How to water herbs in containers
Growing Herbs for Beginners – Part 1
Watering herbs in containers is one of the trickiest parts of growing healthy herbs. But, don’t worry, if I can learn to do it, so can you!
With the tips and techniques in this post, you’ll not only learn how to water herbs, but also you will learn about the method that I use to keep a perfect watering schedule for your herbs.
In this post you’ll learn:
- about the essential feature of herb pots and containers
- how to avoid the 3 most common watering mistakes
Essential tools for correct watering
It’s important that you are setup for success from the beginning. If not, watering your herbs the right way won’t make a difference. Here are 2 important tools that will help ensure you grow healthy herbs:
A pot with a drainage hole
These are classic plastic grow pots, you can find them in any garden center. You have probably some from previously bought plants.
Ideal potting mix for herbs
A good potting mix is so important. I will tell you more about my own made potting mix in other parts of this course
Common Watering Mistakes
I have noticed that people tend to make three common mistakes when they first start growing herbs. (Just like I did).
Once you avoid these problems, you’ll be on track for evergreen harvesting success!
Mistake #1 – Using pots without a drainage hole
It is my very first and strong recommendation to ALWAYS keep the herbs in growing pots with drainage holes.
This way you can apply the correct watering method that I use and which I will explain below. While some experienced herb growers may have success using pots without a drainage hole, for most beginners and even for experienced herb gardeners, it is wise to avoid watering problems by using pots with drainage holes.
The purpose of drainage holes is quite simple. All plants, and also herbs, need water to survive. But at the same time, over-watering is the most common, and perhaps most efficient, way to kill an indoor plant.
The drainage holes :
- allow water to flow or seep out of the pot after watering
- ensure that water does not pool at the base of the pot
- allow the roots to dry easily and protect them from rot, fungus and bacteria.
If the looks of the pot are important to you (e.g. you want your indoor pots to look beautiful), you can also use aesthetically pleasing pots with a draining hole (in combination with a water saucer) or you can combine a growing pot with drainage holes with a cache-pot.
Especially for outdoor herbs in pots or containers, for instance on your balcony or porch, it is paramount to use pots or containers with good drainage holes, because when it rains, the rain water has to be able to drain or your herbs will drown. Outdoors you can more easily use all sorts and kinds of beautiful pots too.
Mistake #2 – Using poorly draining soil
Using the right soil is an important part of successfully growing and watering herbs. In fact, Part Two is completely devoted to teach you about the correct soil that won’t kill your plants.
Most herbs like to grow in moist soil but at the same time won’t put up with wet roots. So in addition to getting a pot or container that drains very well, you have to use good draining soil too, but that won’t dry out too fast either.
To make you start off in the best way possible, I will explain to you the recipe of my own made potting mix for herbs. I will tell you all about it in Growing herbs for beginners – Part 2.
Mistake #3 – Only apply top watering
Top watering is simply said pouring water on the soil surface of the herb in the pot.
Although this is probably the most used method, I believe it is not the best way.
I have noticed that some herbs, especially Basil, tend to start rotting with this watering method.
The soft stems particularly of young plants are very susceptible to fungi and bacteria if they are constantly moist. A moist topsoil also causes several pests to appear very often.
Another issue with top watering shows when the soil has dried out.
When watering, you will notice very often that the water will only run over the surface of the soil, through the small opening between soil and pot and quickly runs out at the bottom of the pot. And plenty of roots of your herb are still not watered. And to solve this you need to soak the pot in a bucket or saucer for a longer period to make all roots wet again. And standing in water for longer periods of time is not tolerated by most herbs.
For these two reasons, I always apply bottom watering as a primary watering method combined now and then with a little bit of topwatering.
How?
I put the growing pots in a larger pot, tray or bucket (or even in the tub or sink) filled with water at room temperature.
The drainage holes in the growing pots allow the herb plant soak up the water it needs in about 10 minutes time without over-saturating it (10 minutes seems just fine for the soil mix I use). So the drainage hole actually has a double function (drain and soak up).
For larger pots outside, I prefer to use saucer underneath the pot and fill it with water. However don’t forget to remove the saucers if you have longer periods of rain.
Keep in mind that if your pot is just soil, then you are good at any water level, but if you placed for example draining stones at the bottom, the water level needs to be higher.
Bottom watering plants and herbs keeps the roots uniformly moist, but it doesn’t wash away the salt and mineral deposits that accumulate on the top of the soil over time. That is why I, after applying bottom watering a couple of times, I will also pour water over the top of the soil, just to rinse the soil and remove the excess minerals.
Bottom watering is also a great way to give plant food and add vitamins to your herbs (pay attention to stains of the fertilizer).
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Conclusion
Avoid those three common mistakes and you are on track :
I hope that with this basic knowledge about watering herbs you are well on your way to create a beautiful herb garden.
What is next?
This ends part 1 of the Free Online Course “Herb Garden for Beginners”.
Now, give and share your thoughts about this topic, ask questions or identify the things you want to learn more about in the comment section below.
Thank you again for being part of the course. We are on this journey together with all like-minded people so let’s help and assist each other.