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February 11, 2022 By Ellen Wells

Growing Herbs Indoors

Are you bored on the weekends without your outdoor gardening tasks? Last month’s post—all about growing microgreens indoors—was meant to have gotten you through the winter lack-of-gardening blues. If you find yourself still in a slump, let’s find something else for you to grow and gather for use in the kitchen. Let’s try growing some herbs indoors, shall we?

Why Grow Herbs Indoors?

Now, they may not be unctuous eggplant or juicy tomatoes, but herbs are an easy way to add fresh flavor to winter meals. Some of my favorite winter soups and stews are made all that more delicious with the addition of fresh herbs. One favorite bean-based soup contains nearly whole bunches of parsley, cilantro, mint and dill. That’s quite a flavor punch! And growing those at home is completely doable—given the following of a few tips, of course.

Ten Tips for Growing Herbs Indoor

Here are 10 tips to get your indoor herb garden from concept to completion.

Find your light. When growing herbs indoors you’ll need high light—and 6 to 8 hours of it—for good growth. Find this light in a south-facing window. If good light is hard to find in your house, you could set grow lights over your herb-growing area to provide supplemental light. We really enjoy working with the folks at NextLight, providers of full-spectrum LED grow lights. As we mentioned last month, these NextLight products are “plug and play,” come with all the cords and can be set up in no time.

Parsley, mint, cilantro and basil—grow them all in a sunny window.

Find your favorite herbs. Grow herbs you love to eat. If your soups and stews call for parsley and dill, or you enjoy fresh basil with your Sunday morning omelets, that’s what you grow. You have the option of growing them from seed, of course—‘tis the season—or you can opt to purchase full-sized potted herbs at your local garden center. You can also sometimes find them in a grocery store’s produce department. Some of the easier herbs to grow are basil, chives, mint, parsley, rosemary and thyme.

Maintain a favorable temperature. A constant temperature between 65F-70F is ideal for herbs. If your home is a bit on the cool side in winter, waterproof heating mats (also found in garden centers) placed under your herb pots can keep them warm.

Pro tip: Basil is a prima donna and would love to be kept at 75F or warmer.

Consider the container. Speaking of containers, most all plants—herbs included—do best when planted in a container with a drainage hole. This keeps the soil and roots from becoming too moist. Don’t forget the saucer—if your windowsill or a nice side table will appreciate it.

Pick an appropriate potting mix. You’ve got your pot, now fill it with a quality product for best root and plant growth. Our Organic Mechanics Container Blend Potting Soil is formulated to provide excellent drainage while also holding moisture. It’s the combination of compost, coco coir, aged pine bark (forest products), rice hulls and earthworm castings that give the mix that ideal aeration. And here’s a sweet bonus: Studies on earthworm castings find they encourage growth of beneficial microbes which can aid in plant growth and nutrient uptake.

Keep up the humidity. A home’s indoor humidity level during winter is comparable to a desert, which can keep a plant from growing its best. A humidifier is good for plants (and for you, too). Another option is to place small pebbles in the saucer, fill it with water, and place your pots on top of that. The pebbles help to increase the surface water from which water will evaporate, thereby raising the humidity levels directly around the plant itself.

Flush herbs to remove salts. Ever wonder what the slow build-up of a white substance is on the surface of your potted plants’ soil? It’s salt residue from fertilizer use. This salt can eventually throw off the soil’s pH balance and inhibit proper nutrient uptake. There’s a simple remedy, however: Hold the pot over a sink and water the pot until water begins to drip out of its bottom. Let it flush until the water stops dripping out. This flushing should take care of the salt buildup for a while.

Provide air circulation. Just because plants are inside doesn’t mean the environment is pest- and disease-free. The indoor environment can become stagnant and stale, and as plants grow, the air around them can foster disease issues. A small fan will circulate the air around your indoor herb garden, freshening up the air around them.

Harvest! Using your herbs is a good thing! It ensures the herbs you use are young and tasty as well as keeps the plant a manageable size. Snipping a few leaves and sprigs here and there also helps promote lateral bud growth, which forms a nice, full-looking plant. 

The best thing about growing herbs indoors in the winter is that these pots of herbs will be full grown by the time the weather warms. Just a week or so of acclimating the herbs to the outdoor environs and they’ll be ready for planting outside.

By the way, have you signed up for our monthly e-newsletter? It’s filled with useful tips on such topics as repotting houseplants, scouting for pests, how and why to use soil amendments and how to acclimate your plants to the great outdoors. It’s a useful read! Sign up for it at organicmechanicsoil.com/newsletter-sign-up.

Filed Under: Articles, Learning Center Tagged With: growing, herbs, indoors, organic, Organic Mechanics

Previous Post: « Microgreens for Winter Indoor Growing
Next Post: Perennial Vegetables are Delectable »

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@htgsupply in Cranberry Township PA today till 6pm @htgsupply in Cranberry Township PA today till 6pm! Stop by to talk soils, pick up some samples, and score killer deals on Organic Mechanics products! 

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Had a blast @urbanjunglephilly yesterday! Thanks t Had a blast @urbanjunglephilly yesterday! Thanks to all who came out to talk soils with Eric! Good to see so many Organic Mechanics, both big and small! 🌅✨🪴✨🌅

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Hey Philly, you're invited! Come down to Urban Jun Hey Philly, you're invited! Come down to Urban Jungle on Water Street today 10am-4pm to level up your organic soil game! Shop their lush and local plants, high five Eric from OM, then talk with him about the benefits of going organic with your soil and choosing the right products for a successful garden. There’s free parking available under I-95. Bring your cards, no cash, this space is card only. See ya there!!

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Hey Philly Phriends! Join Eric from Organic Mechan Hey Philly Phriends! Join Eric from Organic Mechanics at the NEW Urban Jungle retail nursery located at 1721 S. Water Street in Pennsport this Saturday from 10am-4pm. Come check out their plant selections and talk with Eric about choosing the right soil for your needs. You know us, We Work On Your Soil!

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Happy Earth Day y’all! While we strive to make e Happy Earth Day y’all! While we strive to make everyday Earth Day, today is a day to reflect on how we impact Mother Earth with everyday decisions. Collectively our actions can create impact - one garden at a time, one decision at a time. We salute each of you working to make a difference everyday! Hope y’all get to spend some time in your gardens today and this weekend!

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@htgsupply in Rock Island IL today till 6pm! 4/20 @htgsupply in Rock Island IL today till 6pm! 4/20 partay all day! Lots of Vendors. Foodtruck! Stop by to talk soils, pick up some samples, and scOrganic Mechanics products! 

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Planting time is upon us! Plant something in a sha Planting time is upon us! Plant something in a shade of Pantone's Color of the Year, Peri (aka periwinkle)—that's the advice we're giving in the April edition of our Soil-Mates newsletter. Other advice and tips? Herb gardens! Reuse your soil! Get to know perennial edibles! And the difference between our Container Blend and Premium Blend Potting Soils explained. Oh, that last one - yes! Read and enjoy all of it at the link in the bio - just click on our company name above, then click on the latest newsletter posting.

And a shout out to @stlgardenhoe for their seed-starting tutorial using Organic Mechanics' Seed Starting Mix. And check out their fun paper-pot tutorial - so easy, why aren't we all doing it?? 

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At Kingwood Center Gardens today speaking on soils At Kingwood Center Gardens today speaking on soils and soil amendments for the garden. Dr Elaine Ingham kicking things off this AM through zoom, then afternoon sessions with Carri Jagger and I keep the conversation going after Elaine gets everyone all excited about the Soil Food Web!

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