How to Keep Your Herb Garden Hydrated During Winter

Taking care of herb plants during the winter months can be a challenge. Herb plants need to be watered correctly to survive during the cold winter months. Here are some tips on How to Keep Your Herb Garden Hydrated During the Winter months.

If you have an herb garden, you may move it inside during the winter months to keep your herbs growing and strong. However, the heat inside your home also calls for extra care. Whether you are moving your herb garden indoors or starting it from scratch inside your home, there are a few steps you should take to make sure it thrives inside during the cold months.

How to Keep Your Herb Garden Hydrated During Winter

Follow these tips to keep your herbs healthy and hydrated all winter long.

Make Sure Your Home Is Well Insulated

A stable climate is important for your herbs to do well during the winter months. Since they will be inside, they won’t be exposed to the cold air and wind as long as your home is well insulated.

Check the insulation and weather stripping around your windows and doors. If there is a space larger than the width of a nickel, cold air can easily get into your home and warm air can escape. This will create an unstable climate for your herbs and make it harder to keep them healthy while inside.

Bad insulation also decreases energy efficiency and increases your energy bill, so fixing the issue saves your wallet and your garden at the same time.

Don’t Skimp on Water

Your herb garden will need plenty of water as it’s in warm air during the winter. Hydrated herbs are tastier and live longer than herbs that don’t get enough water. If your herbs are in terra cotta pots or other containers, they will probably dry out quickly.

To know if your herbs need water, feel the soil. If it’s dry an inch or so down from the surface, it needs water. You’ll want to put enough water into the soil so that the plant can absorb it. You may need a few watering cans full of water depending on the size of your garden, so be patient and keep watering until the soil is hydrated.

Make sure the container for your plants has holes on the bottom so it can drain easily. It is also a good idea to put a small plate or dish under your plant to catch the excess water. If the soil becomes dry before you water it again, your plants can soak up this extra water.

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Try Automatic Watering Systems

If you don’t want to worry about remembering to water your herb garden, consider an automatic watering system. You’ll still have to keep an eye on the herbs, but this will take a little less effort than watering by hand.

One option for an automatic watering system is a plant watering globe. You fill these aesthetically pleasing globes with water and then place them in the soil of the plant. As the soil becomes dry, the globe releases. This keeps the soil constantly hydrated.

Another idea is a self-watering pot. These are perfect for herb gardens and come in many different sizes, shapes and varieties. The water stores in a reservoir that you can refill as needed and then flows directly into the soil of the plant.

Increase Moisture in the Air

If the air inside your home is dry, your herbs won’t do so well. Keep a little extra moisture in the air near your herb garden to keep your plants extra hydrated. Try using a humidifier near the garden or misting the plants every few days. It also helps to group your herbs together, so they create a small ecosystem and climate for themselves in whatever area you keep them in.

Know What Herbs Are Best for Winter Months

With a little bit of practice, you can make most of your herbs and encourage them to last through the winter months. However, there are a few herbs that are especially fruitful during this time of year. Some of these include:

Basil
Cilantro
Parsley
Thyme

With these tips, you’ll keep your herb garden strong and hearty all winter long. Remember, even though it’s cold and yucky outside, your plants inside need to stay hydrated. Keep your herb garden healthy and you’ll enjoy fresh herbs all year round!

Megan Wild loves growing fresh herbs at home and using them every day. When she’s not planting her favorite plants in her garden, she can be found writing about her tips and advice on her blog, Your Wild Home.