The Gorgeous Houseplant You Can Grow Indoors Without Messy Soil

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Adding new houseplants to your collection is always exciting. However, most plant lovers quickly realize how messy the soil can be. Orchids are popular for their gorgeous flowers, which luckily last longer than just a week or so. Although beautiful houseplants, the downside is they aren't the most low-maintenance indoor plants you can grow, primarily due to their specific watering needs. Surprisingly, growing them without the dirt can make them easier to care for. Most orchids are actually epiphytes, or air plants, which means their roots anchor onto the surface of other plants, often trees. Their succulent-like roots are designed to absorb nearby humidity and water from the bark. That said, they aren't parasitic, and therefore don't take in any nutrients from the other plants. Because of the way they naturally grow, the sphagnum moss they're sold in can restrict oxygen to their roots, which is why these orchids fail so frequently once brought home.

By growing orchids in water, you can skip the messy soil while giving them what they need to grow. However, growing epiphytes like orchids in water will look different than how you'd typically grow plants hydroponically. One of the most important things to know about air plants is their need for high oxygen levels. Most orchids live in the tropics where they're used to rainfall drenching the roots before draining away. So, the best way to grow orchids in water is to replicate this process with a soak-and-dry method.

Once you get your orchid home from the store, the first step is to remove the growing media it came in. They're often grown in sphagnum moss to keep the roots moist during shipping. So, if it's been on the shelf for a while, the roots may have already started rotting. Cut off any brown and mushy or stringy roots you find, leaving behind only plump and healthy white roots. Place your orchid in a vase and add fresh water with a hydroponic fertilizer. Make sure to fill it so it covers the roots but leaves the crown dry. Let it soak for 2 days, remove the water for 5 days, and repeat.

Another soilless method to care for orchids is to use lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). These small clay pebbles are extremely porous, allowing them to hold onto water and slowly release it back to the roots. There are air gaps surrounding the clay balls, so the roots still receive oxygen. Start by lining the bottom of a slotted container, like HOUSEASSIST's Breathable Orchid Planter, with properly rinsed LECA. Place your orchid inside and slowly start adding more balls, shaking the pot from time to time so they shimmy into any open spaces. Then, place the pot in a shallow dish and add just enough water to cover the bottom layer of LECA. This method is slightly lower maintenance, as you'll only need to top off water every 2 to 3 weeks.