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Are you looking for information on how to make a mason jar indoor herb garden? This step-by-step article will show you just what you need to grow your own herbs right in your kitchen!
Herbs are a great addition to any garden, and they can also be grown indoors by anyone looking to add more fresh herbs to their recipes. Not only do herbs give you fresh ingredients to use in your cooking, but they also look great on your kitchen windowsills.
After all, who doesn’t love the look of decorative containers filled with wonderful-smelling herbs?
Mason jars are an inexpensive container that makes beautiful glass jar planters that you can use to plant herbs indoors. If you haven’t caught on yet, mason jars have become quite the rage in recent years and it’s clear why!
Growing your own herbs is a rewarding practice that gives you fresh herbs all year round. So how do you get started?
You can easily grow your own mason jar indoor herb garden by following the steps below or you may opt to purchase a mason jar herb growing kit.
How to Make a Mason Jar indoor Herb Garden – Step By Step
First, you will need:
* Mason jars (wide mouth quart-size jars work well)
* Gravel, pebbles, or marbles
* Potting mix
* Seeds, cuttings, or herb plants (if you’re transplanting)
Step 1 – Choose Your Herbs
There are a variety of indoor herbs available. However, some of them require a lot of sunlight. Herbs such as basil, oregano, dill, and rosemary need plenty of sun, while herbs such as chives, parsley, and mint do well in partial sun.
One of the most versatile herbs you can grow is basil. It has a wide variety of culinary uses and is relatively easy to grow. Feel free to experiment with your favorite herbs.
Step 2 – Add Drainage
Mason jars are ideal for growing herbs because they are cheap, attractive, and easy to move around. The problem though is that, unlike regular garden pots, Mason jars don’t have holes for drainage. The roots of herbs will quickly rot when they’re soaked for too long.
If you’re going to plant herbs in Mason jars, you need to add drainage. Some opt to drill holes in the bottom of the jar using a diamond drill bit. However, there are precautions that must be taken to safely drill holes through mason jars. Luckily, there is an easier way. Just add small rocks to the bottom of the jar. You can use gravel, pebbles, or even colorful marbles.
Begin by adding rocks or marbles to the bottom of the jar. This layer should go about two or three inches deep, so depending on the size of your jar, you may need to use more than one layer.
Step 3 – Add The Potting Mix
Add your potting mix over the rocks. Fill up the jar but leave about an inch of space below the jar rim. Make sure you choose a good quality potting mix (not to be confused with potting soil). A good potting mix will contain material like peat, composts, and perlite. This type of light and fertile potting mix will help you give your plants the best start possible.
If you are growing herbs that prefer drier soil, add a few more rocks to the bottom of the jar. This will make it easier to water your herbs without fear of overwatering.
Step 4 – Plant Your Herbs
If you’re using seeds, just place the seeds on top of the soil, add some more potting mix to cover the seeds, and then water lightly. Be careful not to overwater too much, or the seeds might drown!
If you’re transplanting herbs indoors from a garden bed, encourage development by gently separating the roots. After removing the plant, carefully brush away excess soil from the root ball. Place it inside the jar and pack tightly with the potting mix before watering.
Step 5 – Place Your Jars Near Sunlight
As a rule of thumb, most herbs will require at least six hours of full sunlight each day. You can easily achieve this by placing them on a window sill daily that gets plenty of sunshine. Another option is to use a grow light, which is perfect to use during the winter, or if your windows are not getting adequate sun.
What’s nice about growing herbs in mason jars is they are portable, so you can rotate your herbs as needed to make sure they are getting just the right amount of sun.
Step 6 – Water Your Plants Regularly and Watch Them Grow
Water frequently, but only lightly! Overwatering can lead to mold and root rot. Check the gravel layer in the bottom of the jar before watering. If it’s dry then you’ll know it’s time to water. You can avoid over-watering by misting your plants with a spray bottle.
If starting your herbs from seeds they should start germinating between 1-3 weeks. But it may take longer under less favorable conditions.
Step 7 – Add Labels
Whether you’re giving these herb jars as a gift or you’re growing them for yourself, adding a personalized label to your mason jar is a great way to tie all of the parts together. Chalkboard labels look especially nice on mason jars.
Final Thoughts on How to Make a Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden
Indoor herb gardens are becoming more and more popular these days – and for good reason. First of all, the smell of fresh herbs is amazing and can make your cooking experience so much more enjoyable.
Having your own source of fresh herbs can also help you save money, especially if you like to cook a lot, or want to start cooking more often.
By cultivating your own mason jar indoor herb garden, you can always get your hands on fresh ingredients to make healthy and delicious meals.
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