Growing Herbs Indoors without Sunlight

Herbs make the world go ’round, they really do.

Without them, I think my family would be far more aware of my imperfect cooking. Herbs are a magical, fail proof way to make a meal amazing, without a doubt!

I’m always growing something, even if there is a half inch of ice out on the ground (Hello, Zone 7A!); the truth is, you don’t NEED the great outdoors OR sunlight in order to grow thriving herb plants.

Artificial plant lighting, or grow lights, won’t be enough either; you must be ready to replicate the environments that different herbs require, similar to how you would alter your garden or bed arrangements for them outside.

If you fail to meet these different variables indoors, you won’t have an impressive indoor crop.

Are you TRULY able to grow plants indoors? I dare you to give it a go, and report back to us with your results after using our tips!








Growing Herbs Indoor without Sunlight


Before you plant your seeds, take a step back and plan out your herbs. Line up all of your seed packets, and prepare to do a bit of research. You want to be able to answer the questions below, while being able to grow herbs in unison in similar conditions. By growing plants that have similar requirements for growth, you will find the entire process much easier. You won’t need as much artificial lighting for your herbs, as they’ll be able to grow together. This process can also prevent you from spending a lot of money on different liquid organic fertilizers, especially if you are opting for a hydroponic system.

The Herb Growing Checklist

  • How much space does the plant need, horizontally and vertically?
  • How much will one plant yield, how often, and how many plants will you need for a decent harvest?
  • How many hours of light are needed per day? Do you have enough lighting fixtures and full spectrum fluorescent light bulbs to keep the herbs growing steadily to a large size?
  • What temperatures do the plants thrive best in? Do you have seedling heating pads for germination if you are growing them in a cool room?
  • What are the N-P-K fertilizer requirements of the plants that you intend to grow? Are there any special fertilizers required, such as those designed for a hydroponics growing system?
  • Will your plants have similar pests, such as spider mites, that you will need to prevent?
  • Are you familiar with “watering from below”?
  • How susceptible are these herbs to certain fungal diseases?
  • Do the herbs prefer to be on the drier side, or consistently moist?
  • What size pots, and what type of growing medium, will these herbs need?








Full Spectrum Fluorescent Lighting: This is VERY Important for Your Herbs!


If you placed a simple light bulb above your seedlings, you would quickly learn that you are getting nowhere fast as far as growth is concerned. Some of the grow lights that are sold in stores are also fairly poor in quality, as they only cover a limited spectrum. If your plants are leggy, have tiny leaves, and are nowhere near as large as they need to be, you need to improve the spectrum of light that your plants are receiving.

The sun is considered “full spectrum” light, which means that it provides varying wavelengths of light from the infrared to the ultraviolet spectrum.  Think of full spectrum lighting as the rainbow- and your current bulb is simply one color. A full spectrum fluorescent bulb will mimic the sunlight that your plants crave, so opt for these from the start.



growing herbs with grow light bulbs and fixtures



How Many Herb Plants Will You Need to Grow?


Some herbs, such as mint, are very, very prolific and quite large. One peppermint plant could supply a family throughout the winter, as long as it is taken care of properly with the right lighting and feeding. It could also take up an enormous amount of space.

Other plants, such as oregano, are very small and slower growing. Therefore, you may need many more plants, and could fit more in a smaller space.




Look at the seed packets to determine the spacing between plants, and the approximate growing height. Take into account the amount of space you have to grow plants in, and the square footage that your growing bulbs can cover reliably. Avoid crowding plants, and don’t grow more than you will need.

By estimating the size of a plant within a set number of days, the frequency of harvest (some harvest as needed), and your family’s consumption of that particular herb, you will be able to avoid excessive over-planting.



growing herbs indoors without sunlight seedlings



Lighting, Humidity, & Heating Requirements


You should perform some research to find out if your herbs are more fond of cooler, shadier conditions, or hotter, sunnier conditions. Some plants also require more humidity that others; when growing indoors, many plants encounter low humidity levels, due to HVAC systems. If a plant transpires a lot, it could have a hard time in low humidity. a humidifier can solve this issue.

You want to grow like-minded herbs together, or some may suffer while others thrive. Try to average an ambient temperature of 70*F in the room that plants are growing in, if at all possible. If temperatures are not above 70*F, you may need to bring a seedling heating pad into use to improve germination rates. Some plants may require less light than others; a way around this is to place these plants on the edge of the bulb’s reach. This will reduce the amount of light that reaches these plants, preventing them from scorching or undergoing stress.







Planting and Fertilizing: Which Path Will Your Herbs Take?


If you are growing in traditional soil, you should use a sterile, all purpose potting mix as your growing medium base. You can then amend this potting soil with sand for increased drainage, inoculates for seedling health (if you choose this route), and you can alter the pH if necessary. Many herbs can utilize a standard, well balanced fertilizer such as 5-5-5 or 10-10-10, but you should research the best fertilizer formulations for the herbs you intend to grow, in order to give them the best start in life. The pots need to be appropriately sized for root growth, with plenty of room to prevent the plants from becoming root bound.

If you are going to grow your herbs in a hydroponic system, whether it’s a filtered system with pumps or a standing water system such as the Krakty Method, you will need a specialized growing medium. This medium could be coconut coir, small pebbles or gravel, pumice, rock wool, or many others. This is where the base of the plant will rest. You will also require specialized, water soluble hydroponics nutrients; they are different from soil fertilizers, which usually aren’t water soluble. Small hydroponic baskets, or “pots”, will do well, as the roots extend below the basket.





Watering Requirements, Pests, and Disease


All plants need water to thrive; but how much do they need??? Most plants only require soil that stays consistently moist. They don’t require soaking wet conditions, and they don’t require dry conditions. However, there are picky herbs such as Rosemary, Oregano, and Sage that do not like wet feet. These herbs prefer soil that is on the drier side. Each herb will have different requirements, so research them thoroughly.

Some pests, such as spider mites, are an absolute nightmare when it comes to growing plants indoors. Spider mites are controlled by predators and rain water in nature; indoors, both of these natural population controls are not available. Be sure that you are prepared for these pests with the right organic pesticides, whether store bought or homemade.

Disease is always a concern indoors; especially fungal diseases. Homes can harbor diseases through the growing season and even the winter months, making new, indoor seedlings potential hosts. Thoroughly cleanse the room with a vinegar solution to help kill fungal spores, which will be your biggest concern. Damping off is one of the most common fungal infections, but you can help to prevent this by watering from below (pouring water into the drainage tray, rather than the pot), and placing a fan on the seedlings. Fungal infections love moisture and still air; this method helps to pull moisture and stagnant air away from the base of the plant.