Growing herbs like dill and parsley indoors is a fantastic way to add some greenery to your home and give it a dramatic touch. Herbs are the easiest to grow, and the windowsill is the best place to grow your choice of herbs. However, you can choose any other suitable spot you find at your home. What could be a better way to replicate the beauty of nature by growing your choice of herbs indoors?
Growing them indoors is good because it helps improve air quality, increases levels of energy and happiness, and improves brain health. Also, add the benefits of beauty, texture, delightful fragrance, and unmatched flavor to the list. Herbs are undoubtedly the winning houseplant for every gardener. Consider purchasing a “grow your own herbs indoors kit” to get some assistance in growing your chosen herbs correctly.
There are many options for growing herbs like basil, oregano, mint, rosemary, parsley, chives, chervil, and thyme. If you plan to grow fresh herbs indoors, you can start by buying seedlings and potted starter plants. You can consider growing herbs from seedlings to maturity to harvest them, but this requires a lot of time.
But, before you sow that first plant, make sure you follow these proven strategies to make sure everything falls into the right place:
1. Pick the Best Suitable Plants
Several herbs can be grown indoors, but only a few tend to thrive indoors. Some no-fuss herbs like basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme are easy herbs to grow indoors. Herbs can be grown either by cuttings or seeds. You can also try to grow lettuce indoors; it’s a good companion plant for many herbs.
2. Select a Container with Drainage
Although you can choose a couple of herb pots you can buy, consider growing herbs in any container that offers some drainage. Pots require something to protect the surface underneath them, like a round plastic protector or saucer, readily available at several garden centers. Use a container of any size, provided the plant easily fits in. If you are going for mason jars, then it is suggested to place some pebbles at the bottom to hold excess moisture. It helps potting soil not get saturated.
3. Watering & Soil Requirements
Make sure you use high-quality soil to plant your indoor herb plants. Ensure that the soil is not too heavy, has good drainage, and has good organic compost or worm castings to add specific nutrients. Water your herbs a little at a time, and let the soil dry before you water it next time. If overwatered, it might cause damage to your plants. For this, you can use a small watering can to water and moisten the soil.
4. Temperature
Most indoor herbs prefer a temperature of 65°-70°F and 55°-65°F. Until your foliage is not getting frisky with your window panes, your plants will grow in the best way at this temperature.
5. Select Sunny Spot
You should select the sunniest spot to grow your herbs, as they prefer a lot of sunlight. At least 6 hours of daylight are necessary per day for indoor herbs to grow. To give maximum sunlight exposure to your herbs, put them as close as possible to the brightest window in your house. The growth of indoor plants is affected during winter due to the absence of natural light. During those months, you can consider investing in an LED light or grow light while you wait for spring light to arrive.
6. Transplant When Ready
Generally, all indoor plants outgrow their containers, so you should consider repotting these plants into larger containers. The best time to transplant plants is when you notice their roots coming from the drainage holes in your pots. It indicates that the growth of plants has become stalled, and this has caused the plants to flop over. It is the perfect time for transplanting plants from small to larger containers.
7. Harvest Often
Your herbs will thrive for a long time provided you trim them at regular intervals of time. The more frequently you cut the herbs, the more they will grow. Do remove flowers as soon as you see them appear, or your herb plants will stop focusing their energy on tasty growth, or else you will have to leave them for the pollinators.
8. Air Circulation
Ensure that there is good circulation around your indoor herb gardens. If the herbs are too close to each other, it will be impossible for them to receive sufficient airflow, contributing to the spread of diseases. Therefore, you should choose to rearrange herbs occasionally. Don’t allow the air around your herbs to become stagnant around your plants. It is good to give them a little breathing space.
9. Use Seaweed or Fish Based Fertilizer
The best type of fertilizer to use for growing indoors is seaweed extract or fish emulsion. Both these fertilizers comprise high concentrations of nitrogen, contributing to solid leafy growth. You should fertilize your herbs at least once a week during the summer. You should fertilize once a month in the winter when it leads to slowing growth in herbs. To ensure everything falls into the right place, get basic knowledge about the fertilizer you will use for your herbs.
The Bottom Line
Growing herbs indoors is easy. It requires a bit of time for them to grow. The golden rule for succeeding in doing this inside is to keep them watered. Pots have proper drainage, so there is enough space for each plant to breathe properly, and prune regularly. Knowing how to grow herbs will help you get creative with the best herbs to grow indoors.
Danielle Dixon
Danielle is a content writer at Homegrown Outlet. Aside from having a longtime passion for literature and writing, she is also an animal lover who enjoys crafting and watching documentaries.
