Instructions
▶
Remember to check plants thoroughly — check the top of the soil, the tops of the leaves, and underneath the leaves. Remove any traces of these pests, many of which love to travel from plant to plant. For containers, it’s important to sanitize them (one solution recommends one part bleach to 10 parts water) to remove any traces of insects or diseases that might damage or kill your plants once they’ve been repotted and moved.
Thankfully, getting your indoor herb garden set up is quite easy. Get your seeds or seedlings at a local garden supply center, fill each pot with ¾-inch of gravel, and then fill with fresh soil and a bit of compost. Gently dig an appropriate-sized hole for the plant, set the plant in the hole, and press gently down on the soil around the plant. Use markers to identify the herbs. For example, use tongue depressors cut in half, writing down the name of the herb, and gently placing in the pot. Then line up your cute row of pots in a decorative tray alongside your windowsill. Watch them grow and make sure they get the right amount of sunlight and water. Rotate them occasionally to make sure all sides are exposed to sunlight.
5. Repot
▶ Pruning: Plants often grow well over the warm summer
Some plants will need to be repotted before they are transferred from the outdoors to the indoors, whether you’re digging the plants straight from your garden into pots or if the plants need to go up a size (or you’re just looking for a certain interior look. Research each plant to determine the soil needs for that specific plant, and what size of container is most appropriate.
months, so examine your plants and determine whether they need pruning before being brought inside. For example, make any aesthetic cuts and be sure to trim off any overly leggy branches, dead leaves, and dead blooms. Not only are indoors plants generally unsightly- looking left ungroomed and untrimmed, but without this step, it can prevent them from optimum health and growth, and bring in unnecessary insects and disease. Just be sure that if you’re doing any pruning, don’t prune back more than one-third of the plant.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Here are some of the more common pitfalls with indoor herb gardens: ▶ don’t put all of one type of herb into one post—give each seed or seedling its own home ▶ don’t use old soil from your
6. Water
Once your plants are gathered, dug up, etc. and left in or placed into their containers, it’s a good idea to give them a deep soak while they’re still outdoors and all the water can drain outside. This refreshing outdoors soak will help them get established in their new containers and release nutrients in the fresh
▶ Soil: Refreshing soil applies only to plants that you aren’t repotting. In these cases, as
backyard; fresh potting soil works best for an indoor herb garden
evenly as you can, scrape off the top inch or two of soil (whatever
▶ don’t underestimate how much sunlight your herbs
topsoil. This step can also help remove any insects that have
removes easily), and then replenish with fresh soil.
need; most are happiest with about six to eight hours a day
HOME SWEET HOME 12
Powered by FlippingBook