#Herbs #Grow #Water #Year
If you’re anything like me, you understand the joy that fresh herbs can bring to your cooking and home. Herbs, with their good smells and easy-growing nature, are the perfect addition to your kitchen garden dreams.
But what about those of us who don’t have outdoor space or soil to grow herbs, is there hope for us too?
Read on…spoiler alert: THERE IS GOOD NEWS AHEAD!
1. Peppermint
Growing peppermint in water is surprisingly easy and rewarding. Simply cut a 4-6 inch stem from a healthy peppermint plant and strip the lower leaves.
Place the cutting in a glass jar filled with clean water, making sure no leaves touch the water. Set it on a sunny windowsill and change the water every few days.
Within a week or two, you’ll see roots developing. Once established, your peppermint will keep growing happily in its water home.
You can harvest fresh leaves regularly for tea, cooking, or just enjoying that fresh minty scent. The plant grows quickly, so you’ll have plenty to use all year long.
2. Oregano
Oregano loves living in water and makes a great addition to your kitchen windowsill. Start with a cutting from a healthy oregano plant – about 4-5 inches long works perfectly.
Remove the bottom leaves and pop it into a jar of water. Make sure the stem is submerged but keep those leaves above the waterline to prevent rot.
Place your jar somewhere with bright light and refresh the water every 3-4 days. You’ll notice tiny roots appearing within a week or so.
Once your oregano settles in, it’ll keep producing fresh leaves for months. Just pinch off what you need for pizza, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
The flavor is much better than dried oregano from the store, and you’ll always have some ready when you’re cooking.
3. Sage
Sage can be a bit trickier than other herbs when growing in water, but it’s totally doable with patience.
Take a cutting from a mature sage plant – around 4-6 inches long – and remove the lower leaves. The key with sage is using a clean jar and changing the water frequently, maybe every 2-3 days.
It takes longer to root than most herbs, sometimes up to three weeks, so don’t give up if nothing happens right away.
Place it in bright, indirect light rather than direct sun. Once roots develop, sage grows slowly but steadily in water.
The silvery-green leaves have that earthy, slightly bitter flavor that’s perfect for roasted chicken, butter sauces, or fall dishes.
Fresh sage beats the dried stuff every time, especially when you can just snip what you need.
4. Basil
Basil is probably the easiest herb to grow in water, making it perfect for beginners. Grab a cutting about 4-6 inches long from a healthy basil plant and remove the bottom leaves.
Drop it into a jar of water and watch the magic happen – you’ll see roots starting to form in just a few days. Keep your basil in a warm, bright spot but avoid direct afternoon sun, which can be too harsh.
Change the water every few days to keep it fresh. Once rooted, basil grows like crazy in water and produces tons of aromatic leaves. Pinch off flowers as they appear to keep the leaves tender and flavorful.
Nothing beats fresh basil for pasta, pizza, or making your own pesto. You’ll wonder why you ever bought those expensive little packets from the store.
5. Stevia
Stevia is a fun herb to grow in water, especially if you’re trying to cut back on sugar. Take a cutting from a stevia plant – about 4-5 inches works well – and strip off the lower leaves.
Place it in a jar of clean water and set it in a bright spot with indirect light. Stevia can be a little slow to root, taking up to two weeks, but it’s worth the wait. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
Once established, the plant will keep producing those sweet leaves that are perfect for naturally sweetening tea or homemade lemonade. Just a few fresh leaves pack serious sweetness – way more than you’d expect.
Having your own stevia plant means you can skip the processed sweeteners and enjoy something you grew yourself. Plus, it’s pretty cool to tell friends you’re growing your own sugar substitute.
6. Thyme
Thyme takes a bit more patience when growing in water, but it’s definitely worth it for those tiny, flavorful leaves.
Start with a cutting about 3-4 inches long from a healthy thyme plant and remove the bottom leaves carefully – they’re small, so take your time.
Pop it into a jar of clean water and place it somewhere with bright light. Thyme is slower to root than most herbs, often taking 2-3 weeks, so don’t worry if nothing seems to happen at first.
Change the water every few days to prevent any issues. Once your thyme cutting develops roots, it’ll grow steadily and produce those aromatic little leaves that pack a punch.
Fresh thyme is amazing in soups, roasted vegetables, or Mediterranean dishes. A little goes a long way, so you’ll have plenty to use throughout the year.
7. Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the tougher herbs to root in water, but don’t let that stop you from trying. Take a cutting from a healthy rosemary plant – about 4-5 inches long – and strip off the bottom inch of needle-like leaves.
Place it in a jar of clean water and put it in bright, indirect light. Rosemary can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to develop roots, and sometimes longer, so patience is key here.
Change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh and prevent any rot. Once it finally roots, rosemary grows slowly but steadily in water.
Those woody stems and pine-scented leaves are perfect for roasted potatoes, lamb, or bread recipes. The flavor is so much more intense than dried rosemary, and having fresh sprigs available year-round makes any dish feel more special.
8. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is almost as easy as basil when it comes to growing in water, and it smells amazing. Take a cutting about 4-6 inches long from a healthy lemon balm plant and remove the lower leaves.
Drop it into a jar of clean water and place it somewhere with bright light. You’ll start seeing roots within a week, sometimes even sooner. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
Once established, lemon balm grows quickly and produces those lemony-scented leaves that are perfect for herbal tea or adding a citrus twist to regular dishes. The leaves have a gentle lemon flavor without the tartness of actual lemons.
It’s great for calming tea blends, fruit salads, or even just brushing against the leaves for that lovely scent. Your kitchen will smell like a lemon grove all year long.
9. Chives
Chives are super easy to grow in water and give you that mild onion flavor without any tears. You can start chives from seed or take a small clump from an existing plant – just make sure there are some roots attached if you’re dividing a plant.
Place them in a jar with enough water to cover the roots and set it in bright light. Chives don’t need deep water, just enough to keep the roots happy. Change the water every few days to keep it clean.
These grass-like herbs grow quickly and you can snip them like you’re giving them a haircut – they’ll keep growing back for months.
Fresh chives are perfect for scrambled eggs, baked potatoes, soups, or anything that needs a gentle onion kick. They’re also pretty when they flower, adding a pop of purple to your windowsill garden.
10. Cilantro
Cilantro can be grown in water, but it’s a bit finicky and works best as a short-term solution. Take fresh cilantro stems from the grocery store – the ones with roots still attached work best.
Trim the stems and place them in a jar with clean water, making sure only the stems are submerged. Keep it in bright but indirect light since cilantro doesn’t like too much heat.
Change the water every day or two to prevent it from getting slimy. You’ll get a few weeks of fresh growth before the plant starts to decline.
Cilantro grown this way won’t last as long as other herbs, but it’s perfect for extending the life of store-bought bunches.
The fresh, citrusy leaves are great for salsa, tacos, curries, or Vietnamese pho. Just harvest what you need and enjoy that bright flavor while it lasts.
11. Lavender
Lavender can be grown in water, though it takes some patience and isn’t the easiest herb to start this way. Take a cutting from a healthy lavender plant – about 4-5 inches long – and remove the lower leaves.
Use a clean jar with fresh water and place it in bright light, but not harsh direct sun. Lavender is slow to root, often taking 3-4 weeks or even longer, so don’t give up if nothing happens right away.
Change the water every few days to keep it clean. Once rooted, lavender grows slowly but produces those fragrant purple flowers and silvery leaves that smell incredible.
You can use fresh lavender in baking, teas, or just enjoy the calming scent it brings to your space. The flowers also dry beautifully if you want to make sachets or potpourri later on.
12. Marjoram
Marjoram is a lovely herb that grows reasonably well in water, though it needs a bit more care than some others. Take a cutting about 4-5 inches long from a healthy marjoram plant and strip off the lower leaves.
Place it in a clean jar of water and set it somewhere with bright, indirect light – direct sun can be too harsh for this gentle herb.
Marjoram usually takes about 1-2 weeks to develop roots, so it’s not the fastest but not the slowest either. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
Once established, marjoram produces small, oval leaves with a sweet, mild flavor that’s like oregano’s gentler cousin.
It’s perfect for delicate dishes where oregano might be too strong – think chicken, fish, or egg dishes. The flavor is warm and floral, making it a nice addition to your year-round herb collection.
