How To Successfully Maintain An Indoor Herb Garden
Herbs help a great deal in making dishes even tastier, but aside from that, they can also be great plants to grow indoors. Not only can they help us save money on important kitchen ingredients, but they are also relatively easy to maintain—as long as you do your research and pay enough time and attention to them. Here is what you need to know to grow and maintain your very own herb garden at home.
Do your research
This step doesn’t just involve finding out what kind of herb you want for your garden and how to care for it. It’s also important to research on the kind of environment you have at home. What’s the temperature? The humidity level? Does your place receive plenty of sunlight? Also, how much time will you be able to allot for tending to your herb garden? Once you know the answers to these questions, setting up your garden will be a smoother process.
Select the best pots
Picking the appropriate pots is an essential step in making sure that your plants grow well. Aside from the size of the pots, see to it that the pots you get also have enough drainage, because herbs cannot grow well in standing water. Make it a point to also pick a separate pot for each herb you want to include in your garden. Lastly, don’t be afraid to go quirky! Try to look for designed planters, up-cycle some unused household items, or paint your pots yourself—let your garden reflect your personality!
Get the right potting mix
Before getting started on the actual planting, first get your hands on the right kind of potting mix—the kind that provides additional drainage. As much as possible, don’t use soil coming directly from the ground, as this can often be too compact and provide no room for the roots of your herbs to breathe, not to mention that they may also contain tiny bugs that will only destroy your plants.
Use the correct kind of fertilizer
To ensure that your herbs grow healthy, the right kind of fertilizer is important. For an indoor herb garden, it is best to use seaweed fertilizer or fish emulsion, since these types of fertilizer have a high concentration, which promotes leafy growth for plants. Additionally, do your research on how often to fertilize your herbs.
Bonus tip: Using fertilizer on your indoor plants is helpful, but it may lead to a dangerous issue—salt build-up. This may also happen when you water your plants using tap water. To solve this problem, thoroughly water the plant until the liquid drains out of the bottom of the pot, then wait for all the water to come out before putting the plant back in its place. Repeat this procedure every few months for the best results.
Find the right place for your herbs
The most important factor to consider when deciding where to place your herb garden is the amount of light that area receives. Strong sunlight can do wonders to your herbs: The more they are exposed to light, the more healthily they grow and the more flavorful they become. Also, make sure that wherever you place your garden, it is able to receive enough air. If they don’t get enough air flow, diseases will spread among them.
Water your herbs regularly
Herbs don’t actually need to be watered too often, but sticking to a watering schedule of about 2 to 3 times a week is very helpful. Let the pots dry out in between watering. To check the moisture, press your soil into the top of the soil. If it is dry 2 inches from the top, then it’s time to bring out the watering can. Remember to take your time while watering, to make sure that the plants are able to absorb the liquid well.
Show your herbs some love
It’s not only pets that deserve to be told nice words regularly—plants need that love, too, since experts say that talking to your herbs can help them release the carbon dioxide they need to manufacture food. Also, take the time to give your plants a gentle pat every now and then, to encourage them to grow well. You’ll be pleased at the results of these small acts of love!
Source: Elle Décor
