponic plants gathered on an elegant wooden stand. A perfect discovery to get started with hydroponics, and a great gift idea for greenery lovers.
See the set →Which plants grow in water?
Not all plants can be grown hydroponically. The best candidates are those that root easily in water and tolerate living there long-term.
| Plant | Water suitability | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Clusia | Excellent | Beginner |
| Pothos / Epipremnum | Excellent | Beginner |
| Monstera Adansonii | Very good | Beginner |
| Syngonium | Very good | Beginner |
| Climbing Philodendron | Good | Beginner |
| Calathea | Possible (with care) | Intermediate |
As a rule, tropical plants with soft stems and fast growth are best suited. Succulents, cacti, and carnivorous plants are not suitable for hydroponics.
Daily maintenance
Water level
Keep the water at a level that covers the roots without drowning the base of the stems or the plant collar. Always leave part of the roots exposed to air. Replenish as soon as the level drops due to evaporation.
Changing the water
Completely renew the water every two to three weeks to keep it clear and oxygenated. Preferably use water at room temperature, left to rest for a few hours to let the chlorine evaporate. Take the opportunity to gently rinse the roots and container.
Hydroponic fertilizer
Without soil, the plant finds no nutrients alone: a special hydroponic fertilizer, very diluted, is essential to feed it. Add it in small amounts when changing the water, strictly respecting the doses — excess promotes algae.
Light and LED
Provide bright but indirect light. Avoid direct sun on the glass, which heats the water and promotes algae growth. Models with built-in LED provide a welcome light supplement, especially on a desk or in a dimly lit room.
- Water covering the roots, never the base of the stems
- Change water every 2 to 3 weeks
- Water at room temperature, rested if possible
- Very diluted hydroponic fertilizer when changing water
- Bright indirect light — never direct sun on the glass
Common problems and solutions
| Symptom | Probable cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudy or foul-smelling water | Water not changed often enough | Renew the water and rinse the roots and glass |
| Brown and soft roots | Stagnant water, lack of oxygen | Cut rotten roots, change the water more often |
| Green algae on the glass | Too much direct light or fertilizer | Move away from the sun, clean the glass, reduce fertilizer |
| Yellowing leaves | Lack of nutrients | Add diluted hydroponic fertilizer |
| Growth stopped | Insufficient light | Bring closer to the light or use an LED |
| White deposit on the glass | Water scale | Clean with diluted vinegar, use softer water |
Decoration and staging
Glass as a decorative object
All the beauty of hydroponics lies in transparency: round jars, cylindrical tubes, sleek vases, each container showcases the plant and its roots. Play with heights and shapes to create a graphic collection on a shelf or windowsill.
The LED effect
Models with integrated LED turn the plant into a plant nightlight. Placed on a bedside table, desk, or console, they emit soft light and highlight the root network — a spectacular effect at dusk.
Ideal for the office
Clean, compact, and soil-free, hydroponic plants are the queens of the office. They bring a soothing touch of greenery without any risk of dirtying a workspace and are among the best indoor plants for workspaces.
Verdeia Collection
All our hydroponic plants
From mini jars to LED models — a selection of glass plants ready to decorate your interior.
Frequently asked questions
Keep the water level at the roots, change it every 2 to 3 weeks, and add a very diluted hydroponic fertilizer. Provide bright indirect light while avoiding direct sun on the glass.
Clusia, Pothos, Monstera Adansonii, Syngonium, and climbing Philodendrons are excellent candidates. Succulents, cacti, and carnivorous plants are not suitable for hydroponics.
Completely renew the water every two to three weeks to keep it clear and oxygenated, and top up the level in between whenever it drops due to evaporation.
Yes, it is essential: without soil, the plant finds no nutrients on its own. Use a special hydroponic fertilizer very diluted, added in small amounts when changing the water.
Algae proliferate with too much direct light or excess fertilizer. Move the plant away from the sun, clean the glass, and reduce fertilizer doses.
Verdeia — Living plants
Adopt greenery without soil
Clean, decorative, and easy — hydroponic plants to start with or to green an office.
