Whether you have a country style kitchen or a modern minimal kitchen, nothing beats the sight
of pots of healthy herbs on your windowsill. Besides adding lush greenery to your space, it’s also
a great way to start growing your own crops. Unfortunately, the situation of sparse plants with
wilted leaves is an increasingly common reality for many of us.
How can you keep your indoor herb garden healthy and thriving? Experts share some tips you
need to know about plants that produce more leaves. Follow these steps and you’ll have a lush
edible garden with delicious herbs to enjoy all year round.
It may seem obvious, but the first step to a healthy indoor herb garden is choosing herbs that are
both suitable for growing indoors and are perfect for growing in your kitchen. .
Some herbs grow better indoors than others, according to Amy Enfield, senior home scientist at
Scotts Miracle Gro. “Herbs that grow outdoors in partial sunlight are good candidates for
growing indoors because light levels are lower indoors than outdoors,” she says. “These include
chives, lemon balm, mint, Greek oregano, parsley, French tarragon, and English thyme.” These
herbs grow long and don’t get “long.”
Amy went on to explain that since light levels are constantly dropping, herbs should also be
grown indoors in semi-shade and in as much light as possible, she explained. “Unless you have a
bright, sunny south-facing window and interior lighting, avoid basil, coriander, dill, and
chamomile,” she continues.
Other Container Shapes As with gardening, using the right type and size of container will result
in healthier plants and, for herbs, better yields.
“Herbs need space to grow, so if you grow herbs indoors, be sure to choose containers that give
them room to grow,” says Amy. “A six-inch container is sufficient for most herbs,” she
recommends glazed or plastic containers rather than clay or terracotta pots, which tend to dry out
quickly. . “Also, when choosing a container, make sure it has drainage holes,” Amy adds.
increase. “You can also place trays under planters to catch excess water and protect table tops
and window sills.”
When growing herbs in pots indoors, it’s usually best to grow them in individual containers. In
this way, each plant can get the ideal growing conditions it needs. “If you want to create a mixed
herb garden, choose containers or planters that are 10 to 12 inches in diameter,” continues Amy.
“You can also combine herbs that need the same light and moisture.”
This may seem like an afterthought, but choosing the right potting soil is important for plants to
have healthy, lush foliage. The same applies to indoor herb gardens.
‘Choose a well-draining potting mix that includes organic material such as compost or old
manure,’ advises Tony. “This will provide the herbs with the nutrients they need.” However, it’s
important to note that some herbs require different types of soil. For example, Mediterranean
herbs such as basil and coriander prefer well-drained, sandy soils. To be safe, Amy recommends
filling the container with a high-quality bagged potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro indoor potting
mix. “Designed specifically for houseplants in containers, this potting soil is formulated for easy
watering,” she added.