The secret to growing rosemary indoors

Before you begin

Commercial growers typically use cuttings Propagate rosemary. However, you need to have an already established plant to root rosemary cuttings, and seeds are more accessible to home gardeners. Expect the seeds to germinate very slowly – some may not germinate at all. For best results, plant more rosemary seeds than you think you need.

The following instructions explain how to plant rosemary seeds to grow mature plants. If you are impatient and don’t want to wait for the seeds to germinate, you can choose to buy potted rosemary and follow the care tips below for how to grow rosemary indoors.

Keep reading to find out how to start your rosemary plant from seed.

Growing rosemary indoors from seed

Step 1: Choose where to grow rosemary indoors.

Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that prefers full sunlight and loses its vitality in the shade. To ensure your rosemary blooms, choose a sunny spot indoors or use artificial grow lights. If you plan to grow several plants indoors, consider equipping with a grow shelf Turn up the lights.

Step 2: Sow the rosemary seeds.

Sow rosemary seeds by planting them in a pot of well-draining soil and covering them lightly with a very thin layer of potting mix. Carefully mist topsoil without soaking. Use downward heat to speed up germination. An example of a bottom heat source is a heat mat Vivosun Seed Heat MatTop choice Our test guide to the best seed heat mats.

Be careful not to overwater once the seeds have germinated, as rosemary seedlings are prone to getting soggy. When the seedlings get their second set of leaves, thin out for all but one seed

To grow rosemary seeds or mature plants indoors, be sure to choose a container at least 8 inches in diameter and fill it with a well-drained, sandy soil mix and a drainage hole. A terra-cotta pot is ideal because the material does not hold water and helps the soil dry out between waterings.

Step 3: Water, and monitor temperature and humidity.

Rosemary plant care requires some essential considerations. How often to water rosemary depends on the pot you choose. If the plant a A terra-cotta potYou are unlikely to overwater. However, you should still be careful not to overwater. When watering plantsFeel the topsoil to make sure it is completely dry. In some cases, you may not need to water rosemary for 2 weeks or more.

However, while rosemary plants prefer to have dry roots, they also appreciate high humidity levels. You can keep the humidity level high without submerging the plant roots by misting your plants every few days. This is especially important during winter when heat sources can dry the air more than usual.

Like other Mediterranean herbs, rosemary prefers warm temperatures. Aim for an ambient temperature between 55 and 80 degrees. Anything less than 30 degrees can potentially damage or kill your rosemary plant.

Step 4: Provide proper light and fertilizer.

When growing rosemary, you will need plenty of bright direct sunlight. A Windowsill Most homes do not provide enough light especially during the winter months. Choose a south-facing window or an artificial light source instead. Place the light source close to the plant, but make sure there is enough space between the grow light and the foliage to prevent damage to the leaves.

Feed rosemary together monthly A balanced liquid fertilizer Begins in the spring. In late fall and winter you can pause feeding until the growing season starts anew.

Step 5: Harvest the indoor rosemary.

If you harvest rosemary sprigs during the growing season, the foliage will grow back quickly. However, if you’re growing rosemary indoors, it’s fine to cut springs year-round. During the growing season, aim to harvest more often to encourage growth. Weekly trimming will help keep your plant healthy.

Generally, rosemary is very pungent before it begins to flower. This is when you want to harvest if you plan to dry the leaves.

Now that you know how to care for rosemary, you can enjoy harvests from your plants year-round. Resist overwatering, keep plants away from drafty spots, and keep harvesting for a healthy, fragrant rosemary plant.

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