How to Grow an Indoor Aromatic Herbs Garden

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Though the typical vision of a garden includes a lush green lawn interspersed with flowers and the blue skies above, a garden can be grown indoors as well. Indoor gardens can be as big or small as you like and are the ideal solution for city dwellers tired of seeing concrete everywhere they look. A controlled environment is one of the biggest advantages indoor gardens have over outdoor gardens.

Indoor gardens can also be called container gardens since the plants are all grown in containers. These can be store bought planters or upcycled take away dishes and yogurt containers. Drainage holes are critical for an indoor planter as ensuring plants have just the right amount of water is the tricky part of growing an indoor garden. Fill these pots with soil or potting mix and you’re ready to start an indoor garden.

The first step to growing an indoor garden is to pick a location. Plants need natural light and warmth so window sills are ideal spaces. However, plants need to be protected from the wind so pick a space that is not drafty. Aromatic indoor gardens should ideally be placed in high traffic areas so that the plants are always close enough for their fragrance to be enjoyed. Passages and enclosed areas where the scent can linger are good places to plan an aromatic indoor garden.

Provided the right conditions, almost any plant can grow well indoors. However, while selecting plants for your indoor garden you should know that fruit bearing plants perform better outdoors than they do indoors. Most flowering plants also need to be taken outdoors during the flowering season.  Herbs are an ideal way to start an indoor garden. A herb garden has dual benefits of ensuring that you always have fresh ingredients to cook with and scenting the air within your house.

Why it is worth to have aromatic plants indoor

With an indoor aromatic garden, you can safely put away oil diffusers and room freshen sprays. Not only does this make an indoor garden budget friendly it also makes your home a healthier space that is free from chemicals.

What should you avoid?

When planning an indoor herb garden, avoid mixing too many different types of fragrant plants in one container or area. Layer plants against each other with variations in height and texture. Shorter plants should not be placed on the ground but should be placed on tabletops or windowsills where they can be appreciated. Most importantly, avoid using chemical fertilizers and pesticides in an aromatic herb garden that detract from the plant's fragrance.

When choosing plants for an aromatic garden; keep factors such as the fragrance strength and time of blooming. While some plants like the night blooming jasmine emit powerful scents that can overpower a room others emit mild scents and need to be planted in clusters. Here are a few herbs that are ideal for indoor aromatic gardens.

Basil

The spicy, refreshing smell of basil is reminiscent of a summer day. Basil is a fast growing herb that not only adds flavor to food but also spreads fragrance in the air. The plant can be grown from seeds or propagated by cuttings. It needs to be planted in well-drained, nutrient rich soil. Basil plants should ideally be placed near a sunny window where they can get at least 6 hours of sunlight in a day. You could also use artificial lighting to supplement natural light. Basil is one of the few plants where flowers should be pinched off as soon as they appear to preserve the plant’s flavor and channelize energy towards growing more leaves.

Lavender

The relaxing character of lavender scent makes it one of the most popular home scents available today. English lavender is easily available in nurseries and is a hardy plant. Lavender thrives in drought conditions and does not require very rich soil. It does need plenty of sunlight and may need to be taken outdoors during the flowering season.  Lavender flowers once they are past their prime need to be cut off to encourage new blooms. Instead of throwing them out, collect these in small cloth pouches and leave them by your bedside or in a wardrobe where they can continue perfuming the air.

Rosemary

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Its needle-like leaves and bright blue flowers make rosemary an attractive plant that can be grown indoors as well as outdoors. When touched or crushed rosemary leaves give off a lovely earthy fragrance with citrus tones. This fragrance not only scents the air but is also said to stimulate brain cells.  Rosemary plants like plenty of sun, loamy soil and a temperate climate. Good drainage is essential for rosemary plants but the plant should not be allowed to dry to the point of wilting. Rosemary plants cannot withstand cold temperatures and hence should be placed in draft-free areas. Pruning rosemary will make the plant grow bushier. The pruned lengths can be tied together and hung to dry or put back into the soil to grow new plants.

Mint

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There are two main varieties of mint, spearmint, and peppermint. Both these varieties of mint can be grown indoors. Peppermint is the stronger variant of the two mints in both flavor and aroma. Along with its aroma and flavor properties, mint also has medicinal properties that make it a home garden favorite. Mint grows as a creeper and can be quite invasive and so should be regularly pruned. Other than this, the plant requires minimal maintenance.

Checkout the lovely arrangement created by Netherlands-based Cazenueve.

Coffee plant

You don’t have to love drinking coffee to have a coffee plant as part of your indoor garden. However, if you do love your coffee, then know that planting a coffee plant indoors does not mean you can stop buying coffee beans.  Coffee plants thrive in containers and warm temperature zones. The white flowers that begin appearing when the plant is about 3 years old have a sweet smell like the jasmine creeper.  Coffee needs indirect sunlight and loamy sandy soil. The plant flowers for over a month in spring and saturates the air with its sweet smell.

For some more lovely ideas read How to grow aromatic herbs indoors?

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