Growing Herbs Indoors

Growing herbs indoors can add a whole new element to your decor. It's also a great way to keep fresh herbs on hand for cooking or medicinal use. Some herbs make beautiful houseplants and may even add a relaxing fragrance. Whatever your reason, growing herbs in your home can offer many benefits.

Grow a variety of herbs in pots.

Perhaps the most common reason to grow herbs indoors is for culinary purposes. Growing culinary herbs indoors is simple and rewarding. Herbs can be grown easily in a sunny window or under a regular fluorescent with well drained soil.

With just a little effort, you can have fresh chives for your baked potatoes or fresh basil for your pesto. Even those who do not have room to grow plants outdoors can enjoy their own little indoor garden. Your food will taste wonderful, you'll feel good about growing your own fresh food and the mental boost of home-grown foods in the winter can help you battle those dreary winter blues.

Some common culinary herbs that you can grow inside include:

• Basil
• Parsley
• Chives
• Mint
• Rosemary

Perhaps you'd like to try growing herbs indoors because you want to add the lovely aroma of your favorite herbs to your home without chemical-laden sprays. You can do this by growing aromatic herbs. Of course, most aromatic herbs are great for cooking or even for medicinal uses, but there claim to fame is really their intoxicating scents.

Want to try some aromatic herbs in your home? Try beautiful lavender for a relaxing fragrance and a lovely centerpiece. Sage smells simply wonderful and is a terrific addition to meats and other tasty dishes. Sweet marjoram also is a wonderful aromatic herb. Enjoy the attractive plant but be sure to dry some for potpourri as well.

Growing medicinal herbs indoors is like keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet. You instantly have what you need right at your finger tips to make healing salves or tinctures, teas or compresses. Many of these herbs are beautiful as well, so they will make a nice addition to your home's decor.

German chamomile is a great choice for an indoor medicinal herb. Sprinkle seeds in a large, decorative flower pot and soon you'll see it overflowing with cute little white flowers with cheery yellow centers. Harvest these blooms and dry them for a mildly sedating tea.

What kitchen is complete without a soothing [[Medicinal Uses of Aloe Vera|aloe plant]. Easy to grow, this medicinal herb is a must-have to heal mild cuts and burns. Many varieties of mint grow well indoors too. They make a perfect remedy for stomach problems and headaches.

If you'd like to start growing herbs indoors, you'll first need to be sure you have a bright, sunny location. A windowsill in a south or west facing window is ideal during the summer. In cooler months, it may be better to move your tender herbs to a table or shelf with a fluorescent light. This will assure that herb plants get all the necessary light and will also prevent them from die-back that occurs from being against a cold window.

Next, choose pots large enough for the full-grown plants. Small pots will cause plants to become root-bound and eventually die. Fill the pots with a mixture of sterile potting soil and vermiculite. This will allow adequate drainage that is essential for herb plants to grow successfully.

Water your plants early in the morning so soil and leaves are dry by evening. Wet soil can be a haven for fungus which will make your herbs unappealing at the very least. You should also be sure your herbs are not over crowded as this, too can lead to fungal problems that may kill your plants.

Herbs grow best in temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees. Some also like humidity. However, this does not mean you should mist them, which can encourage mold and fungus to form on leaves and soil. Instead, fill a tray with pebbles and place pots on top of them. Pour water over the pebbles, adding more as needed. This water will provide needed humidity without causing any problems for your plants.

For more growing tips, visit LoveToKnow Garden and do a search on the herb you'd like to grow.

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