Author: Aqua Gardening

Guide To Growing Herbs Indoors

Herbs growing on a window sill

Herbs can be grown indoors on window sills all year round. If the window is facing north, make sure they get a little shade during the summer months. Herbs need about 6 hours of sunshine per day and prefer temperatures of around 13ºC - 21ºC. In winter you can use fluorescent lights to supplement their growth and fool the herbs into thinking that it is still summer.

Herbs that can be grown indoors

  • Mint - Can be rooted from cutting, can grow with less light than other herbs, likes water
  • Chives - Keep well watered
  • Lavender- Prefers direct sun
  • Garlic
  • Thyme - Full sunlight and intermittent watering.
  • Oregano
  • Parsley - Can grow with less light than other herbs
  • Bay Leaf - Prefers filtered sunlight in a cooler place
  • Basil - Best grow from seed, loves the sun and heat needs about 16 hours of light per day and temperatures above 10ºC.
  • Rosemary - Can be rooted from cutting, can grow with less light than other herbs
  • Sage - Likes direct sunlight
  • Dill - Best grown from seed
  • Coriander - Best grown from seed

Grow Medium

Herbs like well drained soil. A mixture of 1 potting mix, 1 part sand and 1 part humus is a good grow medium for soil based growing.

Watering

As a general rule, only water herbs when the top part of the soil is dry. Water in the morning but do not over water or root fungus could become a problem.

Feeding

Herbs grown indoors will need feeding once a month with fish emulsion.

Lighting

Fluorescent lighting should be placed about 15cm - 23cm above small herbs and 30cm - 40cm above large herbs.

Air Circulation

Just like all plants, herbs need airflow. Houses can be stuffy places, so to keep your herbs healthy you can open a window from time to time or use a fan to blow air directly onto them.