Have you bid your herb plants "adieu" and resigned
yourself to using dried herbs until the warm weather returns in the
spring? Why not try an indoor herb garden this winter? These plants
can then be transplanted into the garden when the danger of frost has passed.
If you already have a few plants inside, you can take cuttings of your existing plants. For variety, however, you'll probably prefer to start some new plants from seed.
Here is a list
of materials you will
need:
Containers: Any container will do, as long as it's large enough for the herb(s) and drains well.
- Vermiculite: You will need this only if you are
starting your plants from cuttings. Vermiculite will allow the cutting to stay moist enough but not so moist that it rots before it
has a chance to develop roots.
- Rooting hormone: Available in
powdered or liquid form, it encourages faster development of roots.
For use with cuttings only.
- Potting soil: Choose a good
quality, light potting soil. Sow your seeds directly into the soil,
or use it when transplanting your rooted cuttings into a slightly
larger pot.
- Grow light: You can
dispense with the light, if you have a window that is warm and sunny enough.
Follow these steps when
starting your plants from
cuttings:
- Take a cutting, about 4" long from the herb you want to
grow.
- Remove the lower leaves and dip the cutting into the rooting
hormone. If you are using the powdered form of rooting hormone,
shake off any excess powder.
- Stick the cutting into a small container filled with moist
vermiculite. To increase humidity, cover your plant and container
with a glass or clear plastic.
- Place plant in a sunny, warm window and keep the growing
medium moist.
- When the plant is rooted well, it can be transferred into
another container, using potting soil.
Follow these steps when
starting your plants from
seeds:
- Fill small containers with potting soil, pressing it in
firmly.
- Following the instructions on the seed packet, plant at the
recommended depth.
- To increase humidity, cover your plant and container with a
glass or clear plastic.
- Place plant in a sunny, warm window and keep the growing
medium moist, but not soggy.
Your herb plants will benefit from an occasional "bath" to wash the dust from them. In the
spring, when danger of frost has passed, begin moving them outside.
Acclimate them slowly over a period of a couple of weeks by placing
them in semi-shade for a few hours a day at first and gradually
increasing the time and amount of sunlight they receive until they
are eventually outside in the full sun all day long. Next step?
Transplant them into the garden!
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