If you're a self-professed 'black thumb', growing lush, low-maintenance plants could be as simple as swapping soil for H2O.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants that uses water instead of soil to deliver essential nutrients directly to the plant roots.
It works both indoors and outdoors and is a good option for small spaces.
And they can get by with very little attention, according to Queensland horticulturalist Cath Manuel.
"If I go away for a while, I'm going to come back, and all my plants still look good," Ms Manuel says.
"I think that works for a lot of people … very low maintenance, lush sort of plants."
If this is ticking a few boxes for you, here's how to introduce hydro plants to your space.
What you need to get started
You'll need a plant suitable for growing hydroponically or a cutting from one, a jar of choice, and a little bit of patience.
Ms Manuel, who lives on Kabi Kabi lands at Sunshine Beach, north of brisbane, says "most indoor plants that grow as ornamentals also grow really well in water".
Choosing a jar to put them in is half the fun, as you can indulge your creativity and tastes.
But keep in mind that jars with a wide opening, as opposed to a narrow neck, will have water evaporate more quickly and will need to be topped up more regularly.
"I get big old jars, those coloured glass jars from recycling centres or antique stores" Ms Manuel says.
"You just watch the roots grow in the water, but then the vine just keeps growing along a shelf or something like that, so they look lovely."
Plant enthusiast Anna Augustine propagates and sells hydro plants on Letteremairrener country, at Launceston, Tasmania.
A cutting in water can take three to four weeks to grow roots.
"Start off with propagating small plants that you like the look of," Ms Augustine says.
"There's a few species that do really well from just cutting off the little nodes on their stems … and they will actually continue to grow in the water."
The other option is converting a plant from soil to a jar of water.
"All you have to do is give the roots a really, really thorough rinse, and make sure you get as much of the dirt off as possible."
"In the first couple of weeks, you will see a lot of the roots rotting away in the water."
"Don't be scared about, 'I'm killing my plants', it just needs time to transition."
Types of plants for growing in jars
Before you decide on a plant, it's worth considering how it grows naturally versus how you want it to look.
"If you want it to spread along a table, then go for something like a prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) that will crawl across," Ms Augustine says.
"Your typical Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron, they will trail along either a piece of string or even along the wall if you use hooks."
Ms Manuel says devil's ivy (golden pothos) is also popular because "it's green, lush, and glossy".
"A lot of cafes use it, and you'll see it trailing around on shelves and over bookcases," she says.
Plants that grow upright include bamboos, jade plants (Crassula ovata), Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) and succulents.
"There's a peperomia, that's quite nice in water and that's sort of more upright," Ms Manuel says.
"I've taken some agave, where I've cut them off their main like mother plant, and they've got a few small roots, and I'll put those in a jar."
Syngoniums are Cody Reed's favourite hydro plant to grow at home.
The 26-year-old tradie from Woodford/Jinibara land Qld, found a passion for hydro plants years ago after helping his mum sell nursey plants at a local market.
"I currently have 18 hydro plants in the house."
"My favourite plant would definitely be the Syngonium, they're native to tropical rainforests in southern Mexico and they always adapt well in water."
"I love gifting them to people I care about and I'm always looking for more to add at home."
Keeping hydro plants happy
Most plants will do well in a room with lots of natural light (not direct sunlight), in just tap water, Cath Manuel says.
But some do prefer filtered water.
"I was getting brown tips on the end of my Peace lilies … due to watering it with tap water, because they don't like the chlorine," she says.
"I started watering mine with filtered water, and they don't get the brown tips on the end anymore."
She says you can also add a few drops of a pH adjuster to help.
Keep an eye on the water levels for when they might need a 'top up', this can be anywhere from once a fortnight to once a month.
The water only needs to be changed completely if "it becomes really dirty, or the plant was dying and the water was a little bit smelly."
"Just be mindful of when you're topping up the water to not go too far up onto the stem of the plant," Anna Augustine says.
"Otherwise, the water could potentially rot the stems."
If you think your plant needs a bit of a boost, try a few drops of liquid fertilizer, although it's not a necessity.
"It does make the water a bit cloudy, but it can give the plants just some extra nutrients," Ms Manuel says.
"But in saying that, I've got jars of plants that are just straight tap water, and they're growing beautifully."
