About indoor herb gardens
To get your indoor herb garden started, simply use regular potting soil. Experts agree that it is the best and easiest way to get started because you don't have to worry about mixing different materials together, especially if you are a novice at gardening.
Remember that different types of herbs will have different needs, so be sure to follow the directions on the back of the seed package in order to get the best results. Once you have planted the seeds in their pots or containers, keep the soil moist until they germinate by misting the soil lightly. You also want to be sure that your herbs get plenty of sun, so place in a window where they will receive a lot of light during the day. Once the herbs sprout, be careful not to over-water them, or else they could be harmed.
Cutting
Once your herbs have sprouted, it is beneficial to snip them down. Snipping your herbs will actually promote further growth and will allow you to incorporate your fresh herbs into your meals almost immediately.
Other tips
- For aesthetic purposes, choose a container for your herbs that fits in with the overall decor of your home. Remember that almost anything can work as a planter, so be creative; however, if you are going to use a galvanized container be sure to line it with plastic first.
- Some people like to add bark chips and stones to the container to provide aeration.
- Most herbs come with identification tags that stick into the soil. This is important for identifying your herbs so that you can cater to their very specific needs.
- If you purchase already grown herbs you have two options: you can take it out of its container, dig a hole and place it in a new one, or leave it in its original container.
- Herbs can thrive inside their original pots for the first season of growth. After that, they may outgrow their pot and require a larger container.
- Adequate sunlight is extremely important when growing healthy herbs. Most herbs require 10 to 12 hours of sunlight a day. If your home is not conducive to this much light, consider investing in a grow light to help supplement. Artificial lighting is available at most home and garden stores.
- Indoor herbs require less fertilization than outdoor herbs. Be sure to read the directions on the seed packages to make sure your herbs are getting the proper amount of fertilization.
- As a general rule, you don't want to put anything in the herb's soil that you wouldn’t want to consume. Be careful about what types of pesticides you use when dealing with your herbs. There are many organic pesticides that have no harmful side affects on humans.
- Air circulation is also extremely important when dealing with herbs. You might consider placing a small fan, on low, near your herbs. This will also help keep the pests away.
- Know when to move your herbs to a larger container. When the roots begin bursting out of the current container, it's time for relocation. Place some wood chips at the bottom of the new container then transplant the herb, root system and all, into the new container and fill with soil.
Year-round herbs
If you grow herbs in your outdoor garden, fall is the perfect time to begin dividing them. That way you can have a healthy, indoor herb garden all winter long. You may choose a single, large container to place multiple herbs in or separate containers for each herb.