How to grow herbs indoors

Herbs are one of the most rewarding plants to grow. But you don’t need a big garden to reap the tasty benefits. All you need is a sunny window or two and a little bit of time. Get started with these inside tips from Bunnings’ Greenlife Buyer Sharyn Petrzela.

Best herbs to grow indoors

With a little TLC, most herbs can be grown inside. Start with popular herbs like coriander, chives, mint and thyme. Some herbs, including rosemary, basil and oregano, can get a bit bigger if you don’t keep pruning/harvesting so you may need to plant them in your garden or put them in bigger pots outside if they get too big.

How to plant your indoor herbs

Most herbs come as seedlings in small 100mm or 125mm pots. Plant the seedlings in their own pot using a premium potting mix and place a saucer underneath or use a self-watering pot. Alternatively, leave the seedling in its original container and sit it inside a cachepot (a decorative planter).

There’s a wide range of attractive indoor pots to choose from. A larger pot will give the herbs more room to grow, so you can enjoy a larger and longer harvest. The ideal pot size is between 150mm and 200mm, however, if indoor space is limited, keep your herbs in the small pot and replace them more often. You’ll still find this to be better value and more rewarding than buying fresh-cut herbs from the supermarket, and they’ll last longer.

Where to grow your herbs indoors

Herbs need lots of sunlight, so find a position in a light space by a window for optimal growth.

Plants naturally grow towards the sunlight, so turn them around occasionally to ensure even growth.

Wherever you place your herbs indoors, be sure to take them outside from time to time for some direct sunlight.

Add just the right amount of water

Take care not to over-water your herbs. Water the potting mix (not the plant’s leaves), adding just enough water to keep it moist.

Most herbs don’t like sitting in water, so pay attention to drainage. Remove the saucer or cachepot to allow free drainage after watering and return it once water has stopped running from the bottom.

Feed your herbs

Feeding your indoor herbs is important for best results. A premium potting mix will have enough slow-release fertiliser to last a couple of months. To boost growth and vitality, supplement this with a fortnightly dose of liquid fertiliser.

Harvest leaves regularly

Trim herb leaves regularly to encourage thicker, more compact growth – the same as you would if you were growing them outside. If your herbs look stretched and leggy, cut them back reasonably hard, feed them and take them outside until they recover.

Start growing

Growing herbs is easy and there is so much choice. Select herbs that you regularly use for your cooking, herbs for herbal teas or medicinal plants like Aloe Vera. For more ideas and inspiration, check out our full range of herbs.

More D.I.Y. Advice

Planting & Growing How to create an allergy-friendly garden If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, then being out in the garden can, at times, be less than enjoyable. But there are some steps you can take to create an allergy-friendly garden so you can spend more time gardening and less time sneezi...

Outdoor Living Five D.I.Y. ideas to update your outdoors Autumn is a great time of the year to tick off a few D.I.Y. projects from your to-do list. Here are a few good ideas to get you started.

Planters How to choose the right plant pot Pots are a great way to add colour, interest or texture to your outdoor space. Tuscan Path’s Elaine Foster shares her top tips on how to choose the perfect pot.

Planting & Growing How to plant and care for sunflowers Sunflowers are a great way to add colour to your garden, and they’re easy to grow and care for. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie explains the basics of how to grow sunflowers and shares some tips on how to care for them.

Planting & Growing How to care for orchids Orchids are a low-maintenance flower that can be grown indoors or outside in a protected location. And, with a little care, they will provide you with lots of colour.

Guides & Projects How to upcycle almost any piece of furniture with paint Rather than throwing out old household items, you can restore them with paint. It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to give anything from furniture to fences a new lease on life. Learn how to paint and prepare different surfaces to get the finish y...

Planters D.I.Y. balcony and courtyard garden Even if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony or courtyard, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having a garden. The team at Tuscan Path, who have been supplying pots to the Australian marketplace for over 40 years, share some ideas on how ...

Benchtops & Cabinets A guide to kitchen benchtop materials The perfect benchtop will add style to any kitchen. It’ll also see the most action, so choosing the right benchtop for your kitchen – and budget – is an important decision explains Bunnings Kitchen Designer Ben Carey.

05:37

Planting & Growing How to build a garden bed Transform your outdoor area by learning how to build a garden bed. It’s easy to do, just follow our step-by-step guide.

Planting & Growing Discover 12 plants that are the best for indoors Striking foliage and stunning colour isn’t just reserved for the garden. There’s a wide variety of indoor plants you can use to bring colour and life to your home explains Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katrina Gatt.

03:11

Planting & Growing How to grow vegetables Watch our step-by-step guide and find out everything you need to know about how to grow fresh vegetables in your garden.

Person trimming the hedge with battery shears

01:28

Planting & Growing How to trim hedges Hedges are an excellent way to add shape to your garden. Here are a couple of tips to effectively trim and maintain a hedge.

Person putting on protective edging on the raised garden bed

01:38

Planting & Growing How to build a raised garden bed Building a raised garden bed is a simple project you can do yourself. Learn how to build a raised garden bed with this guide from Bunnings Warehouse.

Person adding compost and manure to the soil

02:01

Planting & Growing How to improve sandy soil Good soil is the foundation for any healthy garden. We can show you how to improve sandy soil to retain more nutrients and water.

Planting & Growing How to plant and care for succulents Succulents come in a huge range of colours, shapes and sizes, will grow just about anywhere and don’t need much looking after, making them a plant that’s perfect for even the most novice gardener. If you’re new to succulents, here are some tips from...

03:08

Planting & Growing How to install garden edging Garden edging can help to make your garden beds look neat and tidy. We’ll show you how to install plastic or corrugated garden edging around your garden.