An indoor herb garden gives you fresh basil, chives, parsley and thyme all winter, for a fraction of the price of supermarket bunches. Most failures come down to one thing: not enough light. This guide covers which herbs grow best indoors, how much light they need (and when to add a grow light), the right pots, soil, watering and feeding, how to harvest so plants keep producing, and whether an indoor herb garden kit is worth buying.
Indoor herb garden at a glance
| Need | What to give your herbs |
|---|---|
| Light | 6 or more hours of direct sun in a south- or west-facing window, or 14–16 hours under grow lights 6–12 inches above the plants |
| Temperature | About 65–70°F by day, 55–60°F at night; keep basil above 50°F |
| Pots | Any container with drainage holes; deep pots for dill and borage |
| Soil | Well-draining, soilless potting mix (never garden soil) |
| Water | When the mix begins to dry; Mediterranean herbs drier, basil never fully dry |
| Fertilizer | Low dose of water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks |
| Humidity | Group pots or use a pebble tray in dry, heated rooms |
Best herbs to grow indoors
| Herb | Light needs | Watering | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chives | Tolerates lower light (2–6 hours of sun) | Evenly moist | One of the easiest; divide an outdoor clump in fall and pot it |
| Basil | Full sun or grow light | Never let it dry out completely | Hates cold: below 50°F it suffers, so keep it off cold winter windowsills. See our basil growing guide. |
| Parsley | Bright light | Evenly moist | Biennial; replace yearly |
| Cilantro | Tolerates lower light (2–6 hours) | Evenly moist | Short-lived; sow small batches every few weeks. See growing cilantro. |
| Mint | Bright light | Evenly moist | Give it its own pot, as it spreads |
| Thyme | Direct sun | Let dry slightly | Perennial |
| Oregano and marjoram | Direct sun | Let dry slightly | Perennial |
| Rosemary | Direct sun | Let dry slightly, but not bone dry | Tender perennial; bring indoors before frost |
| Sage | Direct sun | Let dry slightly | Perennial |
| Bay laurel | Direct sun | Let dry slightly | Slow-growing shrub, ideal for a large pot |
| Lemon balm | Tolerates lower light (2–6 hours) | Evenly moist | Easy, vigorous |
Penn State Extension suggests avoiding herbs with very large root systems indoors, such as horseradish, fennel and lovage, and notes that tarragon is toxic to dogs and cats, so skip it in homes with pets.
Light: the key to success
Most culinary herbs are sun lovers. Penn State recommends at least 6 hours of direct sun a day, and University of Vermont Extension suggests 6–8 hours. In practice that means a south-facing window (or west-facing as a second choice) in the Northern Hemisphere. Turn the pots every few days so the plants don’t lean toward the glass.
In winter, even a sunny window often isn’t enough, and leggy, pale herbs with small leaves are the sign. Add a grow light: Colorado State University’s PlantTalk and Penn State both suggest fluorescent tubes hung 6–12 inches above the plants and run for 14–16 hours a day on a timer. Modern LED grow lights work too; follow the maker’s recommended distance. Our guide to growing peppers indoors covers grow light set-up in more detail.
Pots, soil and planting
- Containers: use clay, ceramic, wood or plastic pots with drainage holes. Clay dries faster, which suits rosemary and thyme. Use deep pots for herbs with taproots such as dill and borage, and hanging baskets for trailing herbs.
- Grouping: plant herbs with similar water needs together, or give each herb its own pot. Keep moisture lovers (basil, parsley, chives) apart from the Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano).
- Soil: use a well-draining soilless potting mix, not garden soil, which compacts and drains poorly in pots. See our guide to making potting soil.
- Starting plants: buy young plants, sow seeds (cover the pot with a plastic bag until they sprout), or pot up herbs from the garden. Colorado State suggests digging and dividing parsley, sage, mint and chives in fall, and bringing tender perennials such as bay, rosemary and pineapple sage indoors before a hard frost.
Watering, temperature and humidity
- Water when the potting mix begins to dry. Penn State advises letting bay, marjoram, oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary dry out slightly between waterings, but never letting basil dry out completely. Overwatering is the most common mistake indoors; it leads to root rot, fungus gnats and mildew.
- Temperature: aim for 65–70°F during the day and 55–60°F at night. Keep basil away from cold glass in winter.
- Humidity: heated homes have very dry winter air. Group pots together, or stand them on a tray of moist pebbles with the water below the top of the stones.
- Air flow: in a very humid spot, a small fan helps prevent mildew.
Feeding
Penn State recommends a low dose of water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks, and warns that feeding more often can reduce the aroma and flavor of herbs. Colorado State suggests mixing a controlled-release fertilizer into the potting mix at planting, then using a soluble fertilizer every 1–2 weeks. Strong-smelling organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion can make a kitchen smell unpleasant, so choose a low-odor product indoors. More on the options in our guide to types of fertilizer.
How to harvest herbs so they keep growing
- Harvest regularly; herbs are meant to be used fresh, and regular cutting keeps plants bushy.
- Pinch basil, mint and oregano just above a pair of leaves, which makes the stem branch.
- Cut chives and parsley from the outside of the clump, close to the base.
- Never strip a plant bare; leave enough leaves for it to keep growing.
- Pinch off flower buds on basil to keep it producing leaves.
Common indoor herb problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tall, leggy, pale growth | Too little light | Move to a sunnier window or add a grow light 6–12 inches above |
| Yellowing leaves, soggy soil | Overwatering, poor drainage | Let the mix dry more between waterings; check drainage holes |
| Basil leaves blackening or drooping in winter | Cold window, temperatures under 50°F | Move away from cold glass |
| Small black flies around pots | Fungus gnats from wet potting mix | Let the surface dry; use yellow sticky traps |
| Sticky leaves, clusters of small insects | Aphids | Trim and discard infested tips; see how to get rid of aphids |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew from poor air flow and overwatering | Improve air circulation, water less |
| Weak flavor | Too much fertilizer or too little light | Feed less, give more light |
Are indoor herb garden kits worth it?
Indoor herb kits range from simple pots with seeds and soil to countertop hydroponic units with built-in LED lights and timers. The main advantage of the lit units is that they solve the light problem automatically, which is why they often succeed where a dark windowsill fails. Their downsides are cost, the need to buy replacement seed pods, and small growing space.
- Choose a kit with a light if you have no sunny window.
- Choose a simple pot kit only if you have a bright south- or west-facing window.
- For hydroponic units, UVM notes you must use the fertilizer the system’s instructions recommend.
Want to grow more than herbs? Try a quick tray of microgreens, ready in 1–3 weeks, or see our guides to an indoor vegetable garden and, for outdoor beds, a culinary herb garden.
Frequently asked questions
What herbs grow best indoors?
Chives, parsley, mint, cilantro and lemon balm are the most forgiving. Basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage grow well indoors if they get plenty of sun or a grow light.
Can herbs grow in a window without direct sun?
Chives, cilantro and lemon balm tolerate as little as 2–6 hours of direct sun. Most other herbs grow weak and leggy without 6 hours of sun or a grow light.
How often should I water indoor herbs?
There is no fixed schedule. Check the potting mix and water when it begins to dry, letting Mediterranean herbs dry a little more and keeping basil from drying out completely.
Sources
- Penn State Extension, Growing Herbs Indoors (herb choices, light hours, grow lights, temperatures, humidity, watering by herb, fertilizer, pests, pet safety).
- University of Vermont Extension, Indoor Herb Gardening (6–8 hours of sun, rotating pots, pebble trays, hydroponic units).
- Colorado State University Extension, Indoor Herb Garden (PlantTalk 1056) (grow light distance and hours, soilless mix, fertilizing, herbs to bring indoors).
