Gardening is a fulfilling hobby that doesn’t have to end when it gets cold outside. You can grow many types of plants indoors, especially if you raise herbs.
Growing herbs inside is slightly different than doing it in your yard. There are a few factors to consider and steps you can take to make it easier and tend to healthier plants. Use these tips to learn how to start your indoor herb garden so you have fresh seasonings for all your favorite autumn soups and winter casseroles.
1. Water-Based Hydroponic Containers
Lacking soil is the first challenge to growing an indoor herb garden. Shoveling dirt out of bags and switching plants between pots as they grow risks frequent messes. Skip the sweeping and vacuuming by using hydroponic containers.
Instead of growing in soil, your plants will get what they need from water. They won’t require any dirt to get the nutrients they need to thrive. All you have to do is stir a solution into their water, and they’ll stay right on track with your growth charts.
You can make an informed decision by reading about other hydroponic benefits, such as:
- It produces higher yields
- It can minimize water usage
- It requires less space
Start with hearty plants like basil or oregano to see how they do in your new hydroponic setup.
2. Grow Lights
Next, you have to decide how your plants will get enough light for photosynthesis. Grow lights can help with that. They mimic sunlight so your herb garden will thrive even if your home has a lack of windows. You can adjust the bulb strength with these kinds of lights. You’ll never have to worry about mixing low-light plants with varieties that need full sun.
If you decide to use grow lights, learn which bulbs are best for your needs. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs and fluorescent both work, but LEDs use half the electricity and last five times longer. It’s the better choice for anyone who wants to minimize their carbon footprint while growing an indoor herb garden.
3. Think Outside the Pot
Planting herbs inside your home also allows you the creative freedom to choose different pots. You might paint clay-based terracotta pots or build wooden planters that fit your specific shelving. Terrariums and window boxes are also useful for indoor plants, depending on how much room your herbs need for their root systems.
4. Aeroponics Systems
With aeroponics, you supply plants with nutrients by misting their exposed root system with nutrients. A machine automatically mists each plant on a schedule after you plant the herb seeds in foam pots.
This is another option that might interest you if you want to maximize your sustainability. Since only 0.3% of freshwater exists in surface water, you might prefer a garden that uses as little liquid as possible. Aeroponics solves that problem without limiting the size or scope of your indoor garden.
If you don’t have room in your budget, you can always make an aeroponics system at home for your next weekend craft project. It depends on the size of your garden and what you’d like to grow. Make one with five-gallon buckets and PVC bars or a simple tote box. You can make anything work as long as the plants grow in something stable and exposed to the air.
5. Indoor Herb Garden Kits
Anyone who’s new to gardening and wants to grow herbs indoors can also use a beginner’s kit. It would include everything you need to get started, like pots and seeds. You’d also get a growing guide that outlines things like:
- How to plant herb seeds
- When to water your plants
- When to harvest your herbs
A kit is the best option for total beginners because nothing’s left to chance. You’d have a helping hand that guides you through the growing process. The next time you want to plant something, you’d have the experience and confidence to do it on your own.
Get Started Today
Use these five ways to grow an indoor herb garden this year. Whether you’ve never watered a plant before or have years of experience, you can grow whichever herbs you like within the comfort of your home.
Bio:
Jane is an environmental writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers sustainability and eco-friendly living.