How to Grow Herbs in Water All Year Long
Low temperatures during fall and winter can wreak havoc on your outdoor herb garden, especially if you live in an area that sees temperatures drop below 40 degrees.
The good news is that there are plenty of herbs you can grow indoors, and growing herbs in water requires very little maintenance.
This means you’ll be able to enjoy fresh herbs all year round without having to drive to the grocery store to get them!
You’ll save money in the long run, and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to grow your favorite herbs.
Herbs That Grow In Water
You can grow delicious and medicinal herbs in a jar or vase that contains nothing more than water. You won’t need any soil, just a little H20. Plus, you’ll always have fresh, organic, and nutritious herbs at your disposal for making delicious and healthy vegan recipes.
The following herbs will all keep growing for months when you place them in water:
- Basil
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Lemon balm
- Mint
- Oregano
- Sage
- Stevia
- Thyme
How to Grow Herbs in Water
Growing herbs in water isn’t complicated. Just follow a few simple steps and you’ll be set for all of Winter, or for the entire year if you prefer to grow them this way.
Let’s get down to business:
1. Pick out the best and healthiest herb stems from your garden, and cut them at about six inches in length. Make sure to use sharp scissors to ensure a clean cut.
If you don’t have a garden, you can use the herbs that are sold in the refrigerated produce section of the grocery store. Simply snip off a small section at the bottom of the plant.
Make sure to take off all of the leaves from the very bottom of the stem – you’ll want the stem to be naked when it hits the water, it’ll help it grow faster.
2. Place your herb cutting in a jar or bottle that contains 1 to 2 inches of water. It’s important to note that the actual roots of an herb do not do well with direct sunlight. Remember, roots grow under the soil, so they need to be protected from the sun.
You can accomplish this by placing your herb cuttings in a dark container that blocks the light, and also has a narrow enough tip to support the herb and keep it upright. Blue tinted mason jars are perfect for this.
3. Find a room in your house that gets plenty of sunlight. Since the herbs themselves need to be exposed to sunlight in order to grow, you will need to place the container, vase, or jar near a window.
The herbs will need around 6 hours of sunlight a day.
You can expect your herbs to begin growing roots in about two weeks, though the time can vary for each herb. Make sure to replace the water once a week to avoid mildew growth.
4. Move the herbs away from the window at night during an especially cold night, as the cold can harm or even kill your plant.
5. Harvesting. You’ll know when it’s time to harvest your herbs when you see several tiers of leaves growing from your cutting.
Aim to tear leaves that are directly above another tier of leaves, as this will ensure that new leaves will grow and replace the ones that were cut.
That’s it! That’s all there is to it. I hope this post made you realize that growing herbs is not as high-maintenance as you might have thought!
Plus, all of these herbs can be replanted in soil once the weather gets warmer, as long as you’ve given them the nutrients they need.
If you prefer to grow your herbs in a pot of soil, check out this post I wrote about how to grow herbs in containers. This method if perfect for people who live in an apartment and don’t have any outdoor garden space.
With the right tools and supplies, anyone can have access to the plants they need to live a healthier, greener lifestyle!