HERBS

Herbs are a lovely addition to indoor growing spaces. Unique from most houseplants, they offer year-round natural fragrance to your space–not just when they are in bloom. If grown for culinary use, indoor herbs offer unparalleled flavor to dishes year round, while also adding a soft green touch to any space.

WATER & SOIL

When grown indoors, herbs are typically in small pots that need to be checked often for water, due to their abundance of roots. When the soil is dry to the touch, give your plant a thorough watering. If the water appears to be running over the top, or running through too quickly, consider soaking your plant in a dish of water so that the root ball can be fully saturated. Uneven watering is a common problem for herbs, as portions of their root systems can die back if not receiving water. 

Herbs tend to be aggressive growers, and will become well rooted and rootbound quickly. If you are having to water frequently or daily indoors, herbs are good candidates for both up-potting and root pruning. Putting herbs into a pot that is one to two sizes larger than its current pot can help keep the soil moist longer, leaving you more time in between waterings. If you do not have the space or desire to put them in a larger pot, the roots can be pruned in order to keep them contained in a smaller space. When root pruning, you will typically remove about ⅓ of the roots. You can actually just cut the tightly bound roots off of the plant, and then loosen the remaining roots to distribute through fresh potting medium. 

When potting up herbs, make sure to use a potting soil that drains well and is rich in nutrients. A general houseplant soil with extra perlite or pumice added is a great option for indoor herbs. 

LIGHT

Herbs need direct sun to maintain strong, healthy growth indoors. They need anywhere from 4-8 hours of direct light every day, depending on the variety. If your plant begins to stretch towards the light or is struggling to dry out their potting medium, try moving it into brighter light. Herbs should be using up their water regularly, and if they are not then they are likely not getting enough light. Light is essential to a plant being able to photosynthesize and create energy, and herbs need a lot of it to thrive. 

FERTILIZER

When kept indoors herbs need to be fertilized regularly, especially when they are actively growing. That said, some herbs are heavier feeders than others. More woody, fibrous herbs such as rosemary, mint, lavender, thyme, and sage are generally not heavy feeders. They will only need fertilizer a few times a month in the growing season. More tender and fast growing herbs such as basil, cilantro, parsley, or dill tend to want more fertilizer, and can be fed as often as every other watering. When fertilizing herbs, make sure to use a balanced, all purpose fertilizer or a fertilizer higher in nitrogen, which will encourage strong foliar growth (indicated by the first number in the NPK value).   

PRUNING

Trim your herbs often. Pruning promotes new growth and stronger stems. It can be hard to pinch back new growth, but the plant will grow most strongly if pruned often. Additionally, herbs have the brightest and freshest flavor in their new growth. 

Make sure to prune any flowers that emerge, as the plant growth will be slowed or stunted with flower production. This does not apply to plants such as lavender, which are typically grown for their flowers.