An indoor herb garden will allow for a constant supply of fresh herbs no matter what the season. Herb leaves and stems for cooking, teas, health remedies or crafts will be ready available. There are places other than the kitchen windowsill to grow fresh herbs. The beauty and scent of herbs allows the homeowner to place them in the décor with the same consideration as a regular houseplant. The history and lore associated with herbs give a good reason to find unusual planters and ways to display them.
As you look around for unusual ways to grow and display herbs remember that if it will hold dirt, you can grow something in it, and if you prepare it properly so that the soil has good drainage, you can grow herbs in it. Let your imagination take you beyond ordinary window boxes. Glass and china containers can become herb planters if holes are drilled into the bottom for the excess water to drain out. Use saucers or plates to catch the drainage. To keep the roots from standing in the water use spacers to lift the planter from the drainage try. Small tiles, finished pieces of glass or even large marbles can be adhered to the bottom of the container to keep the planter stable, yet allow for proper drainage. Grow lemon mint in a teapot or teacup if you enjoy your tea with lemon. Old-fashioned bean pots will hold several herb plants. Even a broken piece of molded pottery can be sanded down to display the growing herbs.
Show off your herbs in a terrarium. Any clear glass, from an old mason jar to an unused fish tank can hold the herbs. Clean and rinse the container and let it dry completely before starting the terrarium to make sure it does not become breeding grounds for mold or mildew. An old aquarium is ideal for a terrarium that will be place in a room with little sunlight as it is already set up for artificial lighting.
To save space yet have plenty of room to grow a large variety of herbs, consider building a fountain herb garden. Use an attractive large container on the floor, and partially bury a smaller planter in the middle. Keep building, burying each planter deep enough to be stable. Plant the herbs around the edges of the herb fountain, with tall and bushy herb at the bottom, low growing herbs in the middle, and trailing herbs like mint and thyme from the top.
Another way to build upward and save space for an inside herb garden is terrace planting boxes, with the lowest in the front and the back ones being progressively higher. Plant lower growing herbs in the front so that they will not deprive light from the herbs growing toward the back. A sturdy stepladder painted to match the theme of the room will offer a similar vertical effect.
Create a miniature indoor landscape by placing containers of herbs inside of a cabinet or bookcase. Lights can be installed if the piece of furniture does not receive sufficient sunlight. Use different types of attractive containers and set them on attractive trays so that the furniture won’t be harmed by an occasional over watering. Tiny hidden fans will keep the air circulating enough for the herbs to stay healthy.
Old-fashioned chamber pots not only hold several herb plants, but also can make a great conversation piece. Purses and totes will easily serve as herb gardens and can hang from coat racks in a mudroom or entryway. If properly hung and stabilized, small herbs can even grow in a soup ladle.