You don't have to be green-fingered to have your own indoor herb garden. Growing herbs can be a super satisfying way to add flavor to meals, aromatherapy, and teas. Once you start combining everything with fresh herbs, you won't go back.
There are a few pointers to consider before growing herbs indoors. Follow our tips on getting the most out of the 10 best herbs to grow indoors.
You should also read:
The Best Herbs to Grow Indoors
These herbs have a track record as proven easy growers. They're tolerant of indoors and can withstand variable conditions.
1. Lemongrass
Why Grow It?
Lemongrass is a fragrant indoor starter plant that’s versatile; usable in teas, curries and essential oil therapy. For culinary lemongrass, choose West Indian varieties when buying.
Light Needed
Lemongrass likes full sun, but it can tolerate a little shade. Keep it on a sunny windowsill as this herb enjoys full light, up to 6 hours a day.
Soil Needed
Lemongrass does best in well-draining soil. It should be planted in fertile and wet soil and should have some mature compost in its potting mix.
Quick Tip: To improve your current soil conditions, add some organic matter, either from your compost pile or gardening shops.
Watering Advice
Water lemongrass deeply and wait for it to dry out before adding more. You need to make sure that the roots don't dry out too much, so it's important to keep the soil moist.
2. Oregano
Why Grow It?
This Mediterranean herb is easy to plant as it doesn’t need a large pot, and it’ll trail instead of spread.
Light Needed
Oregano likes hot weather, so it's best placed on a sunny windowsill.
Soil Needed
It tolerates a lot of soil conditions and does best in airy, fast-drying soil.
Watering Advice
Though Oregano is drought resistant, it still benefits from being watered regularly. Let the soil dry between waterings and avoid watering excessively.
3. Bay Laurel
Why Grow It?
This culinary herb works well as a container plant, making it perfect for both indoors and garden settings.
Light Needed
This fresh herb enjoys full sun and some shade. The best place to set it in is on a sunny windowsill facing the south.
Soil Needed
This fresh herb enjoys full sun and some shade. The best place to set it in is on a sunny windowsill facing the south.
Watering Advice
Keep your potting mix moist but not waterlogged. During warmer temperatures, mist it regularly to avoid it drying out.
4. Cilantro
Why Grow It?
Cilantro has large seeds, so it's an easy starter plant and is perfect for growing indoors since it also enjoys cooler temperatures.
Light Needed
This fresh herb needs 6 hours of sunlight, so place its pots on sunny windowsills.
Soil Needed
Use fertilized, well-draining soil. You can purchase ready potting soil mixes or make your own.
Watering Advice
Cilantro enjoys moisture, but over-watering can cause diseases. If you notice the soil is dry, water slowly and let it absorb before watering again.
5. Mint
Why Grow It?
Mint is one of the best herbs to grow indoors because it grows year-round. Select a wide pot to let the roots spread out.
Light Needed
Give mint herb moderate light, with some partial shade. You can rotate the pot every few days to ensure different angles can bend towards the light.
Soil Needed
Keep mint in an excellent potting mix; either buy it or make your own. Also, make sure your soil is well-draining, similar to the soils of the herbs mentioned before.
Watering Advice
Keep the soil evenly moist, and if you notice the leaves turning brown or wilting, water some more.
6. Chives
Why Grow It?
Chives are hardy plants, tolerant of temperature changes, and are also flavorsome culinary herbs.
Light Needed
Typically, 6 hours of light a day is needed, so place the potting on a south-faced sunny windowsill.
Soil Needed
Keep chives in a rich, organic potting mix, making sure your soil is well-draining. Use a low dose of fertilizer to keep the herb actively growing.
Watering Advice
Keep the soil moist and spray with a mist to coat leaves evenly, making sure your room is airy so that the plant enjoys humidity
7. Sage
Why Grow It?
This aromatic herb, with its silvery foliage, has an earthy flavor. It tolerates dry air well, making it perfect for indoors.
Soil Needed
Sage needs lots of light, so place the pot on a sunny windowsill.
Light Needed
Sage requires a potting mix of well-draining, sandy, loamy soil. Avoid over-fertilizing as it reduces the flavor.
Watering Advice
This herb is drought tolerant, so it doesn't require that much water. Wait till the soil is dry before watering it well, as over-watering can cause powdery mildew.
8. Lemon Balm
Why Grow It?
Lemon Balm requires a few things to grow and has a fresh citrus flavor.
Light Needed
Lemon Balm needs lots of light, so place the pot on a sunny windowsill.
Soil Needed
A potting mix of well-draining, loamy soil and some light fertilizer every few weeks will encourage growth.
Watering Advice
Regularly water lemon balm and mist its leaves, but don't let it get soggy.
9. Parsley
Why Grow It?
This Mediterranean herb grows easily indoors and just needs a large pot for its long roots.
Light Needed
Parsley needs full sunlight, about 6 hours a day. But it can grow in some shade, albeit a little slowly.
Soil Needed
Choose a well-draining, rich organic soil, and remember to fertilize every fortnight.
Watering Advice
Regularly water and mist its leaves to encourage humidity, and remember to keep it moist but not wet.
10. Chervil
Why Grow It?
Similar to parsley, this herb grows easily indoors and can be kept in partial shade.
Light Needed
Chervil herb should be placed in partial sunlight and a cool room.
Soil Needed
Choose well-draining soil. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Watering Advice
Regularly water the soil and mist its leaves.
11. Rosemary
Why Grow It?
This super aromatic herb adds distinctive flavor to dishes and is easy to care for.
Light Needed
Rosemary enjoys full sunlight all day.
Soil Needed
Select a well-draining, organic soil that's sandy and loamy.
Watering Advice
Only water the plant when the topsoil is dry, so between waterings, just mist the herb.
12. Thyme
Why Grow It?
Thyme's a popular cooking herb, easy to grow, and attractive as a houseplant.
Light Needed
Thyme will do well on a warm, sunny windowsill that's south-facing.
Soil Needed
Select a fast-draining, organic soil, a combination of sand, peat, and perlite. Remember to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Watering Advice
Only water when the topsoil is dry, but to avoid the leaves wilting, mist between watering.
13. Basil
Why Grow It?
Known for its low maintenance, basil is essential in your indoor garden.
Light Needed
This herb worships the sun so give it a dose of 6 hours a day on a windowsill.
Soil Needed
Select loose, sandy potting soils for basil, making sure they’re well-draining and organic.
Watering Advice
Keep the soil moist, and water it when you notice any wilting.
Where Can I Grow Herbs?
In Natural Light
Most herbs do best in full sunlight, requiring about 6-8 hours and only some shelter. You can grow herbs indoors on a sunny windowsill, using potting.
Under Glow Lights
You can opt for fluorescent grow lights or energy-efficient LEDs to place your pots under. You can buy a small light garden with fluorescent lights fitted in or buy individual clamping fixtures with LED bulbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most common questions that people have when growing herbs indoors.
Which Herbs Grow Indoors Year-Round?
All the herbs mentioned above grow indoors year-round, but our favorite picks are chives, mint, rosemary, and thyme.
Which Herbs Grow Best in Pots?
All the herbs mentioned above grow fine in pots, but the best would be basil, rosemary, chives, sage, and bay.
What Herbs Are Hard to Grow?
Herbs like tarragon, marjoram, and some species of cilantro can be hard to grow.
What Herbs Don’t Need Sunlight?
Chives, chervil, and some mint species don’t always need much sunlight.
What Herb Grows the Fastest?
Basil, parsley, chives & coriander grow the fastest.
What Herb Is the Easiest to Grow and Maintain?
Basil, thyme, bay, Indian, and mint are low maintenance and require basic herb care.
Conclusion
You require little to create an indoor herb garden. Most herbs are easy to grow, and the above are some examples. You just need to keep a disciplined routine for watering, lighting, and checking the soil to ensure they flourish to their maximum.
The key things that all herbs need are moist and ideally humid conditions without being bogged down with water, which many accidentally fall prey to.
Finally, keep an eye on topsoil and reinvigorate potting mix with fresh organic compost to ensure your herbs enjoy rich quality nutrients.
