Growing herbs indoors is a rewarding experience, especially during the dark winter months when outdoor gardening is not a year-round proposition. Whether you live in an apartment with limited space or want to keep herbs within arm’s reach in the kitchen, knowing how to grow them under grow lights successfully is an essential skill.
The aroma of fresh-picked thyme and basil can transform your indoor gardens, making them a fun and sustainable way to enjoy healthy and tasty plants all year. My experiences with indoor gardening have shown that herbs can thrive and survive the winter period with adequate light, creating a warm, sunny ambiance even on the coldest days.
How To Grow Herbs Indoors With Grow Lights in Easy Steps
How Much Light Is Right?
Growing herbs indoors with grow lights can be a game-changer, but understanding how much light is right is crucial.
Choose the Right Lighting: Utilize modern 21st-century technology to select the best lighting options. It’s not science fiction; these tools are real and practical.
Understand Light Measurements: Learn about lumens, lux, and foot candles to understand how humans perceive light. For plants, focus on PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) and DLI (Daily Light Integral).
Use the Right Tools: Invest in a quantum meter if possible, even though it might cost up to $500. These tools help measure plant-useful light accurately.
Different plants have different lighting needs, so it’s important to tailor your grow lights to each plant type. Horticulturalists have used these advanced tools to ensure their plants get the right light, and you can too. Reliable sources of info can help hobby gardeners avoid spending too much while still providing the ideal conditions.
By understanding how light affects plants and ensuring the Daily Light Integral (DLI) is met, you can keep your herbs healthy and productive. Don’t let your plants’ daily appetite for light go unsatisfied; proper lighting is key to successful indoor herb gardening.
Temperature Matters
When growing herbs indoors with grow lights, it’s essential to manage temperatures. While sunlight brings warmth naturally, modern grow lights may not produce enough heat. For instance, basil loves warm conditions, thriving in temperatures ranging from 75–85°F (23–29°C), while chives thrive in a cooler environment of 50–75°F (10–23°C).
In my experience, I learned a valuable lesson while trying to grow dill and basil in my cool basement.
The dill shot up and crowded out everything else due to the cool temps, but the basil struggled, craving more warmth. It’s simpler to select herbs that match your home’s temperature.
For a warmer space, try thyme, basil, and oregano. In a room on the cool side, opt for mint, cilantro, chives, parsley, and dill.
Selecting Your Herbs And Their Ideal Grow Light
Growing herbs indoors can be a rewarding experience, especially when you understand their light requirements. Each herb has unique needs; for example, mint grows rapidly under strong illumination, whereas thyme requires less. It’s important to pick the right light and the right distance. Grow lights should be closer than you might expect. Fluorescent and LEDs need to be within a few inches or centimeters of the plant’s leaves to provide sufficient photons.
In my experience, having a book like Gardening Under Lights by Leslie F. Halleck is invaluable. It’s scientifically grounded and filled with helpful diagrams. Before you start growing indoors, choose herbs that will thrive in an indoor environment. We offer seed packets and kits for various popular indoor herb varieties like basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Don’t forget, you can also grow poppies indoors!
Understanding Plant Growth And Light Needs
Growing herbs indoors requires careful attention to light and growth. It’s essential to provide an intense source of light to help your plants thrive. Most herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight or 12-16 hours of artificial light per day. The amount of light needed varies depending on the variety and stage of growth. Remember, light intensity decreases the farther your plants are away from the source. Keep them no more than 12 inches away to ensure they receive adequate light.
Fluorescent Grow Lights
When setting up indoor herb gardens, choosing the right grow lights is crucial. Fluorescent lights are a popular choice due to their affordable and efficient nature. In my experience, the T5 and T8 types are particularly effective.
The T5 lights are brighter and more efficient, though they are a bit more expensive. On the other hand, T8 lights, while not as bright, still offer great value for those on a budget. Both types of fluorescent lights ensure your herbs thrive indoors.
LED Grow Lights
For growing herbs indoors, LED grow lights are ideal. They are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and emit minimal heat, making them safe for plants. With a wide range of sizes and spectrums, you can choose the best light for your specific herb varieties.
Setting Up Your Indoor Herb Garden
- Choose a Location: Find a spot that gets adequate light and is accessible for watering and harvesting your herbs.
- Select Your Grow Lights: Use LED grow light bulbs that fit a standard light fixture. For the US and Canada, go for screw-in E26 bulbs, while in the UK, a bayonet fitting is ideal. I recommend the GE PAR38 grow light bulb, which I have tested extensively and found to outperform other competitors. Another good option is the Sansi 36W grow bulb, particularly outside North America.
- Set Up the Light System: Create an adjustable setup by using a clamp fixture or a hanging pendant cord. Ensure the light-to-leaf distance is within 12 inches. Adding a timer can make things easier by automatically providing 12 hours of light per day. Some herbs, like basil, do well with up to 18 hours of light, while cilantro prefers 10-11 hours. Use your experience and research to find the best light duration for your herbs.
- Choose the Right Containers: Use containers with drainage holes. Options include traditional plant pots, hanging baskets, or even repurposed containers.
- Use Quality Potting Soil: Fill the containers with quality potting soil that is rich in nutrients and has good drainage. Avoid garden soil to prevent pests and diseases.
- Plant Your Herbs: Follow the instructions on the seed packet or plant label. Water thoroughly after planting.
- Water and Fertilize Regularly: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer to keep your herbs healthy.
How To Maintain An Indoor Herb Garden
- To ensure the success of your indoor herb garden, follow these tips.
- Rotate your plants each week to give them even light exposure.
- Watch for pests and diseases and treat them promptly if necessary.
- Harvest your herbs regularly to encourage bushier growth.
- Prune them often to prevent them from becoming leggy and overcrowded.
My Experience Using Grow Lights
Using grow lights for my indoor garden has been a game-changer. The perfect size and the wonderful results have made a remarkable comparison to previous years. Before, I was afraid to start certain types of plants indoors because I had been unsuccessful in the past. However, this year, the lights have given me the confidence to try unique varieties like Veronica (a Romanesco cauliflower type), flowers such as China asters and stock. These have all done well. It makes me giddy with excitement to finally add these difficult plants to my garden this year.
I hope to continue experimenting with fussy seeds next season. Right now, my plant rack space is maxed out, but seeing the success of my indoor starts has filled the gap that was missing in my gardening routine. Knowing how often to water mint indoors has also been crucial in maintaining healthy growth.
Best Light For Growing Herbs Indoors
When growing herbs indoors, choosing the right light is crucial for ensuring they thrive and flourish. Here are My quick findings about the best lights to consider for optimal herb growth.
| Description | Features | More Detail |
| LBW Grow Light with Stand | Adjustable Tripod, Super Bright LEDs, 30W Power, Quick Setup, Family Balcony | Check Price on Amazon |
| Sansi Grow Light Bulb | 4000K Daylight, Secondary Optical, Patented COC, Safe & Reliable, Guarantees | Check Price on Amazon |
| Leoter Grow Light | Efficient LEDs, Auto Timer, Dimmable Modes, Adjustable, Heat Dissipation | Check Price on Amazon |
| Soltech Solutions Large Grow Light | Touch Control, Secure Stick, Sunset Spectrum, Precision Lighting, Aesthetically Pleasing | Check Price on Amazon |
| Aspect World’s First Decor Grow Light | Warm White, Solid Aluminum, Green Decor, Easy Setup, Modern Body | Check Price on Amazon |
Conclusion
Growing herbs indoors with grow lights is a simple and rewarding way to ensure you always have fresh herbs at your fingertips. By choosing the right grow lights and providing optimal care, you can enjoy a year-round supply of your favorite herbs. Have you tried growing herbs indoors yet? It’s a fantastic way to enhance your cooking and bring a bit of greenery into your home!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you grow herbs indoors with a grow light?
Many growers succeed in vertical farming by using facilities to cultivate herbs indoors with herb grow lights. LED lighting offers many benefits for growing sustainable food. By controlling the light, you can germinate herbs quicker, grow roots faster, and achieve bigger yields.
Which herbs grow fastest indoors?
Dill is one of the fastest-growing herbs you can grow indoors. From sprout to harvest, it takes about 40 days. Though it may not be as popular as other herb varieties, dill is surprisingly versatile and can be used in many dishes.
How many hours of LED light for herbs?
Herbs need 10-12 hours of light each day. Since they might not get enough natural light indoors, you’ll need to run a lamp to supplement. Position the lamp close to the herbs to mimic the natural light they need. Consistently run the lamp for 10-12 hours to ensure they get the right amount of light.
What color light is best for growing herbs?
Using blue light is ideal for growing herbs and leafy greens indoors. Blue light aids chlorophyll production, encouraging growth. A higher proportion of blue light boosts vegetable blooms. Lights with more blue are perfect for herbs.
