An indoor herb garden can be very convenient, especially if it is in the kitchen.  Fresh herbs can be readily to hand for use in cooking, drinks and salads.

Click the book for more details
and to buy it at Amazon.com

Click the flag to find
it at Amazon.co.uk

If you’re not concerned about being decorative you can grow your indoor herbs in the same kinds of container as out of doors - provided, of course, that they’re small enough.  You can stand small terracotta pots on saucers by a kitchen window and have great indoor garden producing a plentiful supply of culinary herbs.

In all probability, though, you’ll want something a little more decorative.  The choice of container is limited by little more than your imagination.

There is, however, one very important factor to bear in mind - drainage.

Whilst there certainly are many plants which thrive in extremely wet conditions, most culinary herbs do not.  For herbs in pots, just as in the garden, the soil needs to be well drained. Whilst it is important not to over-water herbs in containers it is also vital not to let them die of drought.  Watering is essential, but where will surplus water go?

Many decorative ceramics, such as mugs and bowls, do not have drainage holes and yet can serve as attractive herb containers.  The trick is to use an inner container which does allow water to drain though the bottom.  A plastic plant pot small enough to fit inside the outer pot is ideal. Put a layer of gravel (or something similar such as broken crocks) in the bottom of the outer pot.  This will allow the plastic herb pot to stand clear of any water that has drained through its base.

Click the book for more details
and to buy it at Amazon.com

Click the flag to find
it at Amazon.co.uk

Much of the water draining from the herb’s soil will probably escape by evaporation but periodically you should take out the inner pot, which can easily be done without disturbing the herb roots.  If you then empty any remaining water, wash the outer container and rinse the gravel before returning it you will avoid the development of slimy deposits and their unwanted odours.

Another trick is to put a layer of broken charcoal sticks on top of the gravel; this will adsorb most of any ill-smelling gases and reduce the frequency with which cleaning is needed (although it will also make the cleaning process a bit more black and messy).

Some container-growing experts also recommend that the inner pot also should have a thin layer of gravel in the base, topped by a layer of broken charcoal.  I’ve never done it myself. If you have a sensitive nose and a difficulty with odours you might try that, although I suspect that usually the problem is caused by over-watering.  Ensuring that the top inch or so of the compost is dry before rewatering might well deal with the root cause rather than merely masking the symptoms.

Growing herbs indoors is both a useful and fun occupation.  With good drainage provision and a little pot hygiene you will be able to make an indoor herb garden using decorative containers to suit your own taste and imagination.

Tags: drainage, growing herbs, growing herbs indoors, Herbs in Containers, herbs in pots, indoor herb garden