How to Keep Herbs Thriving, Indoors and Out

Fresh basil for dinner. Mint for your iced tea. A snip of rosemary right when you need it. Growing herbs in pots makes all of that easy, and you do not need a yard or a green thumb to pull it off. A sunny spot and the right container will take you most of the way there. Here is how to keep your herbs happy, whether they live on a windowsill or out on the patio.

Growing herbs in pots starts with the right container

Most herb troubles start at the bottom of the pot. Herbs hate sitting in soggy soil, so drainage is the first thing to get right.

• Drainage holes are a must. Pick a planter with at least one hole so water can escape. No standing water means no root rot.
• Mind the depth. Basil, thyme, and most herbs are happy in a pot 6 to 8 inches deep. Rosemary and mint grow bigger roots, so give them 10 to 12 inches and a little extra room to spread.
• One herb per pot, or group wisely. Mint is a fast spreader, so it does best on its own. Slower growers like thyme and rosemary share a container nicely.

Bloem planters are made from recycled plastic right here in the USA, so they are light enough to move, easy to lift, and built to handle a full season of watering. Browse the lineup in our herb planters collection to find a size that fits your crew.

Get sun and water right

Herbs are sun lovers. Most want six or more hours of direct light a day. If your leaves look pale or leggy, they are usually reaching for more sun, so move the pot to a brighter spot.

Watering is simple once you learn the finger test. Push a finger an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, water until it runs out the bottom. If it still feels damp, wait a day. A few herbs have their own preferences:

• Basil likes steady moisture and warm sun. Do not let it dry out fully.
• Mint enjoys a little more water and is forgiving if you overdo it.
• Thyme and rosemary come from dry climates, so let them dry between drinks. Soggy roots are their biggest enemy.

Harvest often to keep herbs productive

Here is the happy surprise. The more you snip, the more your herbs grow. Regular harvesting tells the plant to push out fresh leaves, so a little cutting keeps everything full and bushy.

• Pinch from the top. Cut just above a pair of leaves and two new stems will branch out from that spot.
• Take a third at most. Never strip more than about a third of the plant at once so it can bounce back.
• Pinch off flowers. When basil or mint starts to bloom, the leaves can turn bitter. Pinch the buds to keep the flavor sweet.

Snip a little every few days and you will always have fresh herbs on hand without ever running the plant down.

Pick the right spot, indoors or out

The beauty of pots is that your herb garden can go wherever the light is best. You are not locked into one place.

Short on space? A sunny windowsill is a perfect home for a few small pots of basil, thyme, and chives, right within reach of the kitchen. See how easy a tiny setup can be with our windowsill planters, sized for tight ledges and bright glass.

Have a little more room outside? A patio planter lets you grow bigger batches of mint, rosemary, and basil all summer. Just remember that outdoor pots dry out faster in the heat, so check the soil more often on warm days. When the weather turns cold, herbs in pots are easy to carry back inside to a bright window.

A quick recap

Good drainage, plenty of sun, water by the finger test, and snip often. That is the whole recipe. A pot of herbs is one of the simplest, most rewarding ways to bring a little green into your everyday life, and fresh flavor is always just a few steps away.

Happy planting starts here.