It might be surprising to some, but most herbs grow better in an indoor herb garden. A large number of herbs are annuals. Annual herbs and plants have a year lifespan. They grow and bloom in one season, then die afterwards within a year. You may think that this type of herbs is too expensive, but you actually extend the life of your annuals.

 

Here are some key points explained in establishing an indoor garden.

 

Knowing the easy-to-grow indoor herbs

 

Annuals are the best type for indoor gardens. Due to the fact that their lifespan is limited, they cannot be exposed continuously to changing weathers. Their roots usually have small growth; which is why they cannot stand the outside environment. Their leaves would easily wither and it would be easy to uproot them.

 

Some varieties of basil like Thai, Holy Basil or Tulsi and lemon, chives, scented geranium, lavender, rosemary, sweet woodruff and lemon verbena are some of the annuals appropriate in indoor settings. These could be grown in small pots and they could survive without constant exposure to sunlight. However, you need to take some outdoors once in a while. These would be further explained in the succeeding parts.

 

On the other hand, some perennials could also survive in indoor environments. They just need seasonal outdoor exposure.

 

Having the right locations

 

Window areas, door openings, atriums and any area inside your house with natural lighting or close proximity to outside ventilation are the most suitable places for indoor herbs. In the kitchen, put them near the windows that should always be left open or at least ajar. To make your plants healthier, just a few hours under ample sunlight will help them.

 

If you are into aromatic herbs, you most definitely want them placed in various parts of the house. But do make sure that you take them outside for at least one to three hours daily. Too much sunlight will cause their roots to dry up and that would result to frequent wilting of the leaves.

 

Perennials could also stay indoors but as much as possible expose them to sunlight regularly. Put them where they can get sun exposure. If spaces are limited near the open areas, there is always the option of using chains.

 

Taking care of the herbs – on watering, pruning and soil maintenance

 

Indoor plants need as much water as outdoor plants. You can have them watered every other two days. But never drown the soil as this will make it too soggy to absorb other nutrients from the soil.

 

You can also do occasional pruning. But do not remove drying foliage immediately. Letting them just fall on the pot will turn them into fertilizers. However, if there are too many falling leaves, you will have to take away some of them. If they are too moist, the roots will be killed.

 

Your soil should have regular peat moss or compost supplements. At least every three months, make it a point to dig up an inch from the surface and put in a new batch. This is also a basic in growing herbs in pots.

 

Before annuals die, start repotting so you would not have to start planting all over. Cut off a healthy part of the herb. Each cut piece should have some roots and foliage already this will make it easier for you to grow them.

 

Now these three easy key methods would ensure you of a flourishing indoor herb garden all year round.

While often planted directly in the ground, herbs can be grown in containers, pots, window boxes or hanging baskets. Growing herbs in pots allows the herb gardener the flexibility of growing herbs year-round and growing the herbs indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. Growing herbs in pots requires the herb gardener to mind the same growing needs for light, soil, pH, fertilizer, water and drainage the herbs would have if sown in the ground.

The proper balance of sunlight, soil and water are essential to all plants. Herbs grown in pots must be matched to their position in sunlight to be certain they get enough sun. Most herbs will need a sunny location and are labeled for partial to full sun. The best spot indoors is a south- or west-facing window. If the sunlight is still not ideal, you can buy special lamps designed for plant growth that give the full spectrum of UV rays needed. Remember to keep a day/night schedule.

To avoid root-rot, you must provide your potted herb with a soil that drains well. A mix of one part per liter or sand to two parts sterilized potting mix will drain just right. Add a teaspoon of lime to the mix for indoor plants, to change the pH the way herbs like it. Place stones or pot shards over the drainage hole, then an inch of gravel at the bottom of the pot. Next place your soil mix and the plant, then layer pebbles across the surface to keep in moisture.

Air circulation around a pot or hanging basket dries the soil quickly, so growing herbs in pots requires the gardener to pay closer attention to watering. If the pot drains properly, the water you put in will seem to all run out as soon as you pour it; what you want is damp soil around the roots of the herb. Mist the pebbles on top of the soil as well to give humidity to the leaves.

Growing herbs in pots allows you the freedom to transport them from one area to another and move them from indoor to outdoor. Annuals are happy indoors all year long, but perennials prefer to be outside during warm weather. Be sure to bring potted herbs indoors before the first frost or they will suffer a loss of foliage. Exceptions to this are tarragon, mint and chives, which will grow fresh leaves after a touch of frost.

While all herbs can be grown in pots, some herbs will adapt to container life better than others. Some herbs are classified as ‘invasive,’ such as mint, and are recommended for containers to prevent garden take-over. Large woody-stemmed herbs like lavender may do better in the ground than in a pot.

Maintenance of your potted herb garden is fairly easy. As the herbs grow, they may need a light feeding of fertilizer or repotting. Check which of your herbs are perennial and remember to move them outdoors in spring and summer. A small pot of cooking herbs on the kitchen windowsill keeps them handy when needed.

Pruning plants encourages new growth, and herbs are no exception. Potted herbs should be kept small and shrubby. Trimming the ends of each branch forces growth to the center of the plant, producing more of the foliage you want from your herb. Harvest often, and give away what you don’t use. Dry some for another time and store it. The possibilities are endless with growing herbs in pots.

An indoor herb garden takes many forms, and growing herbs in pots is just one of many options available to a natural herb enthusiast. Potted herbs are easy to maintain and typically require less maintenance than herb gardens grown outdoors. A decorative hanging basket or window box can also be an attractive addition to your indoor environments. Let’s take a closer look at some of the aspects involved with growing potted herbs.

Potted plants, or all plants for that matter, require three basic ingredients to thrive – controlled sunlight, good soil, and an adequate water supply. Fresh herb gardens are no exception. Proper placement and regular care will ensure your plants thrive and produce regularly. The amount and variety of the herbs you grow will allow determine how they should be lit.

Where would you place potted herbs to offer the best sunlight? Find a room with a window that faces south or west. These directions give the most favorable light. Some people utilize supplemental lights like fluorescent grow lamps that offer more consistent, even lighting for potted plants. These lights work well in isolated, temperature-controlled areas, if there is indoor space to set them up properly.

In terms of soil quality and chemistry, fresh herb gardens thrive in soil that isn’t too rich and has adequate drainage. This is achieved by combining sterilized potting soil with a mixture of perlite and coarse sand, in a two-to-one ratio. There should also be a base amount of gravel in the bottom of each pot to allow water to drain easily from the soil.

Adding a small amount of lime to potting soil also helps balance the pH level for optimum growing conditions. A teaspoon of lime in a five-inch pot is a good rule of thumb.

 How you water your herb plants also makes a differencein how well they thrive. Some people utilize a spray bottle to mist the leaves of herbs and keep the surface soil damp without drowning the soil with water. This helps avoid over-watering the plant or drenching the roots of the plant with too much water. Consider how water is distributed to herbs in outdoor gardens through rainfall.

 Growing herbs in pots indoors also gives you the opportunity to move perennials outdoors in the summer, while keeping the more delicate annuals mostly inside. With only a few exceptions, as in the case of herbs like tarragon, chive, and mint, all of which can tolerate an early mild frost, most herbs should be taken indoors before the first frost in winter.

Some herbs do better in pots or containers than others, and the variety you choose to grow will determine the strategy you use to bring the best results. Some of the more popular choices for container herbs are things like marjoram, lemon balm, chamomile, basil, oregano, and rosemary. Mint can be a little tricky, since it tends to dominate the soil and reproduces quickly. In these cases, a little extra maintenance may be required to isolate certain plants and keep your containers under control.

With proper pruning and regular maintenance, growing herbs in pots yields wonderful results. Some trial and error is necessary to learn the best techniques, and most herbs do best when they are repotted and harvested regularly. Herb gardening is a rewarding experience that offers fresh ingredients for your favorite meals and provides a long-lasting hobby for years to come.

 

Growing herbs in pots allows you to have your favorite herbs close at hand. With the proper care, you will be able to enjoy these herbs year round. An early frost will not damage your plants, as they will be inside. Having the ability to control climate and humidity allows your herbs to thrive. Following some very simple steps will help your herbs to fulfill their true potential. No matter what skill level gardener you are, herbs are a very forgiving plant. There is no reason you should not be able to grow the herbs you use most often.

Soil is an important factor for any plant. When growing herbs in pots, you are allowed complete control over the soil. Not being at the mercy of weather conditions allows you to make sure your plants grow easily. One thing to keep a close eye on is what kind of soil you are using. Using pure potting soil is a mistake. This is because potting soil has too many nutrients for herbs. You can control this by mixing potting soil with sand. The added benefit of the sand in the soil is it retains more moisture. Layering the bottom of your pot with pebbles will also help the soil not to become water logged.

Water is a key factor to any plant. Herbs benefit from having the right amount of moisture. By misting your plants, you will help the leaves to soak in more water. This is important as plants are designed to absorb water through leaves as well as from roots. Plants, which have to absorb all their water from the soil, will struggle to survive. Make sure you check the soil before adding any water to a pot, as it should only be moist to the touch. If a puddle forms where you press down, your plant is drowning and needs to have water drained from the pot.

Sunlight is another of the highly important elements to growing herbs in pots. Picking the right place for your herb to grow is highly important. The best place for your pot is in a windowsill that faces either west or south. This allows your plant to have the right amount of sun. If this is not possible, you can buy a lamp designed to give plants artificial sunlight. Another option is to allow your herbs to spend some time outside every day. Perennials especially benefit from time outside. Make sure you do not give your herbs more sun than they need or the leaves will turn brown.

Wind is taken for granted when planting outside. When growing herbs in pots inside, plants are usually robbed of wind. Putting the pots outside will give them the wind they desire. Another way to give your plant some wind is to simulate it with a fan. Set your fan on low and direct it towards the pots. You will notice an improvement in plants that get a light wind.

Pruning is very important to the health of your plants. The added benefit of pruning herbs is you get to use what you cut. Growing herbs in pots is popular among those who use them the most. Proper pruning practices cause your plant to produce more. Do not be deterred from pruning for fear of wasting herbs. These can be dried, frozen, or given away to friends. Herbs can also be used in recipes for future dates. Freezing pesto is a great way to use an overabundance of basil.

Sunlight is a given requirement when growing herbs – whether you are growing herbs in pots indoors or in a garden outdoors.  In the Northern hemisphere you should place herbs in a south or west facing window to get the best kind of sunlight. For the Southern hemisphere use north or west facing windows.

Herbs are typically plants which have been glorified by their virtues, but they are no different to other plants in growth characteristics and growing herbs in pots means you follow general local rules regarding placement and soil quality. Speak to your nurseryman if you aren’t sure of local soil quality or want the best soil additives – also ask him about hand-held mini sprays to prevent over-watering.

When growing herbs in pots, average soil and good drainage are the norm to grow well; if you have no experience of growing plants in pots, the down and dirty method is light to medium soil mixed with 5 cc (1tsp) lime per 2 liter (4 pints) on a drainage bed of coarse pebbles, gravel or broken crockery. Apicular pruning will help perennial herbs to bush out and you can use this technique to achieve various effects when growing bushy herbs in pots. (Apicular pruning is when you cut the centre stem near the top; this stops upward growth – known as apicular dominance – and causes the growth to be re-channeled into side shoots.)

Even very large herbs such as bay are not precluded from growing in pots. When growing herbs remember that some herbs will do better than others and it may make sense to curb growth by restriction within containers.   Some large herbs can effectively be stunted and kept  handy by growing them in containers. They do require transplanting but give years of service in the containers. Warning: not transplanting when plants get too “leggy” or woody may kill off the plant.

Mint is one herb that needs containment or it goes rampant and will take over your garden.  Where do you think that the original idea for the ‘Day of the Triffids’ came from? (Joke!) Overall an indoor herb garden is relatively easy to maintain and growing herbs in pots keeps your favorite culinary herbs close to hand for easy access while you are cooking.