Chapter Four Other Tips

Fertilizing

You can use organic or inorganic fertilizers on your indoor herb garden. I prefer the organic kind such as fish emulsion or age old kelp. Fish and kelp fertilizers come in a variety of strengths so be sure to follow directions. In the application of any fertilizer directly as a soil drench be sure to apply some water to the plant first. Watering buffers the roots and helps to prevent root burn. (I killed my first thyme by not following this rule.)

Apply enough water so it just starts to drain out the bottom of the pot. Then let the plant sit for about an hour before applying the fertilizer so there is some water uptake and the soil will not be soggy.

You can also apply most of these fertilizers as a foliar spray. If applying as a foliar spray, make sure you have good air circulation so the leaves get dry and don’t sit wet. Wet leaves promote powdery mildew.

If your potting soil has fertilizer in it as the one I am using does, wait a few months before applying more fertilizer. Too much fertilizer is not a good thing.

Fertilizers high in nitrogen promote growth but not bloom or fruit set. Too much nitrogen and you may get an herb with leggie growth but not many leaves per sprig.

Here is a link to a great page about organic fertilizers. Not an affiliate link.
http://www.4hydroponics.com/nutrients/organics.asp