You’ve made the leap from dreaming of an indoor herb garden to growing potted herbs on the windowsill, and then one day things start going downhill. If your sage seems sad and your dill is droopy, it has nothing to do with the color of your thumb. Herbs need certain things, and yours aren’t getting them.
If your herb gardening efforts are taking a turn for the worse, read the following reasons why potted herbs fail, then follow the gardening tips given to fix them. With a little TLC, your favorite herbs will be tip-top in no time.
1. You’ve got drainage or water problems
Unlike outdoor plants, houseplants are at your mercy when it comes to water and drainage. Pay attention to your plant’s leaves. If they look wilted, press a finger into the soil a couple of inches to see if it is dry. Water only when the soil surface is dry, and see how your fresh herbs perk up immediately. Pick up pots that are freshly watered to get a feel for their weight. If a pot feels light, the soil is probably dry and ready for watering.
Overwatering is the cause of far more plant deaths than under-watering. The culprit is often that beginners want adorable container gardens and end up using containers without drainage. Many google results will tell you to put gravel in the bottom of containers that don’t have drainage. Don’t do this, it won’t help at all, and your plants will still die a slow death by drowning. Root systems need air, and when they don’t get it, they rot and die. If your soil is saturated and even a tiny bit stinky like a rotten egg, you need to get that plant out of there, fast!
If your heart is set on a ceramic teapot planter, there’s hope. You’ll need an electric drill and a masonry bit, preferably 1/4 inch or smaller. Take your time and drill several holes in the bottom of the container, and voila!–you’ve got drainage. The good news is that you can do this with any container, just make sure you use a drill bit designed for the material the container is made of. And don’t forget to put something under the pot to catch overflow when you add too much water.
Last, but certainly not least, be mindful of your water quality. Most tap water is completely fine, but if your water is heavily chlorinated, you may want to let it sit overnight in a watering can. After 12 hours, the chlorine will have evaporated enough that the water is fine for your plants. If you are using well water or have a water softener in your home to condition exceptionally hard water, you must not water your plants with it. The salt will build up and eventually kill your indoor herb garden. Collecting rainwater or using distilled bottled water is a better alternative if you have a water softener at home.
The enthusiast's guide to herbs
We’re proud to present our new e-book, The Enthusiast’s Guide to Herbs! Learn everything you need to know about growing and caring for herbs indoors, including in-depth info cards for the 35 most commonly grown herbs.
Depending on the herb in question, it may be getting too little or too much sun. Mediterranean plants like lavender, oregano, and rosemary want as much direct sunlight as they can get. Find a sunny window, preferably south-facing, and pay attention in winter months to make sure that your herb plants are still getting a solid six hours of sunshine a day. If they aren’t, you may need toinvest in a supplemental grow light to help them thrive through the months when the sun isn’t as plentiful.
Too much sun is detrimental to some herbs, especially if you live in a hot, dry environment (Arizona and Texas, for example). Cilantro, mint, tarragon, and thyme prefer spots with less than full sun, say an east or west-facing windowsill that receives indirect light.
Our homes tend to be dry, thanks to air conditioning and heating systems that remove moisture from the air. This is mostly an issue in winter, especially if you have plants anywhere near a heating vent. The easiest solution is to place herb pots on top of a tray covered in large gravel or pebbles filled with water to just below the tops of the pebbles. The evaporation from this tray will provide plants with the 50% level of humidity houseplants prefer(1). You can also place a humidifier in the same room as your plants to keep the air moist.
4. You’re using the wrong container
Drainage isn’t the only problem indicating that you’ve chosen the wrong container for your herb plants. Make sure you use a pot that is at least 8 inches diameter. Anything smaller will be inadequate long term. Imagine that the root system is as large as the visible plant, and you’ll get an idea of how much space roots really take up. A bigger pot will definitely grow a bigger herb plant, but it also will require less frequent watering.
5. Your soil mix isn’t right
Using the wrong soil can have a disastrous effect on your herbs. You want to give the herbs you grow at home the best chance of thriving, and using a high-quality, organic potting soil designed for indoor plants is a good start. You can also make your own DIY soil mix, if you feel ambitious. There are many variables involved in soil, but the key is to use a planting medium that holds moisture and nutrients well.
6. Overcrowding is a killer
This is especially relevant if you start herbs from seeds. As those seedlings begin to grow, you need to thin them out dramatically. Pull out all the smaller, weaker plants and only leave a couple of the strongest ones. Plants like chives are an exception, as you can leave many plants, as long as they have an inch or so to themselves in a pot.
Once an herb plant has outgrown its pot, it may start to show signs of stress. Repotting it in nice, fresh soil in a slightly larger pot is probably all it needs. You may want to prune roots that have become overly root bound to break up the mat they’ve developed.
7. Your herbs need fertilizer
Plants use a lot of nutrients to continuously grow, and eventually the soil in a potted plant will get depleted. A little monthly dose of organic liquid fertilizer or a top dressing of compost will help give your herb garden a boost (2), just don’t overdo it. Chemical fertilizers can be a little much for potted plants and can have the opposite effect of what you want, resulting in fertilizer burn(3). In winter when growth is slower, you may want to cut back on fertilizer use dramatically.
8. You’re not harvesting right
One of the ways that savvy gardeners encourage robust herb growth is by harvesting strategically. Wait until your herb plants are at least six inches tall before you start harvesting. When you do start, pinch sprigs off at a node–where the leaves meet the stem. Give the plant time to recover, and you’ll see that two stems grow to replace the one you pinched. Always pinch from the top, and you’ll continue to create strong, bushy plants.
It may be tempting, but resist the urge to pluck the big leaves from the bottom of the plant. They won’t be as tender and your plant needs them to photosynthesize.
Annual herbs like coriander, dill, and basil may start to fade after a year or so, even under the best conditions. When this happens, either let them go to seed and start over or harvest and save the herbs and buy new plants to replace them.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as a green thumb, so stop telling yourself you don’t have one if your indoor herb garden is looking rough. No one starts out an expert, and even if your plants don’t make it, you can always start again, armed with more knowledge. Don’t get discouraged, do keep harvesting, and good luck with your fresh homegrown herbs.
Join our email club—get printable info cards free!
Sign up to receive our newsletter and get access to 10 printable plant info cards from our e-book for free. Also receive:
$4 discount code for our Guide to Herbs e-book
Semi-weekly plant inspiration & bite-size tips and tricks
The most common reason for herbs dying is because of root rot due to too much moisture around the roots caused by overwatering, slow draining soils and pots without drainage holes in their base. Herbs require well draining soil and damp soil promotes root rot causing herbs to turn yellow and die back.
Most herbs need a warmth in order to grow. Keep them in rooms that are at least 65-75°F during the day, and no less than 55-60°F at night. Even though many herbs can survive at lower temperatures, they are unlikely to produce much growth under those conditions.
If your indoor herbs are struggling to grow, it could be because they're not getting enough sun. Herbs like chives and oregano prefer bright indirect light, and won't be too happy in a dark corner of your kitchen, and may look wilted with little or no new growth.
It's often possible to revive a dying houseplant. Remember to read the plant's tag to be sure you're giving the plant the right balance of water, light and humidity. Look for signs of pests or diseases and treat for them as soon as you see them, before the infestation gets out of control.
In general, you should water your herbs two to three times a week. Herbs that require more watering: Basil, cilantro, mint and parsley. After initially planting or buying your herbs, provide enough water to keep the soil moist for a few days.
Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.Remove any bruised or blackened leaves, and then submerge the wilted herbs, stems and all, into the ice bath. The cold water will shock the herbs back to life. Depending on the herb and just how wilted it is, this could take as little as 15 minutes to as long as an hour.
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food Vegetables & Herbs feeds your garden instantly and easily. It's great for tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumber, carrots, basil and other herbs and vegetables. Also, use Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food Vegetables & Herbs with Miracle-Gro Soil for even more harvest (vs. unfed).
Thrives outdoors in summer but you should be able to get 2-3 months indoors. Prefers more shaded locations indoors. Outdoors mint will grow rampantly and may become a weed if not restrained in a pot. You may only get 1-2 months out of coriander.
Generally, herbs require at least six hours of sunlight per day. If where you're growing your herbs doesn't have access to natural light, you can substitute that with artificial lights. Use LED or HID lights for best results. Your plants would need 14-16 hours of light.
Store hardy herbs by arranging them lengthwise in a single layer on a slightly damp paper towel, rolling them up like a jelly roll, then transferring the bundle to a plastic zipper-lock bag or wrapping it in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator.
Plants use a lot of nutrients to continuously grow, and eventually the soil in a potted plant will get depleted. A little monthly dose of organic liquid fertilizer or a top dressing of compost will help give your herb garden a boost (2), just don't overdo it.
You can grow any herb indoors as long as you provide the right conditions. Mediterranean herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme prefer dry soil and heat. Many other herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and mint enjoy cool, moist conditions. As long as you treat them right, they'll grow just like in the garden.
If your plant's growth seems stagnant, its leaves are wilting, and you're having to water more frequently than usual to keep it hydrated, it might be root-bound — meaning its roots are too tightly packed and it's time to move the plant to a larger container.
Can you bring a dying plant back to life? Of course you can! It's important, though, to get rid of the dead parts so that the plant can use all its energy for the bits that still have life in them. Start by trimming all the dead leaves first.
Basil, oregano, mint, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme are the easiest herbs to grow indoors, whether you have them in the garden already or wish to plant them now.
A good rule of thumb for most herbs is to water about once per week. During extreme heat or drought conditions, sometimes twice per week will be needed. Water in the cooler hours of the morning, between 6 – 10 am, to avoid evaporation and allow for deep root soaking.
The answer is yes! First and foremost, the dying plant's roots must be alive to have any chance of coming back to life. Some healthy, white roots mean that the plant has a chance at making a comeback. It's even better if your plant stems still show signs of green.
The two most common causes of a Basil plant dying are overwatering and underwatering. Temperature stress, lighting problems, disease, or pests are also common causes of a basil plant wilting or dying. Basil plants are usually annuals, so individual plants typically only last one growing season.
Pinching or snipping stems and leaves will stimulate the growth of more stems and leaves. So as soon as annual herbs are mature enough to withstand a bit of cutting back, it's time to begin pruning for shape and harvesting the foliage you've removed.
Overwatered plants can sometimes recover on their own, but it depends on the plant and the extent of the overwatering. If the roots have rotted, the plant will likely not recover. However, if the overwatering has only caused the leaves to wilt, the plant may be able to bounce back.
Anything with the Miracle-Gro label should be avoided entirely: Bagged potting soil and garden soil, 'Shake n Feed,' that blue stuff, and yes, even so-called “Organic” Miracle-Gro products should be entirely avoided.
Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food is great for use on all indoor plants, including edibles! Instantly feed all indoor houseplants, including edibles, with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. Simply apply the formula directly to the soil, or mix it with water. Apply once a week.
Turmeric is certainly the most powerful herb on the planet. It is from the ginger family that is primarily grown in India, China and Indonesia. It contains various compounds with medicinal properties. For example, turmeric contains Curcumin which is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the body's own antioxidant enzymes.
Indoor herbs need both high humidity and excellent air circulation. Mist your herbs once a week or set them on a tray of pebbles filled with water to keep the humidity up. If you find your herbs are affected by mildew, you may want to consider adding a fan to keep the air circulation consistent.
They need sun - and lots of it. Most herbs require at least 6 hours of sun per day outdoors. Indoors, much less light gets in, especially in the winter. So be sure you can place your herbs in a sunny spot, preferably in a south-facing window.
Many cooks grow herbs indoors during the winter when it's too cold outside or too wet to dig in the dirt, but you can grow herbs inside any time of year. Indoor herbs prefer the same temperatures that most people do—around 65 to 70 degrees F—so if you're comfortable, they probably are.
LED lighting offers a number of benefits for growing sustainable food. By controlling the light, growers can germinate herbs quicker, grow roots faster and get bigger yields. Since LEDs run at cooler temperatures than other grow lights, they can be placed closer to the plant to encourage hom*ogeneous growth.
Cut parsley and chive stems close to the base, about an inch from the soil. New growth should appear in about a week. Prune new growth from perennial herbs like rosemary, sage and tarragon every week during the summer. Pinch off the top 2 inches of all new shoots to encourage a fuller plant with strong root growth.
They need sun - and lots of it. Most herbs require at least 6 hours of sun per day outdoors. Indoors, much less light gets in, especially in the winter. So be sure you can place your herbs in a sunny spot, preferably in a south-facing window.
Yellowing leaves can be a sign of both underwatering and overwatering. Most indoor herbs only require watering once a week, with the roots staying moist but not soggy. To test how your soil is retaining water, wait a few days after watering and press your finger an inch below the surface of the soil.
Basil, oregano, mint, chives, sage, rosemary, and thyme are the easiest herbs to grow indoors, whether you have them in the garden already or wish to plant them now.
Let it dry out between watering, but not for too long. You will be able to keep your supermarket-bought pot herbs for 2-3 months or until you have used them all in the delicious recipes you are thinking of; from the pizza topping to fresh pesto.
The same goes for yellowing or browning leaves. This is especially important for perennial, woody herbs, which continue to grow through the winter. In the spring, old branches can be cut back by a third, before a round of new growth begins.
Generally when a houseplant leaf turns yellow, that leaf is dying. Chlorophyll gives a leaf its green color. When the leaf loses its chlorophyll, the plant abandons it and begins to absorb leftover nutrients from the leaf. That's why once the leaf turns yellow, you generally can't make it turn back green again.
When we say “chlorosis,” we're generally talking about iron deficiency, a nutrient deficiency that causes leaves to yellow in a particular way. Iron chlorosis is “interveinal,” meaning the yellowing occurs in leaf tissue between the leaf's veins.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
