I’ve always loved herbs. They’re beautiful, they smell delicious and they add a lot of flavor to food, but what if you live in an apartment with no yard? The answer is simple: grow them indoors! It’s not as hard as you might think to keep your plants alive. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your indoor herb garden:
Choose the right pots to grow your herbs indoors
As you consider the right pot for your herb, consider these important factors:
- Good drainage. The soil should drain well and not become waterlogged or soggy, which can cause root rot.
- Pot size. Your herbs need room to grow; if you use a pot that’s too small, they will be cramped and may not thrive.
- Surface area for roots to grow on. Be sure to select pots with surfaces large enough for good root growth—this is especially important if you plan on planting the herbs in containers other than those sold at nurseries or home improvement stores (such as old tires or buckets).
- Ease of mobility. If you plan on moving your indoor garden around often (perhaps during seasons when it gets too warm), look for something lightweight yet sturdy enough to support whatever weight comes with moving plants indoors during winter months!
Position your herbs indoors in the right spot to grow well
For most herbs, it’s best to put your plants in a window that receives full sun. However, if you live in an area with intense heat or cold, you may want to use a shade screen to keep the temperature from getting too high or low for your plant’s comfort.
If your home has limited sunlight, consider growing herbs indoors under artificial lights instead of placing them outside where they will get insufficient light. Keep in mind that even though fluorescent lights are energy efficient and don’t generate heat like incandescent bulbs do (which can cause leaf burn), they still don’t provide enough UV light needed by some plants. Basil for example needs a lot of light. In our article Can I Grow Basil Indoors you can read everything about it.
Water them properly
One of the most common mistakes people make when growing herbs is watering them too frequently. Don’t fall into that trap!
The best way to determine how often and when to water your herbs is by keeping an eye on the soil. If it’s starting to look dry, it’s probably time for a drink.
How do you know when the soil looks dry? Well…that depends on what type of herb you’re growing (and what type of pot). For example:
- If your basil is in a shallow pot with lots of drainage holes, then watering every day might be appropriate. But if your basil is planted in one big clump with no drainage holes at all…well…then maybe once every three days would work better for that plant!
- In general though, about every six days should be plenty—but remember this is just an average rule of thumb based on most plants’ natural habitat preferences; some need less feeding while others need more frequent visits from their caretakers!
When it comes to growing herbs indoors, there are lots of factors that can impact your success. The type of herb you’re growing, the amount of light and/or sunlight it gets, the temperature in your home and more all play a role in how well your plants will thrive. In the end it is not really complicated as long as you watch out for your plants. Do they look healthy? Or do they look weak? Are they growing strongly? If not, ask yourself why. It could be a lack of water. It might also be the soil quality. You need to get started and gather your experience. If you follow the above tips, this should give you a good start and some herbs you can harvest for your next meal.