Growing herbs at home is easier than it seems. You don’t need a backyard or any fancy tools — just a few basic supplies, some patience and a sunny window.
I was able to grow two types of herbs — Mexican mint and curry leaf — using merely soil bought from Costco, water and small pots placed around my house. Along the way, I also learned how to deal with pests, avoid overwatering and make sure my plants stayed healthy all year.
There’s a lot of reasons to grow your own herbs. They’re useful for cooking because you always have fresh, organic ingredients and you don’t have to depend on whatever the grocery store has in stock, sometimes at expensive prices; on top of that, growing your own herbs also infuses your food with better flavors. But more than anything, it’s a simple way to do something calming — the process becomes part of your routine and it’s nice to take care of something and watch it grow.
Mexican mint, for instance, is easy to grow and has a strong, pleasant smell. It’s great in teas and simple dishes. Curry leaf grows more slowly, but is useful for cooking and holds up well indoors. Both plants are low-maintenance and good for beginners.
To get started, I bought some basic materials: regular potting soil, two medium-sized pots with holes at the bottom and a small plate to place under each pot for catching extra water. I placed the pots in areas of the house that get plenty of sunlight: The Mexican mint went in the kitchen to soak up some sunshine, while the curry leaf went into the living room, near another bright window.
For the Mexican mint, I started with a cutting — a stem from an existing plant used to propagate a new one — which I got from a friend. I placed the stem in a cup of water and left it near the window for around three weeks. When roots began to grow, I transferred it to a pot filled with soil.
For the curry leaf, I used a sprouted seed that my friend gave me, which I wrapped in a damp paper towel. I left it that way for around two weeks until the sprout grew large enough. Then I planted it in another pot with soil.
Once the herbs were planted, I watered them based on how dry the soil felt, which I checked with my finger, rather than following a schedule. In the winter, the soil remained damp for longer, so I only watered about every two weeks. In the summer, the soil dried faster, so I watered about once a week. The pots’ drainage holes and the plates underneath helped prevent overwatering by letting extra water drain out.
Still, overwatering was one of the first problems I faced. I was too excited and gave the plants more water than they needed. This led to the introduction of fungus gnats — tiny black bugs that started flying around the soil. With a quick search query, I found out that these bugs lay eggs in wet soil, and their larvae can damage plant roots. To fix this problem, I used a product called Mosquito Bits — a plant-safe treatment that targets insect larvae. I soaked the bits in water for an hour and then used that water to feed the plant. I repeated this every two weeks, and it slowly got rid of the bugs.
Now, both plants are healthy. The Mexican mint has grown large and leafy, and I’ve used it in tea and for seasoning. The curry leaf plant is growing more slowly, but it’s strong and still improving.
I’ve learned that growing plants indoors isn’t hard at all— it just takes time, attention and knowing when to water.
If you want to try growing herbs yourself, I recommend starting with easy plants like mint, basil or rosemary. Make sure your pots have drainage holes and sit in a sunny spot. Check the soil regularly and only water when it’s dry. Watch out for some nasty bugs, especially if you overwater. Once you get started, taking care of your plants can quickly become something you enjoy — and don’t worry, they give back to you in return.
