Indoor Herbs or Houseplants are the plants that grow indoors such as residences and offices. They are mostly grown for their decorative purposes and for air-purification. Herbs are used for food, flavoring, medicine, fragrance or aromatic properties. It is a leafy green flowering plant with seeds, roots, berries, and fruits.

Herbs can grow easily at indoors when you maintain them in a right way. Indoor herbs require soil, temperature, humidity, moisture, and sunlight for better growth. Growing plant indoors helps to reduce carbon dioxide levels, increase humidity in the air. It is also responsible for mosquito repellent and better sleep.

Following tips helps to grow your herb indoors in a well-structured manner.

Tips to Grow Herbs Indoors

Prune the older and dead leaves to promote faster growth.

Grow each herb in a separate pot and use potting mix rich soil in it.

Water herbs regularly and maintain proper sunlight for indoor herbs.

Use a clay or ceramic pot that has holes at the bottom for proper drainage.

Choose the best spot (sunny site- south-facing window) for an indoor herb planting.

You can use organic fertilizers like ripen fruits & vegetables and manure for better growth of plants.

Here are the top 12 best herbs that you can grow it indoors.

Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) – The King of Herbs

Growing basil at indoors is easy. Start placing basil seeds or small plants in pots with rich organic soil. Basil generally likes sun and grows quickly in warm conditions when the temperature is about 70F. Place the pot in the south-western window for better sunlight. Avoid placing it in cool areas especially in winter season. It grows within 4-5 weeks and to ensure better growth plant a bunch of new seeds every week after harvesting.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Basil leaves contains antioxidants like phenols, Flavonoids, vicenin and anthocyanins in medicines to treat cold, stomach ache and asthma. It also acts as a mosquito repellent when you plant indoors.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)

Rosemary is a perennial herb with needle-shaped leaves, white or blue flowers that spread fragrances. Sow the seeds in a pot and water them regularly. To grow rosemary quickly, prefer full sunlight (40-65F) and well-drained soil with pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The leaves, stems, and roots of rosemary contain antioxidants like rosemarinic acid and camphor used in medicines and to repels mosquitoes.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Rosemary is rich in vitamin B6, iron and calcium and tastes good in culinary dishes, chicken, and lamb. It helps to improve concentration levels, cures cancer, digestion problems and brain aging.

Mint

Select the type of mint you would like to grow indoors i.e. peppermint or spearmint. To grow mint indoors you need to select a wide pot or container such as window box and fill with well-drained soil. Sow the seeds and water them regularly. Mint can grow well at room temperatures (60 F) and to a height of 30-60 cms in a bright sunny room.

If you wish to grow mint in water, take the cuttings (5-6 inches) from an established mint plant. Remove the bottom leaves and drop cuttings in a glass of water. Place this on a sunny site for 6 hours a day. Very soon root sprouts and you can shift it to outdoors. Mint spreads beautiful fragrances and can also repel mosquitoes entering your home.

You can also use mint as an essential ingredient in tea. Mint leaves in tea relieves stress, headache, and stomach upset.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Mint contains small amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A. The antioxidant properties of mint like beta-carotene, folate.

It cures digestion problems, nausea, headache, respiratory disorders, Asthma and reduces weight loss.

Coriander (Cilantro/Chinese Parsley)

Coriander is a plant with green leaves and harvested fresh. You can start growing plants from seeds. Use rich potting mix soil and place it in sunlight. It grows to a height of 30 centimeters when the temperature is 70 F.

You can also start growing coriander just by cutting the roots and place them in a fertile soil. If you don’t find roots then place them in a glass of water. When roots sprout, transfer it to the pot and water them at regular intervals. After few weeks you see fresh leaves grown in a well-defined manner and is ready to use now.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Coriander is used for garnishing and flavoring purpose. It contains magnesium, iron, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K.

The antioxidant properties of cilantro used as medicine to cure anemia, diarrhea, skin disorders and cholesterol levels.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon)



To grow lemongrass place stalk in a glass of water with root end submerged in the water. Place it in a sunny site and change water for every 2-3 days until roots grow up to 2 inches. Transfer the whole setup to a pot and it grows quickly. Now the lemongrass is ready to harvest. Harvesting involves cutting herb with a sharp knife above 2 inches from the soil. Lemongrass is widely used as a culinary and medical herb.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Lemongrass is an essential source of vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfate, iron, copper, and zinc.

The antioxidants like luteolin, glycosides, quercetin, elemicin, and catechol in lemongrass help to prevent cancer, stomach disorders, fever, aches, insomnia.

Parsley (Petroselinum Crispum)

Parsley is the most common herb and very easy to grow. It propagates from seeds and cannot be rooted in water. Parsley spices up your recipes and also used in salads dressing.

When you start parsley from seed, soak it in warm water to remove seed coatings that help to germinate quickly. Set the pot in full sun or partial shade with soil moist pH between 5.5-6.7. Maintain the temperature between 60-80 F. Keep the plant roots cool by adding mulch around the base of the plant.

Oregano (Origanum Vulgare)

Oregano is a flowering plant in the mint family and is native to Mediterranean regions. Flowers are purple-colored to 2-3 centimeter length. Best way to start oregano at indoors is a tip cut from an outdoor oregano plant or can easily be started from seeds. Plant the seedlings or cuttings in a well-drained soil. It requires 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, grows to a height of 20-80 centimeter and temperature should be 70 F. Water only when the surface of the soil is dry. Oregano leaves are used in tomato sauces, meat, and soups.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Oregano has Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory properties like thymol, pinene, limonene, carvacrol, ocimene.

It can cure a cold, muscle pain, acne, dandruff, allergies and menstrual cramps in women.

Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum)

Chives are perennial plants that spread across Europe, Asia, and North America. It is mostly found in grocery stores and in botanical gardens. They have spiky leaves and attractive purple colored leaves.

To grow chives indoors, Sow chive seeds in a pot or container. The seeds will germinate in 2-3 weeks at 60 F. For optimal germination sow seed indoors at 70 F. Chives grow best in bright light (south-west window) and well-drained soil. Just pull a bunch of chives from an established plant, place it in a small pot and cover the roots with more potting mix soil. When it grows, cut (1/3) of the plant to stimulate better growth.

Chives have insect repelling properties that have major application in the garden to control pests. Blue flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient in fish, potatoes, soups and other dishes.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

They are low in calories but high in nutrients like folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and choline. It helps to prevent prostate cancer and enhances mood.

Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)

Thyme is an herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. It prefers the soil with pH between 6.0-6.7. For better results start seed indoors at a temperature of 70 F and transfer seedlings to the garden when sprouts appear. Plant the seeds/cuttings 2-3 weeks before the last spring.

Pick thyme cuttings from the stem where leaves are attached. Remove the lower leaves of the stem and place it in a container of moist soil mix. Keep the pot in a warm shaded area. Thyme grows vigorously and is sure to space accordingly. Harvest thyme just before the plant flowers.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Thyme is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, fiber, riboflavin, iron, copper, calcium, and manganese.

Leaves, flowers, and oils of thyme helps to treat diarrhea, arthritis, stomach ache, bronchitis, and cough.

Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

Sage plant is a soft plant with grayish green leaves and purple flowers. It takes much time to establish when grown from seeds so it’s better to start by choosing a tip cutting.

To start an indoor sage plant, select a tip from the outdoor sage plant. Plant the seeds/cuttings in a well-drained soil for a week with proper spacing. Maintain the temperature between 60 F and 70 F and place the pot in a south-facing window. Water the plant at regular intervals. After few weeks your sage plant is ready by ensuring proper growth.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Sage is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, Thiamin, Folate, Calcium, and Magnesium.

Sage leaves, stems, and roots contain antioxidants like phenols and flavonoids used in medicine to treat inflammations and lowers blood pressure.

Lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis)

Lemon balm is native to South-Central Europe, Iran, and Central Asia. It grows to a height of 30-45 centimeters. Leaves have the mild lemon scent. It attracts bees for honey products. It is also grown as the ornamental plant and used in aromatherapy.

Lemon balm can also be used as an ingredient in tea powder for flavoring. It makes the person hyperactive and brings balance to your life. This is the reason why most of them prefer lemon balm tea.

To grow lemon balm indoors maintain fertile, well-drained clay or sandy loam soil with pH 6.5–7.0 and temperature between 65-75 F. Lemon balm grow well in warm climates. When you sow the seeds in a pot it will germinate between 12-21 days. Water the balm regularly and not to over water. No need to use fertilizers as it grows easily and if you wish then add organic compost to the soil for rapid growth.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Lemon balm leaves contain the compounds like linalyl acetate, citronellal, caryophyllene, rosmarinic, and flavonoids.

It cures a cold, stomach upset, sleeping disorders, thyroid problems and balances blood pressure.

Celery (Apium Graveolens)

Celery leaves are rhombic leaflets with 3-6 centimeters long and 2-4 centimeters broad. Flowers are the creamy white color with 2 mm in diameter. It prefers partial sunlight, cool temperature and a lot of moisture. Plant the celery in wet area and water regularly. It grows to a height of 20-25 centimeters when planted in a large pot or container.

You can regrow celery by taking a stalk of it. Place it in warm water and change water on daily basis. Just within 5 days, the celery plant can regrow. You can add celery leaves to soups, stews and pasta sauce.

Nutrients and Health Benefits

Celery contains vitamin A, vitamin K, folate potassium and a good source of diety fiber.

The antioxidant properties of celery like flavonols and phytosterols help to lower Blood Pressure, prevent cancer and inflammations in your body.

What is a herb? Herbs are the usable parts of herbaceous plants uses in cosmetics, culinary, medical and fragrances because of its aromatic properties. These herbs can easily grow at indoors with little care by providing sufficient water and sunlight to the herb plants. What plants can be used as medicine? The herb plants such as basil, celery, sage, lemon balm, thyme, chives, oregano, parsley, lemongrass, coriander, rosemary, and mint have antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties mostly used in medicine to cure several health problems. What is the rosemary herb good for? Rosemary herb grows well at normal room temperatures (partial shade) used as an ingredient in the meat, poultry, lamb, stuffing, and sauces for fish. It also contains anti-bacterial, antiseptic and antioxidants like rosmarinic acid, cineol, and borneol help to treat several health problems like body pains, stomachache, headache, and fever. What are the benefits of Oregano? Oregano is a green pungent herb that is used in the variety of foods from vegetables to lambs and in stuffings, egg dishes. The extraction of oregano essential oil has high amounts of antioxidants to cure skin irritations, acne, dandruff, illness and is diluted before its use. How do you use fresh thyme? Thyme leaves are usually small enough to use without chopping. To get them from stems is a time taking process with a bit pain and are good to eat by adding an ingredient in recipes. Stems are the bit hard to taste and only used in natural medicines to cure a cough, stomach ache and skin problems. How good is parsley for you? Parsley is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and iron. Both the leaves and roots of parsley contains powerful antioxidants like folate and beta-carotene used in medicine to prevent kidney stones, arthritis, constipation and skin problems. Try these herbs to grow in your home that benefits your health and keeps surrounding hygiene. If you have amazing ideas regarding growing indoor herbs, please share it with us.

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