Imagine opening the window to the scent of mint, basil, or rosemary.
The aroma wafts through your home and completely transforms the atmosphere, bringing a fresh, refreshing fragrance that uplifts the spirit!
Growing herbs by your window adds a sweet touch of greenery to your living space while providing a convenient source of fresh flavors for your cooking.
The best part about this is that you don’t have to be an expert to start growing herbs by your window.
How to Choose the Right Herbs
While the idea of starting a mini herb garden by your window is fantastic, you can’t just pick and choose any herb. There are some factors you must first consider!
For instance, some varieties are particularly well-suited to the conditions typically found by a window.
There’s basil, which loves warmth and plenty of sunlight, making it a great candidate for sunny windowsills. It’s also perfect for adding fresh flavor to salads, pasta, and pesto!
You can try parsley if your window doesn’t get that much direct sunlight. Other options include mint, thyme, chives, and much more!
Essentially, you can go with almost any type of herb if you have a south-facing window.
These windows receive the most light throughout the day, making them ideal for sun-loving herbs like basil and rosemary.
East and west-facing windows get moderate sunlight, meaning you can plant parsley and chives over them.
As for north-facing windows, they don’t receive as much sunlight as the other. So, it’s best to choose herbs more tolerant of low light, such as mint or even certain varieties of parsley.
How to Care for Your Herbs
Creating a successful window herb garden involves careful planning and the right step up. Here’s what we can tell you about it:
1 – Containers and Soil
When picking out the containers, make sure you pick ones with excellent drainage to prevent water from pooling at the bottom.
If you buy the wrong pot and it collects water, your plants might end up with root rot. So, look for containers with drainage holes to guarantee this doesn’t happen.
Also, consider the size and growth habits of the herbs before selecting the container. Larger herbs like basil or rosemary will need more space to spread their roots, so it’s best to get bigger pots for them.
2 – Using Quality Potting Mix
Don’t use garden soil for your containers. Garden soil is vastly different from potting mixes and might do more damage than good for your herbs.
Your herbs need a high-quality potting mix that provides the right amount of drainage and moisture retention.
You can also mix in a bit of compost or perlite to improve the soil’s texture and nutrient content.
3 – Managing Indoor Conditions
You’ll need to follow a few steps if you’re keeping the plants inside the window instead of outside most of the time.
To start, indoor herbs thrive best in stable temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C). Secondly, avoid placing your herbs too close to the window if it’s drafty.
In fact, keep them away from heating vents and air conditioners, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plants.
Finally, herbs appreciate some humidity, especially during winter when indoor air is a bit drier.
You can increase humidity by misting your herbs regularly or placing a water tray near them.
4 – Water and Drainage
Consistent water is key to keeping your herbs healthy—as it is with any plant! However, it’s vital to strike the right balance.
You see, overwatering can lead to root rot while underwatering can cause the herbs to wilt and lose luster and flavor.
A good rule of thumb is to water when the top inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Final Thoughts
So, are you excited about growing herbs by your window? It’s not that hard once you get the hang of things.
Begin by understanding your room and the window placement. Learn how much sun it gets per day and search up what are the best plants that agree with that amount of sunshine.
After that, it’ll all come naturally to you.
Simply pick the right-sized containers with drainage holes, use a good potting mix, keep them healthy indoors, water consistently, and enjoy the results!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.