Three Ways to Grow Herbs Indoors When You’re Short on Space
I live in a small house. The floor is taken into account, which is problematic if you’re looking for space for plants, so I filled the ceiling and walls of my house with greens and herbs that I like to grow inside during the winter. Not only does the vertical layout give you extra space; Having plants at different heights can also make your home feel warmer and livelier during the coldest months of the year. Here are three ways to grow herbs vertically in your home.
Install a “living wall system”
My home has Florafelt pocket panels , which are a living wall system designed to allow plants to breathe while keeping the walls dry. Florafelt uses durable wool with a plastic backing to create a self-watering plant pot that can hold multiple plants in each pocket. The plastic ensures you won’t damage the wall, but the pockets always remain slightly damp, providing the plants with the water they need. You can water it by hand or choose a recirculating model (I made my own recirculating pump ). I have Florafelt at home and have been happy with it for five years.
Wall trellises and flower pots
To take up less space, choose individual wall-mounted planters or a lattice system. These individual plastic pots are the perfect size for the most delicate herbs, such as dill, parsley, cilantro and basil. They are lightweight, inexpensive and, most importantly, self-watering. This means that you water them less often, and the pot itself stores water, supplying it to the plant as needed.
I also like the Hang Oasi wall systems . One wall can accommodate up to six plants and has a built-in watering system; you add water from the top and it filters down to all the plants. This would be ideal in a kitchen with indirect lighting for six of your favorite herbs.
Finally, this rustic yet large wall trellis will give you plenty of space for all the herbs you can imagine—if you have the wall space. Each of the three pots has drainage so you can control where the water goes.
Hanging planters
Don’t just look at the walls: think about the ceiling, too. Hanging planters allow you to use different hanging heights; You can even place hanging plants among pendant lights for a beautiful effect. Hanging plants are suitable for any room. This inexpensive three-tier vase is modern enough to fit almost anywhere. I also really like this long hanging planter with four separate pots.
How to care for greens at home
Herbs have basic needs, and since you are growing them indoors, you will either need a fair amount of indirect sunlight from a nearby window, or you will need to create some sunlight. The way to do this is to use grow lights. You can simply replace the nearby light bulb with a grow light bulb , or purchase a dedicated grow light. There are some great modern grow lights on your wall to match your new pots. All plants need water, and herbs are no exception. Herbs also benefit from some fertilizer, so I like to water them “once a week, lightly,” meaning you add a small amount of fertilizer to the water. Your favorite fertilizer will have dosage instructions, and I use half the recommended amount.
The key to longevity with herbs is consistent use. Cutting them as often as possible will help them get stronger again. You try to avoid having herbs grow flowers and then seeds, because at that point the herbs are used up and you have to start over with a new plant.