How to Grow Herbs Indoors

By Elizabeth Walling

The fresh breezes and warm sunshine that arrive in the spring and summer months seem to bring out a little of the gardener in everyone. If you have little experience with plants or if you just don't have the space to grow them outdoors, a simple indoor herb garden may be just the solution for you. Indoor herb gardens require little maintenance, but they will provide you with the beauty of having plants indoors. Many herbs have pleasant aromas and can be used to flavor many recipes.

You'll start your indoor gardening adventure at your local greenhouse or perhaps the gardening section of your local discount store. Either way, the choices you make here will affect the quality of your herb garden when you get home. Buying healthy seedlings can be an easier way to start an indoor garden, but many people still prefer to start their indoor herbs from scratch. In this case, be sure to select quality seed packets that have not expired. Buy extra seeds, since sometimes only a fraction of the seeds you plant will actually flourish. Herbs that will thrive indoors include mint, rosemary, chamomile, lavender, basil and oregano.

You can buy a set of new gardening pots for your herbs, but it isn’t necessary. Indoor herbs will grow just as well in many spare containers you'll find laying around your home. The important part of selecting containers for your herbs will be to make sure the container has proper drainage.

Proper soil is another crucial part of growing indoor plants. Mix potting soil with sand and a small amount of lime to give your herbs the best soil conditions for growth. Before adding soil to your container, layer the bottom with gravel to ensure suitable drainage.

Where you choose to place your indoor herb garden will greatly affect your garden's success. Most herbs require at least a moderate amount of sunlight, so a place near a window or skylight is ideal. Windows facing south will provide the best sunlight, while windows facing north will supply less adequate lighting. If you think your herb garden may not be getting enough light, you can supplement by using fluorescent lighting. During the warm months, a little time outdoors can give your plants a boost.

When your herbs receive the right amount of water, they will flourish and thrive. While it's important to make sure your herbs are getting enough water, over watering can also be harmful to your garden. Keeping an eye on the moisture level of your soil will give you a good idea of how often you need to water your herbs. Typically, once every one to two weeks will be plenty. Water just enough to keep the soil moist. Too much water can deprive your plant of oxygen. Yellowing of the leaves is a sign of over watering.

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