Ultimate Guide to Growing Herbs Indoors
Inside: Learn essential tips, tricks, and techniques for nurturing and cultivating vibrant herbs indoors with our comprehensive guide.
This is something that I always do. Each year, I start my herbs indoors on my counter. I'm great at starting seeds, and up until last year, I was great at killing them too. Now my green thumb has developed enough that we get to harvest and enjoy our herbs.
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Ultimate Guide to Growing Herbs Indoors
Growing herbs can be a fun and delicious way to start your gardening experience. Herb gardens are fairly easy to start and maintain. Follow these key steps and you will be growing like an expert in no time at all!
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How to Keep Herbs Alive Indoors?
To keep herbs alive, they need soil that is full of nutrients, sunlight or artificial light, and of course water. Balancing water and light is the key to growing a healthy herb garden.
Growing herbs indoors is a much easier task than you might think. Especially with some of the done-for-you set-ups, you can buy at your local gardening store, or even on Amazon, you’ll be an expert grower quickly.
Do Herbs Need Full Sun?
Some herbs need full sun (6-8 hours a day) and some need moderate sun (4-6 hours a day). You have to know what you are planting and how much sunlight to give it.
Most herbs will do well as long as they get moderate sun each day. Rosemary and basil, as well as lavender, thrive in full sun. Be sure to check your growing zone if you’re growing outdoors.
Delicious herbs to start your full-sun garden include rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, mint, sage, marjoram, and oregano. These love full sun and will have your kitchen bursting with their fragrant aromas.
Can You Grow Herbs Without Soil?
Growing without soil, or hydroponically, is an easy way to grow an herb garden. Make sure your garden has enough natural sunlight or an LED grow light. Make sure to add water as needed. Herbs are very versatile and tend to thrive indoors or outdoors, with or without soil.
If you are a beginning gardener, an herb garden is a perfect way to start your gardening experience.
Delicious herbs to start your full-sun garden include:
Which Herbs Grow Best Indoors?
Besides the herbs listed above, basil, cilantro, and parsley are lovely indoor herbs.
Basil and mint can be started from a cutting and will grow roots in a glass of water. Herbs like these are hearty and will make hearty starter plants for your garden.
Be careful as mint can be aggressive and will take over a garden when planted outside.
Mint does make an aromatic houseplant, though! Make sure it has its own pot and plenty of sunlight and keep the solid moist. You will have a fragrant, beautiful addition to your home decor in no time.
Basil is my favorite aromatic herb. I grew it just for the smell for years!
Which Herbs are Easiest to Grow?
Almost all herbs are fairly easy to grow. Just make sure they have adequate sunlight, good drainage, and the proper amount of water and you will be enjoying your herbs in a flash.
If you are growing them from seeds and transplanting them to a bigger container, this will also help them to become heartier and more bountiful. You will be surprised to see how big a well-taken-care of herb plant will become when given the room it needs to grow.
How Much Water Do Herb Gardens Need?
With herbs that are planted in the soil, you want to check the soil first before watering. If the soil is dry, give your plant enough water to make the soil moist again – but not so wet it feels muddy.
You will know if you are over or under-watering by looking at the leaves of your plants:
- If they are becoming dry, brown, and/or brittle, you need to water them a little more.
- If the leaves are yellowing or if you see mold in the pot, you are overwatering. If this happens, do not water your plant until the soil is dry to the touch.
Follow these easy steps and you will become a master grower in no time. Herbs are hearty and can add a beautiful touch to your decor. They are healthy and can be used in almost all of your dishes – and in some of your drinks!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which herbs grow well indoors? Basil, oregano, mint, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme are the easiest herbs to grow indoors.
What herbs are best to start indoors? Thyme, rosemary, basil, sage, chives, and tarragon are great choices to start indoors.
What's the easiest herb to grow? Mint, thyme, basil, and lemon balm are some of the easiest herbs to grow.
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