According to the National Library of Medicine, there are about 100 different kinds of herbs in the National Library of Medicine herb garden.
Whether you want to use herbs for medicinal purposes or to flavor your food, you might be interested in learning how to grow herbs inside.
This guide will offer some great tips to help you grow a beautiful indoor garden. Keep reading to learn more.
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1. What Herbs Can I Grow Inside?
Before getting started on growing your garden you’ll want to know what kind of herbs have the best chance of growing successfully indoors. The great thing is that most herbs you use in cooking fare well in an indoor garden.
Basil, oregano, mint, rosemary, and parsley are all great choices to add to your indoor garden. Herbs like lemongrass fare better in warmer weather so this is a great choice if you live in a colder climate.
2. You Need Light
Herbs, like any other plant, need lots of light to grow. You might be wondering how herbs from your indoor garden can get the light they need.
Herbs will provide a better flavor when they spend most of the day in direct sunlight. You can make sure your herbs get enough light by placing them on a windowsill that gets the right amount of sun.
If you don’t have good natural light you can also purchase a grow light for your herbs. Lights made specifically for growing herbs indoors are sold online and in stores.
3. Choose the Right Container
When growing herbs inside you also need to make sure you get the right container for your plants. The important thing to remember is that the pot should have enough holes in the bottom to let the excess water drain out.
Your pots should also have a saucer to catch the water as it drains out. The size of the container will vary depending on the herb.
Basil will need a bigger pot because of its long roots. Ceramic pots are best for herbs that need a lot of water because they hold in more moisture.
4. The Temperature Is Key
Keeping your home at an appropriate temperature is another factor you’ll have to consider when growing an indoor herb garden. You shouldn’t keep your home too warm or too cold if you want your herbs to survive.
A mild temperature would work best. Keeping your home around 70 degrees is ideal.
Be careful when placing your herbs on the windowsill. Glass can get too warm when in direct sunlight and burn the leaves on your plants.
5. Use the Right Soil
Using the right mixture of soil will determine the success of your indoor garden. Regular garden soil is too heavy for healthy growth.
You’ll need potting soil that is both light and porous enough to help your herbs grow in their individual containers. The soil mix needs to retain enough water for your herb’s growth but not so much that it’ll drown and kill your plants.
6. Create a Watering Schedule
Different herbs need different amounts of water to grow indoors. Most herbs, however, require less watering than you might think. You need to let the topsoil dry for a few days before watering again.
While you might think your herbs aren’t getting enough water, the top layer of soil will dry while the deeper layers remain moist. Remember to water your herbs slowly too. This will allow the soil to absorb as much moisture as possible.
7. Remember to Feed Your Herbs
When you want your herbs to grow indoors you have to remember to use the right food to help keep them alive. Since indoor plants have less room to grow in a container you should feed them less often than you would outdoor plants.
A slow-release fertilizer, fish emulsion, or kelp are the best feed you can give your indoor herbs. Make sure you’re only replenishing the feed once a month.
8. Air Circulation Is Important Too
No access to the wind outdoors means your indoor garden requires proper air circulation. Don’t bunch all your herbs together because this doesn’t allow good air circulation and can make it easier for disease to spread from plant to plant.
Move your plants around from time to time to keep the air flowing. When you move them to different areas around the house throughout the day you’re giving them room to breathe.
9. Pruning Is Required
Some pruning is necessary so that your herbs remain strong and healthy. When you notice wilted leaves or stems you should cut them off right away. This will prevent the entire plant from dying and encourage it to keep growing.
Now that you know many helpful tips for growing all kinds of herbs indoors, you should check out the best indoor grown hemp flower in Oregon. It might inspire you to learn how to grow hemp inside too.
10. Love Your Herbs
The best way to encourage your herbs to grow is to show them some love. How do you do that exactly?
It sounds silly but talking to your plants does help them grow stronger and more beautiful. It encourages the release of carbon dioxide that they convert to food.
Touching your plants gently also encourages growth because it mimics the movement of wind and air circulation.
The Best Tips to Help You Grow Herbs Inside
If you’re interested in learning how to grow herbs inside, this guide provides some great tips you can try. Make sure to provide enough light and use the appropriate containers.
Check out some of the other blogs on our site if you found useful tips in this one.