Growing Herbs Indoors, Growing Herbs In Pots

Growing Herbs Indoors

Having a year round supply of herbs for culinary and remedies use is easy when growing herbs indoors.

When thinking about what herbs for cooking or herbs for medicine to grow indoors, it helps to know which you will likely use most often.

Some fresh mint leaves for pick-me-up teas? Or lemon balm leaves for a headache or to calm down? How about something readily available for a cut from a kitchen knife or winter dry skin?

Then it is helpful to also be aware of the growing conditions required for growing herbs indoors. These conditions are different than growing herbs in pots outdoors.

Let's first look at the special care required for indoor herbs and then what herbs are suited for these conditions.

Indoor Herbs Care

Bringing Herbs in from Outdoors
Bringing your plant indoors from growing outdoors requires a bit of time. We are going to do the opposite of the "hardening off" process. Perhaps it is a tender herb and you have some hard killing frosts. Plan ahead to give your herbs some transition time.

  1. A couple weeks before frost pot your healthiest looking herb in a manageable pot for indoors.

  2. Cut back if necessary.

  3. Give a good watering and fertilize.

  4. Give herb a spray with an organic insecticide, remember under the leaves, too. You only want the herb coming indoors, not freeloaders!

  5. Don't bring the pot indoors right away, allow it to climatize.

  6. Place pot out of direct sunlight for a few days.

  7. Bring it indoors for a couple hours each day and then put back outdoors out of direct sunlight.

  8. Lengthen time indoors each day.

  9. After a week of bringing indoors and outdoors your herb is ready to move indoors.

  10. Once indoors quarantine the herb for another couple weeks and watch for bugs.

  11. Don't pick the herb until new growth is seen. Once growing pick often to encourage a full, bushy herb.

Soil and Pots
You can choose to use hydroponics. If using soil use a good potting mix of 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 sand. Place a layer of gravel in bottom of clean pots for good drainage.
Use pots that are at least 6" deep.

Lighting
Growing herbs indoors requires a lot of light. They should have at least 12 hours of light a day with some of that being direct sunlight.
Therefore...
  • Rotate pots 180 degrees every couple days to avoid a lopsided herb
  • Place pots by the sunniest window
  • Consider grow lights if you have less than 12 hours of daylight available. A simple fluorescent bulb hung 6" over plants works.

Watering and Fertilizing
The water needs of an indoor pot is less than outdoors. Take care to not overwater as this will rot your plant. Something that I like to do is take my leftover herbal tea leaves and add more water to them. I then water my plants with that. It is very diluted but still contains some nutrients and minerals. If it's very diluted you can water each time with this.

Make sure to not place plants right over a heat register as that will dry them out quickly.

Temperature
Ideally the temperature should be between 15-21 degrees Celcius or 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Also give the herbs good ventilation, place a fan nearby occasionally or crack a window open.

Some Good Herbs for Growing in Pots Indoors

growing-herbs-indoors
Aloe Vera for cuts and skin conditions
Mints for teas
Lemon Balm for teas
Lavender
Feverfew

Culinary herbs such as:
Rosemary
Chives
Sage
Parsley
Thyme

Happy Growing!
Changing Habits 21 Day Healthy Weightloss experience

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony c

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

New! Comments


Copyright© 2009-2012 Herbal Remedies At Home.

Home | Newsletter | What's New? | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Me | My Store


This site is for educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information at Herbal Remedies At Home is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified practitioner.