Yes, but only for a short stretch. You can root succulents in water for a week or two, and many will push out fresh roots in that time. Living in a glass forever is a different story, and most plants will not survive it. Water works as a quick start, not a permanent home. Use it to get a cutting going, then move on.
The trick looks easy, which is why so many people try it. Set a leaf or stem cutting so the cut end hovers just above the surface of a glass. You do not even need the tip touching the water. Within one to two weeks you often see thin pink or white roots reaching down toward the surface. That fast result makes water propagation succulents feel like the obvious way to grow more plants for free. A row of glasses on a windowsill can sprout a dozen new starts at once.
Here is the catch. Those roots grow because the plant senses moisture nearby, not because water is a good place to live. Leave succulents in water past the rooting stage and the same fleshy roots and stem start to soften, darken, and rot. The plant pulls water in faster than it can use it. Once the rot reaches the stem, the cutting is done.
To get why this happens, look at where these plants come from. Succulents grew up in dry places and store water inside thick leaves and stems to ride out long droughts. Their roots want air between drinks, not constant wetness. UC Master Gardeners point out that the fleshy roots and stems rot with ease if you overwater. A glass of water is just overwatering pushed to the extreme. It is the same reason a potted succulent dies when you water it too often.
So what about growing succulents hydroponically for the long haul? It can work, but not the way most beginners picture it. True hydroponic setups feed roots oxygen-rich, nutrient-dosed water and never let the crown sit wet. A plain glass of tap water gives none of that. The water has no food, no air flow, and no way to keep the stem dry. For almost everyone, a pot of gritty mix beats a jar of water every time.
Standard propagation advice backs this up. You let a cutting callous over for a few days first, so the cut wound seals against rot. Then you set it to root, and once roots appear you move it into soil. Water is one step in the chain, never the final stop. Think of it like a starting block, not the finish line.
Use water to start a cutting, then pot it the moment roots reach about one inch. The longer it stays submerged, the higher your odds of rot.
When you move the rooted cutting, plant it in a fast-draining gritty mix. A blend of cactus soil with extra perlite or pumice lets water rush through and brings air back to the roots. Skip rich, heavy potting soil that stays soggy for days. Pick a pot with a drainage hole so nothing pools at the bottom. Water it once after planting, then wait until the soil dries out before the next drink.
The bottom line is simple. Treat water as a short rooting tool and your cuttings reward you with strong starts. Keep succulents in water for weeks and you usually end up with a mushy, rotted stem instead of a new plant. The roots that looked so healthy will turn brown and slimy. Root fast, pot fast, and let the soil take over from there.
Read the full article: Succulent Plants: Complete Care Guide
