There are various reasons why you might want to look into growing herbs indoors. Perhaps you don’t have space outdoors for a garden or maybe you simply want to make your cooking life easier.
With an indoor herb garden, not only will you have fresh herbs available anytime you need them; but they will also fill your home with a touch of nature and some nice fragrances. If you have just begun to grow herbs or are still in the planning stages, here are 6 tips to help you out.
Choose the right plants
Although most herbs can be grown indoors, there are certain herbs that really thrive indoors such as basil, mint, chives, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and parsley. While it is possible to grow herbs from cuttings, the easiest way would simply be to buy seedlings from a garden shop near you. That way, all you have to do is bury them in soil, water them, and wait.
Make sure your pots have drainage holes
There are a lot of pots in the market but when it comes to herbs, you will need to buy pots with drainage holes so your plants won’t experience root rot. On that note, it would be best to get saucers to put under the pots, as well. The saucers will catch any water that seeps out of the pots so you don’t damage your floors or shelves.
While the size of each pot isn’t too important as long as your plant fits, it might be best to get a slightly bigger one so you won’t have to constantly repot your plants.
Place them in a sunny area
Herbs are still plants and all plants need sunlight in order to thrive. Ideally, you should place your herbs where it’s sunny like by a window. If your herbs don’t get a lot of natural light, they might not grow as quickly as you’d like them to.
Only harvest in batches
When you see sprigs appear, you might get overly excited and want to cut them all off. Try to avoid doing this. It is best to only harvest up to a quarter of your plant each time to avoid stressing them out and potentially killing them.
Avoid watering them too much
On that note, don’t water your plants too much, either. While it is best to consistently keep their soil moist, the soil should never be waterlogged. A simple drizzle under the sink will be enough. If their leaves start to turn yellow or wilt, hold back even more on your water.
Repot when necessary
If you do a good job growing your herbs, you may need to repot them at some point. If roots start to peek out of their pot’s drainage holes or the plant starts to tilt, those would be signs to repot them. Fortunately, this is pretty easy to do. Simply get a larger pot, fill it up with the right soil, and move the plant from one pot to the other.
Now you’re ready to start your own indoor herb garden and watch your herbs thrive!
