Growing Herbs Indoors

Why Grow Herb Plants Indoors?

First, let's address why you might want to grow herbs indoors. It turns out, you can enjoy some significant advantages:

• Fresh organic herbs on demand, all year long
• Save money compared to buying bunches at the store
• Add flavor and nutrition to your meals
• Grow in small spaces — ideal for apartments
• Cleaner than outdoor gardening with fewer pests

Indoor Herb Growing Kits Get You Up and Running Fast

A herb-growing kit can give you a great head start on a flourishing garden. EarthBox, for example, makes it simple to start with an all-inclusive package:

• Herb planter
• Aeration screen
• Water fill tube
• Mulch cover
• Peat-based potting soil
• Dolomite lime
• Fertilizer

Best of all, the planter includes a self-watering feature. A reservoir at its base stores water, allowing plants to access it when needed. Your plants remain hydrated to ensure their health and production.

Now that you know the benefits of indoor gardening with an herb starter kit, let's explore some tips to ensure your success.

Start by Selecting the Best Herbs

Selecting the right herbs to grow indoors comes down to picking your favorite herbs. Right? Well, not necessarily. Not all herbs are equally easy to grow indoors.

Picking the right ones for your light, space, and schedule makes a huge difference. Your success often depends on selecting the best herbs to grow for your specific environment.

Easy Herbs to Grow for Beginners

If you’re just starting, stick with herbs that don’t require constant attention or ideal conditions. These are some low-maintenance, quick-to-grow, and well-suited herbs for most indoor setups. They're great for building your confidence (and your spice rack).

• Basil – Fast-growing, flavorful, and forgiving with regular watering.
• Mint – Hardy and happy in low light; just give it its pot.
• Parsley – Tolerates cooler temps and adapts well to indoor life.
• Chives – Low maintenance and great for repeat snipping.

Trickier Herbs to Grow

Some herbs are a bit more finicky indoors. They may require additional light, space, or specialized care to thrive. That doesn't mean they're impossible to grow. But, you might want to tackle them once you’ve got a few easy wins under your belt.

• Cilantro – Bolts quickly in warm conditions and has a short growing cycle.
• Dill - It requires more vertical space and dislikes disturbances.
• Lavender – Demands intense light, excellent airflow, and dry soil. Drainage is critical.

Indoor Gardening Tip: Start with 2–3 herbs that match your cooking habits and lighting conditions. Once you have those growing strong, expand to others.

Know Your Herbs: A Quick Reference Guide

Want to know which herbs need what? Here’s a simplified cheat sheet for some of the easiest herbs to grow indoors:

Herb	Light Needs	Watering	Pot Size	Fertilizer
Basil	Full sun / grow light	Moist soil	6"+	Every 2 weeks
Mint	Partial sun	Moist soil	Separate pot	Monthly
Parsley	Partial light	Moderate	4–5"	Every 2–3 weeks
Chives	Low to moderate	Moderate	4"	Light, monthly
Rosemary	Full sun	Let the soil dry	6"+	Monthly
Oregano	Full sun	Let the soil dry	4–6"	Every 3–4 weeks
Cilantro	Partial shade	Moist soil	4–5"	Light, monthly
Thyme	Full sun	Light watering	4–5"	Monthly

 

Give Your Herbs the Right Light Conditions

Most indoor herbs need 6–8 hours of sunlight a day. They'll perform nicely if you place your indoor herb planter near a south-facing window.

If your space doesn’t get enough natural sun, a full-spectrum grow light can completely change the game.

Herbs for Sunny Spots

Some herbs require full sun and need ample light to stay healthy and flavorful. These are your Mediterranean-style herbs — they love warmth, dry soil, and long days of sunshine. If you’ve got a south-facing window or a solid grow light setup, these herbs will thrive.

• Basil
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Rosemary

Herbs for Lower Light

Not all herbs are sun-seekers. These more forgiving varieties can grow well in partial light — like east- or west-facing windows, or under less intense grow lights. They’re perfect if your space doesn’t get full sun, but you still want a productive indoor herb garden.

• Mint
• Parsley
• Chives
• Cilantro

How to Use Grow Lights for Indoor Herbs

If Mediterranean-style herbs are your cup of tea, you can still grow them. You'll need to invest in a grow light, however.

Fortunately, grow lights are easy to use. Here are some quick tips for using them correctly:

• Type: Use full-spectrum LED grow lights, which mimic natural sunlight and support both leaf growth and overall plant health.
• Distance: Keep the light about 6–12 inches above the tops of your plants.
• Duration: Run the light for 12–16 hours per day. Most herbs require consistent, prolonged exposure to light. You may want to consider using a smart plug or timer to automate this process.
• Mounting: Options include clip-on lights, hanging bar lights, and tabletop lamps. Just ensure the light covers the entire plant, not just one side.

Indoor Gardening Tip: Rotate your herbs every few days to prevent them from leaning toward the light source. This keeps growth even and upright.

What Do Grow Lights Cost?

You can choose from a wide range depending on your setup:

• LEDs: You can pick up budget LED grow lights for $15–30. They're ideal for 1–2 small planters.
• Bar Lights or Panels: They'll cost a bit more $40–75, but are suitable for larger kits or grouped herbs.
• Smart Systems: If you're serious about growing herbs indoors, the smart grow light is the choice for you. For $100, timers, automatic brightness, and built in planters are included in your purchase. 

If you’re starting with just a few herbs, even a $20 grow light can make a difference. They're especially valuable for darker spaces or during short winter days.

Lighting Tips for Growing Herbs Indoors

Even with the right window or grow light, small mistakes can hinder the growth of your herbs. These simple tips will help you get the most out of your lighting setup — keeping your herbs strong, upright, and productive.

• Don’t place herbs behind sheer curtains or on deep windowsills that block light.
• If using natural light, remember that east- and west-facing windows can also work, especially in spring and summer.
• Avoid placing herbs too close to cold drafts or heat vents — light is essential, but stable temperature matters too.

Indoor Gardening Tip: Rotate your planter pot weekly to encourage straight growth in your plants.

Choose the Right Pots and Group Your Herbs Wisely

We spent a reasonable amount of time addressing light, and with good reason. Without proper lighting, your indoor herb garden can't thrive.

The same is true about container selection and how you plant and group your herbs. First, use containers with drainage holes and a high-quality potting mix — not garden soil.

Terra cotta pots are a good choice for indoor use because they absorb excess water, helping to prevent overwatering. Remember, though, you can eliminate watering concerns with a self-watering herb planter.

Don’t Overcrowd Your Potted Herbs

Armed with a good pot, your next challenge is to avoid overcrowding. Some plants require considerable space to flourish. Others require less space, allowing you to group them in one planter.

Herbs that prefer their own space:

• Mint – aggressive roots
• Rosemary – woody and large
• Basil – fast grower with deep roots

Herbs that can be grouped:

• Thyme, Oregano, Chives – similar light and water needs
• Parsley and Cilantro – cooler temps, moist soil

If you're using a multi-section herb garden planter, ensure that grouped herbs share similar growing preferences.

Indoor Herbs Need Less Water

Many novice gardeners think it's a good idea to water frequently. Unfortunately, that's a good way to kill your herbs. Watering is more of a science.

Start by understanding that indoor plants have fewer watering requirements than outdoor plants. Why?

Less Exposure: Indoor herbs don't receive daily exposure to sunlight or wind. As a result, the soil stays moist for extended periods.

Stable Temperatures: Indoor environments generally have more consistent temperatures and humidity, which reduces water evaporation.

Smaller Pots: Herbs grown in herb garden planters indoors have limited soil volume. Consequently, overwatering is easier — and more dangerous.

Drainage: Unlike outdoor soil, indoor containers rely on proper drainage holes to prevent water from accumulating. If excess water doesn’t drain well, roots can sit in soggy soil and rot.

Don’t just “add water” — feel the soil. Stick your finger into the top inch. If it’s dry, water it slowly until the water drains out the bottom. And yes, we'll repeat it, self-watering herb planters eliminate the worry.

Different Herbs Vary with Their Watering Requirements

Familiarize yourself with the water needs of the herbs you plan to plant. Some herbs tolerate damp feet, while others wilt and die quickly. Know thy plant!

Moisture-loving herbs:

• Basil
• Parsley
• Mint

Drought-tolerant herbs:

• Thyme
• Oregano
• Rosemary

In dry climates or during winter, raise humidity by grouping herbs, using a pebble tray, or running a humidifier.

Fertilize Your Indoor Herbs Sparingly — Don't Overdo It

Indoor herbs can’t pull nutrients from garden soil, compost piles, or rainwater like outdoor plants can. That means they rely 100% on what’s in their potting soil and whatever you give them. But be careful — in a small planter pot, it's easy to overdo it.

Here’s how to fertilize indoor herbs the right way.

Choose the Right Fertilizer

Start with an appropriate fertilizer:

• A balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer (like 10-10-10) is a solid option for most indoor herbs.
• For a natural approach, use organic fertilizers like fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Look for low-odor varieties since you’re working indoors.
• Avoid granular or slow-release fertilizers unless designed for containers. They’re harder to control in small indoor setups.

How to Fertilize Indoor Herbs

Always dilute liquid fertilizer to half the strength listed on the label — indoor herbs don’t need much. Apply it while watering, ensuring the soil is already moist (never fertilize dry soil, as it can shock the roots).

When and How Often to Fertilize

During winter, most indoor herbs slow down due to the shorter daylight hours. Skip fertilizing unless you're supplementing with grow lights and seeing active growth.

If you do fertilizer, here's a good rule of thumb:

• Fertilize every 2–3 weeks for fast-growers like basil or parsley.
• Fertilize every 4–6 weeks for slow-growers like rosemary or thyme.

Fertilizing Tips for Indoor Herb Gardens

Start with this caveat: when in doubt, feed less. You can always add more, but you can't reverse the damage caused by excessive fertilizer.

• Add a thin layer of compost on top of the soil for a natural, slow-release nutrient source.
• If your herbs look pale or stunted, they may be hungry — or they could be getting too much water.
• Tailor your approach: Herbs like basil and mint tend to need more nutrients, while oregano and thyme prefer leaner soil.
• Indoors, over-fertilizing can build up salts in the soil and hurt your herbs fast. Leaves may turn yellow or brown at the edges, and your herbs could get weak or leggy.

Harvest Early and Often — It Helps Your Herbs Grow

One of the best aspects of growing herbs indoors is the frequent opportunity to harvest them. Believe it or not, frequent harvesting can help your plants grow better. Regular trimming prevents herbs from becoming leggy, maintains intense flavors, and encourages fuller, bushier plants.

Start harvesting once your herbs are 4–6 inches tall and have several strong stems or leaf clusters. Always use clean scissors or snip with your fingers just above a leaf node (where new leaves form).

Harvesting Herbs for Fresh Use

The beauty of indoor herbs is that you can harvest them fresh for cooking. Here are some general tips to harvest correctly.

First, don’t harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at once. It needs leaves to photosynthesize and recover. Second, morning harvests are best — flavors and oils are more concentrated before the heat of the day (even under grow lights).

Third, frequent light trims are better than occasional deep cuts — it keeps herbs compact and healthy.

Here are some other harvesting pointers depending on the herb type.

Harvesting Soft-Stemmed Herbs

These include basil, mint, oregano, etc.

• Cut stems just above a set of leaves or a node.
• Always leave a few leaves on each stem to allow for regrowth.
• For basil, harvest the top few inches first — this keeps it from flowering and encourages branching.

Harvesting Hard-Stemmed Herbs

(Parsley, Chives, Sage, Thyme)

• Select mature stems and cut them close to the base, or approximately 1 inch above the soil level.
• For chives, snip evenly across the plant about ½–1 inch from the soil line.
• For thyme or sage, focus on newer growth and avoid cutting into woody stems.

Harvesting Rosemary

• If you’re harvesting for culinary skewers, cut the woody stems near the base.
• Otherwise, take sprigs from the outer, bushier parts of the plant. Don’t trim the entire plant down unless it's well established.

EarthBox - Your Best Choice for Indoor Herb Growing Success

A good indoor herb growing kit takes care of the setup — but it’s what you do next that matters. Careful attention to lighting, watering, and fertilizing is essential for your success. That means you'll be enjoying fresh herbs throughout the year, even in the coldest months.

EarthBox is the perfect solution for growing herbs indoors. Its container gardening system has been a favorite with gardeners since 1994. Their herb garden kit provides the foundation for success, with everything you need to start growing.

Summer may be coming to a close, but a steady supply of fresh herbs can be just around the corner.