Finding the “just right” conditions for growing herbs indoors is actually pretty easy—and the results couldn’t be more delicious. But sometimes things do go wrong. Here are the 10 mistakes newbies—and some not-so-newbies—are most likely to make, how to help avoid them, and what you can do if (gasp) something goes awry.
1. Not Buying Organic
You’re going to eat them, right? Buy organic plants or seeds—you’ll avoid a whole host of nasty pesticides, such as glyphosate (also known as Roundup) that are linked to cancer and other diseases.…………..
3. Choosing Poorly
Buying an herb when you don’t have or can’t make the right growing conditions for it at home is a recipe for disappointment. Skip the mismatches, and choose herbs that will thrive in your house. Central heat, for instance, makes warm days, cooler nights, and very dry air in the winter—so herbs that thrive in a warm and arid Mediterranean climate, such as thick, often fuzzy-leavedherbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, bay, and lavender, will flourish, provided you have a sunny window for them………..……………
7. Not Harvesting Enough
Most herbs that get less than a full day’s worth of sunlight will get tall and lanky unless you keep cutting them back. Plan on snipping off at least the top third of the stems (or the outside leaves onherbs like parsley that don’t have an obvious stem) every few weeks. You can also harvest some shoots every week for a continuous supply to use. Cutting new shoots back regularly will stimulate branching and help your plants grow into attractive, bushy, and productive specimens. If a plant gets floppy or unattractive, go ahead and cut all the shoots back to an inch or so above the soil, and let it regrow.……………
9. Starving The Poor Things
Potting soil, even the best organic potting soil, only has so many nutrients, and they eventually get used up. If your plant is looking pale or off-color, it may need a bit of a boost. Buy a good organicliquid fertilizer concentrate—fish and seaweed emulsion, for instance—and add a little to the plant’s water each week to treat the problem. You don’t have to wait for a problem, either: Liquid fertilizer can be added at any time.…………..
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Article source: Rodale’s Organic Life
Image source: In My Interior