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Here’s an herb that very
popular, grown outdoors in the summer and then brought indoors for the
winter…it’s rosemary. And grown outdoors is fairly easy…but getting it to
over winter can be another story.
Rosemary can be a little
finicky indoors, so here’s a few tips that may help you do a better job with
yours:
-Sun, sun and more sun.
Rosemary needs a lot of light, so keep it in the sunniest part of the
house. You may need to rotate the plant to make sure all sides get
sufficient light. They’ll also tolerate a range of indoor temperatures, but
actually do better in cooler temps.
-Keep that soil not too
wet, but not too dry. Too wet and the roots rot…too dry and the roots dry
and rot. So you’re best bet is to water thoroughly, let it get close to
dry, then soak it again. And if you’re not sure, simply slide the rosemary
out of the pot and feel the soil in the bottom.
-Rosemary appreciates a
slight bit of humidity in the air, but forget the old method of misting the
foliage on a regular basis. We’ve found that regular misting really does
not add humidity, and actually sets up the plant for possible mildew and
other diseases. The best way to add humidity around indoor plants is to
take a large saucer, fill with gravel, and then fill with water. Sit the
plant on top of the gravel. As the water evaporates, it will add humidity
around the plant. Still be cautious, as this too can set up for mildew on
rosemary. So keep a small fan available to slightly move the air around the
plant if needed.
-Outdoors, insects
aren’t usually a problem on rosemary, but can flair up indoors. So watch
for those and if needed, a spray or two of insecticidal soap should take
care of those pesky bugs.
-Now if you’ve had
trouble over wintering rosemary indoors, try growing the creeping
varieties. They seem to tolerate air dryness better and may be a little
more successful for you. |
