How to make an Indoor Herb Garden
Whether you live in an apartment, have limited outdoor space or you want access to herbs throughout the winter, having an indoor herb garden is a great solution. In this post I will show you how to make an indoor herb garden.
Why bother?
Did you know that green plants are nature’s air purifier? These plants developed before us. If they were not in existence before us, we would not be able to survive. Our environment would be loaded with carbon dioxide. If you are looking for a low tech, low carbon footprint, air purifier option look no further.
In addition if you live in a part of the world that has long, dark winters plants are an excellent way to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
What Supplies do I need?
In it’s simplest form all you need is a plant, a pot (one larger then what it came in), and potting soil. Another option is a plastic liner (a metal and pottery one also works). Some pots come with the liner others simply have holes in the bottom. If you do not use a liner water will run all over the place when you water your plants.
If you do not have a south, or west facing window you may want to consider a grow light. Another great option is hangers to elevate the plants in the window.
So to recap. Supplies include
- Plant
- Pot (larger then the one it came in)
- Liner if it didn’t come with the pot. This will keep water from running all over your home.
- Potting soil. You want to make use it is potting soil as this will protect you plant from overwatering.
- Grow light (optional)
- Plant hanger such as macrame to elevate the plant in the window (optional)
What type of plants should I grow?
Succulents are all the rage right now, but why not grow medicinal and culinary herbs? To decide what plants I always start with what interests me. For example Basil, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Mint and Sage are my favorite culinary plants so I grow these for sure. Other suggestions include Lavender, Aloe Vera and Comfrey.
Another approach is growing tropical plants. My mother-in-law had a banana tree in her living room. We currently have a Kaffir Lime Tree and I want to get a Mandarin Orange and a Hibiscus.
Suggested plants
- Basil
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Lavender
- Aloe Vera
- Comfrey
- Tropical Plants
Picking the Location
If possible you want a south or west facing window. Other windows are still doable but you will likely need a grow light or similar full spectrum light. A macrame hanger is a good (and beautiful) option for hanging the plant near the light and out of the way of pets.
If you do have cats some care should be taken to keep them from digging up the soil around the plants. Tin foil around the base and over the sides is one option, large rocks that they can’t dig out and even forks stuck in the dirt with the pointy side up all help deter felines.
Ongoing Care
Once you have selected the plants, pots and location what do you need to do for ongoing care?
The biggest killer of indoor plants is overwatering. I purchased an Aloe Vera plant this year and put it on my deck. It is rainy in spring and soon it was starting to look very unhealthy. Its color was dulled and it was starting to get droopy, so I moved it indoors to my kitchen window and literally have not watered it for months. Within a couple of weeks it perked up. Aloe is a desert plant that doesn’t want water all the time, but even other plants can end up swimming in their pots. Water sparingly and if possible pick a pot that has a self watering feature.
Spiders, aphids and even mice can cause problems with potted plants. Each of these could be a blog post by themselves. My advice is to check your plants regularly. If you notice dirt outside the pot you might have a mouse living there. Aphids and spiders are harder to detect but the plant will normally give you signs that they are not feeling well. The trick is to pay attention and act fast.
This is the perfect time of year to start your garden. Pots are on sale and so are plants, but it is still warm enough you can put them out during the day.
