Have you started growing herbs indoors and are running into some problems? Or maybe you are planning a kitchen herb garden and want to avoid the common indoor herb garden mistakes that most beginners make.
Either way, you are in the right place.
Today I am going to share my experiences and some of the biggest mistakes that I have made so you can learn from them. After reading through this list, you can be sure to set yourself up for success.
It’s not you, It’s the Herbs
I want to start off by saying that you should give yourself some credit. Growing your own herbs indoors can be more tricky than growing and outdoor herb garden.
This is because herbs want to grow outside. When we grow them indoors, we are asking them to do something that they would not naturally do.
So, we need to be extra sure that we give them everything they need.
It is also important to shift your expectations slightly. Know that your indoor herb plants will be on the smaller side, and not quite as lush, or vibrant as your outside herbs.
But, with the right setup and care you should be able to get good use out of them, and enjoy all the benefits of growing fresh herbs indoors.
Common Indoor Herb Garden Mistakes to Learn From
To be honest, I don’t like the word mistakes… let’s think of them as learning opportunities instead.
Think of it as a badge of honour. Like can you really call yourself a true gardener if you have not done at least one of these things?
So, if you find you relate to some of the “learning opportunities” on this list, then welcome to the club!
With that being said, let’s get into the list:
1. Not Providing Adequate Light
Lighting is number one for a reason. If you don’t get the lighting right, then you will have spindly, pale, slow-growing, sad herbs.
Most herbs need a minimum of 6 hours of direct light, but some will be able to grow with less like parsley and chives for example (4-5 hours).
I live in Canada and our winters are quite long with dull, grey days. So, even if my kitchen herb garden is in a west or south-facing window (as is suggested), we still do not get much direct sun.
If you can grow herbs on your windowsill, then make sure to rotate them about once per week so your plants don’t lean too far to one side.
If you can’t provide about 6 hours of sunlight with a sunny window, then you will need some type of grow light to make this work.
2. Treating Indoor Herbs Like Houseplants
This is one of those common problems that I think a lot of us have encountered. But, your indoor herb garden needs more regular attention than you give your houseplants.
You will want to check in on them almost daily which should be easy if you are using them in your cooking on a regular basis.
You will find that they need more light, more regular watering, and continual pruning.
3. Poor Watering Schedule
Water is difficult because there is no exact formula to follow.
I can’t say “water with a half cup every 5 days” because it depends on sooo many factors. Like the herb variety, size of plant, soil, pot type, humidity and temperature of your home, time of year, and more.
You really need to learn how to read your plants.
One of my herb gardening books sums this up nicely by saying that “watering on a once-a-week schedule may help you remember, but like a good waiter or waitress, you should inquire first as to whether your service is needed.” (Herb Gardening for Dummies – 2nd Ed.)
So, how exactly do you ask your plants if they want water? With a finger test!
To do a finger test, just push your finger down into the top inch of soil to see if you feel moisture. If it feels like a damp sponge then you are good, if not – it may be time to water.
If you want to learn more, then read my full post on how often to water herbs.
One of the most common mistakes is giving your herbs too much water, so make sure to err on the side of dryer as you learn to read the soil.
4. Poor Soil & Drainage
As tempting as it may be, do not use soil from your garden. It is way too heavy and compact. Not to mention that you may bring pests into your home which could affect all your indoor plants.
Choose a good potting mix made specifically for growing plants in pots.
My favourite is Vegetable and Herb Promix. I have used it for years with amazing results. It is full of organic material and contains the right nutrients to feed my plants for up to three months.
I will note that you need to pre-moisten your soil before planting.
Bagged potting mix is normally very dry when you buy it. So, mix some soil and water in a rubber tote (or something similar) to rehydrate before you plant.
It is a common suggestion to add broken pieces of clay pots or small rocks to the bottom of the pot for extra drainage. I don’t think this is necessary, so I do not do it.
I just use the whole pot for good nutrient-rich soil.
5. Wrong Container & Overcrowding
Honestly, you can use any type of container to grow herbs in. You just need to manage it and set it up correctly.
If you are a beginner, it is easiest to choose a pot that has good drainage holes. Any material will be fine, but it will affect how much you will need to water.
Like Goldilocks you do not want anything too big or too small. Choose a pot that is just slightly larger than your herbs’ root ball so it can make the most of the water you are giving it.
If planting your herbs in one large pot make sure they are all compatible, and that you are not overcrowding them.
The pot will look a little sparse to begin with, but it will fill out. So make sure you have room for your herbs to grow. Also, don’t plant more aggressive plants like mint with other plants that will get smothered by it.
6. Poor Herb Variety choice
You want to choose culinary herbs that you regularly cook with and herbs that grow best in the kitchen because some herbs will just never really thrive indoors.
Do your research ahead of time and see if you can find different herbs that grow smaller or can handle lower light conditions.
Some of my top choices for an indoor garden are: basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, chives, and thyme. These are fast-growing herbs (minus thyme), that are great for beginner herb gardeners.
7. Starting Too Big at First
If you are just starting out it is important not to overwhelm yourself with either too elaborate of a setup or with too needy herb varieties.
You can always scale up later once you get the basics down. You want to give yourself some quick wins early on to boost your confidence to keep going.
8. Not Petting your Herbs Enough
Did you laugh at this one? Ok me too. But there is truth to it.
There are two amazing things that happen when you brush your fingers through the herb leaves. One, it smells amazing, so you get some good aromatherapy. And two, it helps to make your plants stronger and more robust.
Outside in nature herbs get wind and other things that force them to grow stronger and stand their ground. In the house that does not happen, so they may become taller and weaker.
9. Starting from Seed as a Beginner
As a first-time herb gardener you will want to buy started plants from the garden center, or grocery store.
Growing herbs indoors can be tricky enough, so you don’t want to add the additional work of starting from seed also.
Starting herbs from seeds requires a lot more equipment, takes quite a bit longer, and has its own big learning curve.
If you can’t buy started plants, then the next best thing is to start your herb from cuttings.
10. Poor Growing Location
Herbs will happily grow in room temperature (around 70 degrees give or take). But they will not appreciate temperature extremes or drafts. So, avoid putting your herbs right near air cooling and heating vents, or space heaters.
If you growing a windowsill herb garden, be mindful of how the temperature may drop overnight. If your herb leaves are touching the window, they may get damaged from the cold.
Alternatively, you might cook your herbs if the sun is really beating in, and that area heats up a lot.
You want good airflow and to avoid any places with stagnant air. You may want to add a fan near your herb garden to increase airflow.
11. Not Regularly Pruning & Harvesting
Light, regular pruning is best for your herbs to promote new growth, and increase air circulation.
I check my indoor herbs daily as they are right there in the kitchen with me. This is when I remove any leaves that are past their prime and check the soil moisture.
I regularly harvest from my herbs to add to my cooking.
It is important to never remove more than 1/3 of your plant at a time. You risk killing your plant if you do this. And, if it does survive it will take literally forever to grow back to a point where you can use it again.
If you happen to be getting enough light that your herbs try to flower, you should cut off those buds immediately.
Once herbs flower they focus on producing seeds and slow down or stop producing leaves. Certain herbs like basil can also change flavour once they flower.
12. Too Much or Too Little Fertilizer
The good news is that you will not need to fertilize too often, and there is more of a formula to this one (unlike watering).
I would recommend using half the strength of an organic water-soluble fertilizer. You want to look for an N-P-K of around 5-5-5. Any all-purpose fertilizer will work, but don’t worry about anything for blooms, you are growing these herbs for leaves so more nitrogen will be better for that.
You can easily set a reminder on your phone or on your calendar to fertilize once per month.
13. Not Dealing with Insects Right Away
Honestly, insects should not be a problem if you start with a good potting mix and healthy herbs from the garden center.
If anything were to take hold it would probably be aphids or fungus gnats. If this happens you need to deal with it ASAP – like yesterday! Before things get too far out of control.
If you notice Aphids, you should put your herbs in the sink and shower them with cold water to knock off the aphids.
Fungus gnats tend to show up if you have overwatered. You can use sticky traps to catch some of them, and slow down on watering slightly.
If it is really bad you can try using a neem oil spray or other organic pest control, but at that point it might just be easier to repot or start over with fresh herbs and soil.
To sum up…
A successful indoor herb garden takes special care and attention. Here are the highlights from this article:
- Make sure to provide adequate lighting, and water
- Select the proper soil and pots
- Make sure to feed your plants about once per month with a good liquid fertilizer
- Choose the best herbs to grow indoors
- Don’t go too big or complex in the beginning
- Continual, light pruning is best
- Most important: – Have fun with it! (experiment and see what works for you)
- And finally – don’t forget to pet your plants 🙂
I hope that you now have a better understanding of how to create a successful indoor herb garden. If you want more information then head on over and read my complete beginner’s guide to growing herbs indoors.
Take this knowledge and continue to learn and improve your indoor herb gardening skills. Gardening is one of those things that you will forever be a student. There is always something new to try or learn.
Also, don’t forget to save this post for later reference. And comment below if you have made any of these mistakes in the past.
Until next time!
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