How To Grow Chives Indoors [Even From Cuttings] (2024)

Have you been wondering how you can grow your own chives indoors? Well, you've come to the right place. We've put together this easy-to-follow guide to help you learn how to grow your own chives in any window successfully.

To grow your own chives from seed:

1. Gather materials.
2. Plant the chive seeds.
3. Water the seeds.
4. Place the planter in sunlight.

You may be wondering if you can grow chives from leftover cuttings bought at the grocery store or how much light they need. Keep reading to learn all about keeping chives alive indoors.

Can Chives Grow Indoors?

Yes, growing your own chives indoors is easy, but it does require some patience. They add a burst of flavor to any recipe and act as a beautiful garnish, making them the perfect herb to grow in your home. With the proper setup, you can grow chives indoors with minimal effort.

Gather Materials

There are a few items you will need before getting started on your new indoor herb garden. Using the right items from the start will save you from future headaches. Take a look at this list of items you will need to prepare you for this project:

• Planter
• Soil
• Seeds
• Spray bottle

Planter

You will need a planter with a minimum of 6-inches wide and 6-inches deep. Terracotta and clay pots are ideal because they retain moisture very well and chives like moist soil, which is beneficial. You can ultimately choose any planter you like, as long it meets the required dimensions.

D'vine Dev 6-Inch Terracotta Planter

This terracotta planter is beautiful, with a white pattern printed all around it. It's got plenty of room for chives and will add a fun look to your indoor garden. The terracotta material holds moisture well, making this the perfect choice for anyone who may forget to water their plants on schedule.

Click here to see this planter on Amazon.

Garden Soil

Chives grow best in rich, moist, neutral soil. Choose high-quality soil to avoid issues down the road; it can make all the difference in the growth rate of your chives.

Fox Farm Happy Frog Garden Soil

This potting mix has a pre-adjusted PH to make gardening easier. Its neutral PH and rich, loamy contents are ideal for chives and many other herbs, flowers, and vegetables.

Click here to take a look at this soil on Amazon.

Seeds

To grow chives, you will need seeds, a started plant, or a cutting. Seeds are the most time-consuming method, but it's also a very rewarding experience to start plants from seed and watch them grow. Growing from seeds also tends to produce a healthier plant, so many prefer this method.

Gaea's Blessing Chive Seeds

This pack of chive seeds comes with 1,000 seeds to provide a multitude of harvests. You can even sow these seeds in multiple planters and give them as useful and charming gifts.

Click here to see these seeds on Amazon.

Spray Bottle

You're going to need a spray bottle that produces a fine mist to water your planter with while the seeds germinate. This will ensure that they stay moist without becoming overly saturated. When starting seeds, use a misting spray bottle to moisten the soil at least once a day.

Simliving Mist Spray Bottle

Click here to see this spray bottle on Amazon.

How To Plant Chive Seeds?

Now that you have all of the items you will need to grow chives from seed, you're ready to start. Fill your planter with soil leaving about a 1/2-inch of space from the top of the planter. Sprinkle about 20 or 30 seeds over the top of the soil, then add another 1/4-inch of soil loosely showered over the top.

How Often Should Chives Be Watered?

Water chives as soon as the top layer of soil in the pot begins to dry out. The frequency will depend on the plant's conditions, so check the soil daily. When starting from seed water daily with your misting spray bottle until the seeds begin to establish roots.

Established plants kept in hot, dry conditions will dry out quickly and require water daily. In cooler, more humid conditions, you may need to water as little as every 3-4 days.

How Much Sun Do Chives Need?

Chives require between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Choose a window with southern exposure for your indoor garden to give your plants the maximum amount of sunlight. If your home lacks a good amount of natural sunlight, you can use a light designed for plants to grow your herbs.

GrowLED LED Indoor Garden Planter

This planter comes with an LED light, so you don't have to worry about a lack of natural light. It comes in different sizes and styles so you can find the perfect option for your needs.

Click here to see this planter on Amazon.

How To Plant Chives From Cuttings?

The leafy green portion of chive cuttings won't take root on their own, but if you can find chives that still have their bulbs attached in your local grocery store, you can certainly use those. Once you have the whole chives, plant them in soil with the bulbs fully covered in dirt, and they should take root quickly.

How To Transplant Started Chive Plants?

To transplant a started chive plant into a permanent container, fill the pot about halfway with soil. Remove the live plant gently from its container soil and all, place it into the new planter, and then fill in any gaps with more soil.

How Long Does It Take Chives To Grow From Seed?

Chive seeds can take two weeks and a month to germinate, depending on the conditions. If they are well cared for, it will typically be on the shorter end of that timespan. You can expect to complete your first harvest of chives 60 days after planting the seeds or once they reach at least 6-inches tall.

How Long Do Chives Take To Regrow?

Mature chive plants can be harvested monthly and regrow very quickly. Young chive plants under a year old should only be harvested three or four times throughout their first year, and they won't grow back as quickly as older plants.

How To Harvest Chives?

When harvesting chives, use clean, sharp kitchen shears. Cut the plant at least 2-inches above the soil, leaving plenty of leafy material for the plant to produce the energy to regrow. After harvesting, make sure to water the plant well to help ease the shock of pruning.

iBayam 2-Pack Kitchen Shears

These kitchen shear are perfect for harvesting chives and any other herb. They come in a convenient two-pack and have a handy cover for improved safety.

Click here to see these on Amazon.

Can You Grow Chives Indoors All Year Round?

Yes, chives are very hardy and resilient plants that will survive year-round indoors given the proper amount of light, water, and warmth. Using a supplemental light source may be necessary for the winter, depending on where you live.

How Do You Keep Chives Alive Indoors?

Keeping chives alive indoors is very easy. A sunny window and water are all you need to grow your own indoor chives successfully. Even without a sunny window, you can find many different ways to simulate sunlight for the same outcome.

GrowLED Umbrella Grow Light

This light is on a stake so that it can be inserted into the soil of any planter, and it can easily be removed and used on other plants or moved. It also has an automatic timer for a hassle-free herb garden.

Click here to check out this light on Amazon.

Will Chives Root In Water?

Whole chives with the bulbs still intact will root in water. They can grow in water alone, but they tend to do better in soil. You can also place your chives in water until they begin to take root and then transfer them to a planter with soil.

Easy Herbs

Now that you know how to grow and maintain your own indoor chive garden, you're ready to start gardening. Make sure to plan out a location for your plant before you get started and determine whether or not you'll need any supplemental light. Good luck, and have fun gardening!

You May Also Enjoy

If you are curious what other types of herbs you can grow in your window, read our article "18 Herbs That Like Full Sun For Your Kitchen Windowsill."

For more help planning your new indoor herb garden, read our article "How To Make An Indoor Vertical Herb Garden."