Indoor Herbs
How to Grow Herbs Indoors
Many herbs are ideal as indoor plants. Remember though, that conditions are not always ideal inside.
- Temperature can get too high, especially if the house is heated or if the plants are near cooking appliances.
- Air lack of ventilation (gas & air conditioning a problem). Heaters cause a lower humidity than out of doors.
- Light can be too low. In temperate climates direct sun in winter for at least 3 to 4 hrs per day is needed for most (not all) herbs grown indoors. In warmer climates direct sun even in winter may burn or overheat herb plants grown indoors.
Ideally temperature should be around 10 to 23 degrees Centigrade for most herbs.
Most types of herbs will grow happily in rooms that are a little too cool for human comfort. Most plants are tolerant slightly above or below the ideal temperature range when exposed for short periods. The main cause of death is temperature fluctuation. A sudden drop of even 8 degrees Centigrade can damage the plant or kill it. Try to mimimise winter night temperature falls by checking the plant is out of draughts and removed from cold areas. Also high temperatures such as hot spots created by sunshine will scorch leaves and dry out the plant.
Periodically plants grown indoors should be taken outside and given adequate light to build up carbohydrate levels essential for the plant 's growth. This should be done in a temperate season, where temperatures are not going to be at extremes.
How to grow them indoors
Herbs are commonly grown on a window sill or kitchen bench, where they can receive plenty of light and are in easy reach when you are cooking. This is an ideal way to grow small quantities of kitchen herbs (which is all that is needed by the average family). You may grow several different herbs in the one container, though it is perhaps better to keep them segregated so that no one herb competes too strongly with the others.
Larger herbs may be grown in larger containers, perhaps being used not only to harvest, but for indoor decoration, and perhaps to add a pleasant scent to the air as people brush past. Where there is central heating , it is important to produce a moist mircroclimate around the plant .This can be achieved by the following methods:
- Misting - this deposits small droplets of water on the foliage. Misting should be done in the morning so that the foliage is not damp at night.Do not mist when the plant is exposed to bright sunlight. Misting achieves a cooling effect, overcomes moisture loss and discourages red spider mite.
- Group all pot plants together - air trapped in the foliage will increase the relative humidity.
- Double potting - use an outer waterproof container and fill the space between the pot and container with moist peat. Double potting provides a moisture reservior below the pot and also insulates the compost.
Herbs Suitable for growing indoors:
In cool climates
As a window kitchen garden
- Chervil
- Chives
- Coriander
- Dill
- Hyssop
- Lemon Balm
- Mint most types
- Marrigold
- Mustard
- Nettle
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Sage
- Salad burnett
- Savory
- Sorrel
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Valerian
In a larger container
- Bay Laurel
- Coleus caninus
- Madder
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Scented Geraniums
- Tansy
In warm climates:
As a window/kitchen garden
- Chives
- Coriander
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Sage
- Tumeric
- Sweet marjoram
- Fenugreek
Learn More ....check out our courses....
Herbs ... click here
Indoor Plants ... click here
[22/05/2012 13:33:05]
