How can I provide more light for my herbs indoors?
How can I provide more light for my herbs indoors?
Providing enough light for herbs to grow well indoors, especially during the winter months when days are shorter, is difficult. Some herbs will tolerate as little as six hours of direct light a day but most want eight or more hours each day. When light levels are not adequate, herbs grow well under supplemental light.
Small grow-light setups are available from many online retailers and garden centers. Gardeners can also build their own grow-light setup. These can range from a compact florescent bulb in a task light fixture for a few plants, to a plug-in 4-foot LED shop light for larger herb collections. Look for full-spectrum grow lights in high-output fixtures. Place lights within 6 to 12 inches of the leaves for higher light intensities. Plug the light into a timer set to be on for 12 to 16 hours a day for ideal growth.
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