Morning, everyone!Claire here, with a weekend project that’s perfect for all of you who are gearing up for lots of holiday cooking. Remember two weeks ago when I asked for your opinion on which hanging herb garden you liked best? Well, your votes weighed heavily in favor of option #1… so, using it as inspiration, I created my very own indoor herb display. So excited to share the final product…and to get cooking with my personal garden just in for guests to arrive! Want to make your own? We’ve got the simple instructions after the jump…
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old wooden board (I used a piece of painted wood I found by a torn down home)
mason jars
pipe clamps
triangle ring hangers
stainless hanging wire
picture hanger
chalkboard paint & chalk
brush
hammer, nails and screwdriver
herbs
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Space mason jars evenly on wooden board, and mark placement with a pencil in order to design and measure around.
Tape off rectangles on board, and paint with chalkboard paint as pictured above. This way, you can switch out herbs and change their labels accordingly.
Paint pipe clamps gold, and secure to wooden board by hammering a nail through the small holes in the pipe clamp.
On back of board, nail in ring hangers and tie on hanging wire.
Plant herbs in mason jars.
Place mason jars into pipe clamps and tighten with a screwdriver.
Nail picture hanger into the wall, and hang your herb display!
for drainage you could put a litte gravel like you would find for fish tanks in the bottom of the jar so that the water can drain to the bottom and not keep the soil damp but not soaked.
Or put those round beads that soak up water and expand on the bottom, they get smaller when they are depleated of water and bigger when they soak up water!
You can get them from baby diapers that are slightly wet(with water)
christine sierakowski|May 17, 2015 at 9:05 am
I was told that the diaper material contains toxic materials and that you should not use that material in any soil that you growing plants to use in cooking. Is that true? I thought about organic diapers (if there is such a thing), but I am still concerned.
Michele|August 12, 2015 at 12:17 pm
You can use activated charcoal from aquarium shop as your gravel to absorb odor and small piece of weed block to separate soil from gravel
I LOVE this idea! But am curious about the watering. I understand How you water them, I was just wondering if you run into a problem with the lack of drainage. Or does it not cause many problems because the herbs require damp conditions?
I had the same question, and it’s a logical question to have when most plants do need holes at the bottom of the pot for drainage. Gravel is a great idea, thanks 🙂
Thanks for asking about the drainage. That was my first question! If we knew how to do it, we wouldn’t be trolling around the how to section, now would we?
Yes that was rude…I just had the same question…I made self watering pots from a plastic bottle and they would stink a big time!! I guess if you just add the right amount of water plus the rock on the bottom for drainage it would be fine.
Really, Linda?? Not everyone has answers to every question. I remember teaching myself to quilt 35 years ago and had I not been able to be safe in asking questions, I would have never mastered the craft. Be nice.
this is so cute! I’ve done one similar on a old shutter but my herbs died. Are you having any luck with yours? Not sure if their roots didn’t take or what?
How about knats? I have north facing windows and I frankly booted my herbs outside because I have to water them so many times that it attracts knats. Please advise.
Thank you
I had gnats with my basil plant. To get rid of them I was told to put vinegar in a glass, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke some small holes. The gnats go in, then they can’t get out. I have used both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar with some success. I also started watering the plant more deeply, but less often. If you let the soil dry out a bit, they don’t have anywhere to live.
Char|February 16, 2015 at 9:40 am
I know this reply is about 3 years too late. If you have a pesky bug house plant issue, try Neem oil. Home Depot, Lowes and garden centers now carry it. I dabble in essential oils so I made a solution in a small spray bottle. 2 oz water with 20 drops neem oil. It’s organic and doesn’t hurt your plants.
Jennifer|August 1, 2015 at 4:09 pm
Gnats…really all bugs hatemint….add another jar and grow mint…you can also crush it up and put it in your corners to get rid of ants,spiders,roaches and so on.
Sue Z.|September 17, 2015 at 10:10 pm
Those are what is called soil gnats. They will lay eggs in the moist dirt of your house plants, including herbs. Cover the soil in your indoor pots with a good layer of fine sand – this keeps them from laying the eggs AND keeps the larvae from being able to reach the surface, which kills them.
You can find decorative (colored) fine sand at any Dollar Tree or at any craft store for a few dollars more. To get rid of the gnats already flying about – use a small glass with a bit of apple cider vinegar and a pinch of yeast. Cover it with plastic wrap, poke holes with a toothpick and they will be attracted to the smell of fermentation. Keep doing this until they are gone.
Emily Etter|April 7, 2012 at 11:01 am
If you herbs are dying they are probably being overwatered.
With the mason jar—there are no holes in it to let the water drain.
And herbs are very sensitive to overwatering.
If you are still having problems with them dying you might try switching to a different pot or jar thing that has a hole in the bottom of it to let it drain.
Samantha, I watered them for the first time lightly with a long spouted watering can, but you could also consider just spritzing with a spray bottle or placing ice cubes in there!
Danielle, so far mine have done well (it’s been about a week), but I’ve grown basil before and know herbs can be a bit tricky! Fingers crossed 🙂
Was draining an issue for you? I alway have my mason jars ready to go just need a little insight about any draining issues I might encounter after planting. 🙂
If you water lightly I don’t think it should be an issue. Also, you could put small stones in the bottom. This way the water collects in the stones and not the soil & it allows you to see how much you have watered!
of course …stones is the perfect answer!!!!…thanks
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Amy|December 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Do you have a lot of light in your kitchen? I have a total open floor plan but no window, just glass french doors to my deck. I love this but wonder how much sunlight herbs need to grow.
I am thinking of mounting the board on the side of the cabinets directly over my kitchen sink. It opens to a screen porch and if I find not enough natural light added to my over the sink light i could mount OUTSIDE the window and still be accessible from the kitchen window for cutting and tending. I think green onions or chives and parsley as well as the Ruby bush basil would be a good addition.
For keeping moist but not soggy, try wetting the soil medium until it barely makes a loose ball when compressed in your hand before planting. Then, water very sparely during the low light winter months. better to let dry out a little then just small amounts of water.
My sister grows house plants in jars & they look great. She hasn’t tried herbs. I tried herbs in the jars then put them in a wire rack from a canner & it looked really nice, unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with it. May just have to try it again.
Thank you Carole! I have long tried to figure out where to put my herbs in my kitchen. I have 2 windows but one is directly over the kitchen sink area – no room for herb plants and the other lacks shelves or something to place the herbs on. this idea is great, but again, i would have no where to hang the finished racked that would be in good sunlight. re-using an old canning rack would be perfect in front my 2nd kitchen window. there is even a hook already in the ceiling from previous plantings! awesome!
You can use a little carbon – available at Trooical Fish Stores – and the carbon will help the water that leaks to the bottom to stay fresh. Best bet is to combine carbon with gravel
Fashionable Shenanigans|December 17, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Absolutely love this idea. I buy these jars from thrift stores, they are so incredibly useful. You have just given me a new idea! Thank you for the inspiration!!! Your blog is lovely! Check mine out: fashionableshenanigans.blogspot.com
Just thinking maybe plant something else besides herbs? Like so other small house plant that don’t require alot of sun light….or just filling the jars with water and using them to start plants to root…
I’ve done something similar but had no luck when roots began to spread out and become exposed to light. I thought I could have fixed it by painting the outside of the glass jar or if I would’ve planted initially in a colored container. Are you having any similar problems?
This is a great idea. I’m wondering how well your herbs have held up. I’d love to do something similar, but wasn’t sure how long the herbs would last in a mason jar.
I have neglected my herbs slightly, so they need a little TLC 🙂 but still alive! I definitely would suggest putting rocks in the bottom as well as putting them in a place where they will receive a fair amount of sunlight. Goodluck!
I love this idea. Might be just the ticket to help me survive the rest of winter until I can get my hands dirty in the garden this spring. The additional idea of using the canning rack sounds like a fun way to display! Herbs do needs lots of sunlight, fertilizer and careful watering. They should eek along until you can get them outside in the spring. Thank you for the inspiration!
This is a genius idea! I just built a set for our apartment because I love to cook and I’m tired of not having fresh herbs at my disposal. Plus we live in an apartment so gardening isn’t an option. I am trying the rock suggestion, plus they look really cool in the bottoms of the mason jars. I am beyond excited about having live plants in a place our cats can’t eat them!
I live in an apartment as well and I love having fresh veggies in the summer so I planted a container garden this year. I just planted all my veggies in 5 gallon buckets. Google “Global Buckets” or “Earthbox” or “Container Gardens” for more ideas! I happen to live on the ground level which helps, but you could still do it on a balcony too!
I’m making this for my wife for Valentines Day. Our kitchen color is mainly red so I painted an old board red and then sanded it down after the paint dried so it would give it a rustic look. Not fully finished but it looks good so far. Also, I couldn’t find chalk paint in a big can but I found it in a spray can which made it pretty easy. Great idea, my wife loves the one on here so hopefully she’ll like this one! Thanks for the idea!
Hello. So I started doing this project just by looking at it, instead of going to the instructions first..bad idea. But I’m glad I read this before going to far. I am now going to go buy some rocks. But when I went to go buy the pipe clamps, they were pretty expensive for just one. And I need 8. So i bought something else but they didn’t hold and the jar was slipping and the paint kept coming off. Is there a place I can go to get them for cheap? Thanks!
I love this and want to make something similar! Just curious where your mason jars came from? I almost got some at hobby lobby but wasn’t sure if the top opening was large enough…
I started this same thing last fall but I have some rocks on the bottom. I have mine hanging on a wire so I can easily take down the jar to water and when I am done I put my fingers around the plant and flip the jar over so excess water will drain out. The rocks go have a bit of green moss on them from the humidity that I cannot get out. I tried rosemary twice and both times they died. I tried cilantro from seeds but they were too leggy (I have them hanging in a north facing window) but my parsley thrives in this environment. My take is that it is a really cool concept but they would be much better with drainage.
Hi Jenny, they are usually thin enough to pinch off with your fingernails, this won’t harm them, or you can trim them with scissors! I pick off leaves individually, but don’t take more than around 1/3 of the plant growth. Hope this helps!
The pipe clamps have small slits in them, I nailed a small nail through one of the slits into the hole. Make sure the head of the nail is large enough to hold the pipe clamp! Goodluck and let me know if you have any other questions!
I’m having trouble with this aspect of the building…maybe I don’t have the right size nails. They are slightly bigger than the slots and they start to go through but then they start bending and don’t hammer in straight. Now I have two pipe clamps with nails stuck in them that I can’t get out! Hope I can figure this out (trying to make it as a gift for my brother)…if you have any suggestions let me know! Thanks for the beautiful idea.
Will you sell this? I love the idea but seems like too much work for me with work and 2 kids. I would supply the soil and herbs. I think you could totally sell them on etsy or thru your blog. $15 + shipping?
Sorry to be obtuse, but what does “me sure around” mean in instruction number one? I’ve read it over and over and can’t figure it out.
I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but wasn’t willing to spend money on a board. Today we went sight seeing and found a board washed up on the shore of the Cheat River. I was beyond excited!!!
Oh. Duh. Haha. I should have seen that. Oh, well. At least it gave you an opportunity to fix it. 🙂 I am making mine tonight. I did buy small pebbles from Lowe’s for the bottom of my jars. So excited to see the end result!!!
Also, if you add a little bit of ground charcoal above the drainage rocks and below the soil, it will help control mold that may be caused due to over watering. Happy herbing!
I love this!!! It’s so cute. I especially like the golden tone metal clamps holding the jars, where did you get them and what were they for (auto, plumbing) ? I can only find silver tone ones. I can’t wait to try this.
my daughter has wanted me to plant an herb garden for some time. I found your creative idea, but wondered about the drainage. I used my diamond bit and went slow, drains fine. Thanks for the great idea. Now I can get her to make some salsa with fresh cilantro
With the small drainage you can alternate the jars so the top one drips into the next and so on. Only the bottom jar would need a “catch basin”.
I think I will try this.
I planted mine with small rock in the bottom for drainage and have been very carful to not over water or allow to get too dry. I planted from seed, but they’ve only grown a few inches. I used soul specifically for planting seed. Not sure why they’re so stunted and not putting out. They’re not much bigger than sprouts and have been growing for about six weeks. Ideas?
There’s something called Johns Ladybug Recipe. It’s a liquid fertilizer and I’ve heard it really works. I am going to try it on my herbs. If you would like to try some go to http://www.ladybugbrand.com. Try a nursery or anywhere that may sell plants or fertilizers. You may be able to get your local one to buy it.
Hi Shelby, my mason jar was vintage but it was similar to a wide mouth quart jar. I don’t remember the size of my pipe clamps but I brought a mason jar to Home Depot and measured out which clamp fit around without too much extra length. Hope this helps!
Back in the ’70s, terrariums were very popular. The bottom layer always had a layer of charcoal then the pebbles. The charcoal keeps the water sweet, so the roots don’t rot.
Claire, if you are interested at all about possibly posting some of your projects on another blog I would be blessed if you would consider Parga’s Junkyard! You can contact me at pargasjunkyard@q.com … My blog is a mixture of family related stuff…from couponing to recipes, life blog posts, homeschooling stuff from another blogger and occasionally crafting ideas…. I can’t offer payment as right now the blog doesn’t pay even myself but I am working on getting it there eventually hopefully!
This is so super cute. I really love it. I always consult my Horticulturist Husband on projects concerning plants. He said this will work better if the jars are covered in fabric, or blacked out with paint. It will hurt the roots to get light; it may damage the plants. I’m going to give this a try with his suggestions. I’ll let you know how it works out.
You can also try wrapping moss around the soil of the plant before you ease it into the jar, this way you will still have the natural look and be able to hide the roots away from the light 🙂
Or line the jar with landscaper fabric like the Raingutter gardeners do. I am using my great-grandmother’s beautiful green mason jars and don’t want to drill holes or paint. That would feel like desecration!
Eek not sure I could give you the perfect answer! I’m no herb expert, I’d ask someone who works where you buy the herbs. I would think with proper sunlight and water they should…
I purchased all the required materials today including reclaimed wood from a great out of the way place. Anyway, how are the jars kept on the diagonal? Is this with the pipe clamps only? How exactly did you attach the pipe clamps? I have enough materials for 4 boards and I want toile sure and get this right. I will keep one or two and give away the rest.
just FYI if you want to spend a lil less for project you could use soda can tabs instead of triangle hangers 🙂 recycle and use them for tons of stuff…like if you slip one over a hanger you can snuggle hang another hanger on it to save space 🙂 just love recycling also could use old glass ragu jars or speghetti jars instead of mason…but I DO LOVE a mason jar 🙂 I just LOVE THIS project ! 🙂
congrats, i have been doing this for years,i just wish i posted it myself. fresh herbs every day beautiful, for you egglovers and spuds grow alot of chives nothing like fresh! bh
this was a wonderful idea! i did it for hanukkah last night and it was a hit! thank you! 🙂 one question, i have not been able to find the pipe clamps, i ended up using something else copper which worked but wasn’t as “finished” can you maybe point me somewhere online that i can get them? thanks.
Any hardware store should have them. Ask them about it, or go to the plumbing section. They may be a little pricy, about $5 for the big ones that would fit around the quart sized jars. I need 8 so that’s about $40 right there:/ Good Luck!
I’m having a heckuva time getting anything to go through the pipe clamps – nails, screws, I’ve already literally bent one drill bit to a 90 degree angle. How/What are you guys doing?
Hey Kevin, I’m sorry you are having such a hard time! Drilling through the pipe clamps can be tricky but is definitely doable. I just made some more for Christmas presents and think it’s easier when you use a drill bit made for drilling through metal. Instead of putting a lot of muscle into it, let it drill slowly through on its own so you don’t break the bits. Hope this helps!
I am very interested in doing this and have read alot of the comments but was wondering if anyone had any input on what the best herbs to grow like this are! thanks!
I am so glad to have found this, which someone posted the link on FB. I too have questions about watering, in fact that was the first thing that came to my mind. Then when I read down the list of questions I see a lot of people had the same thing on their minds. Then I read what Linda wrote and not only felt stupid but was embarassed for everyone else. So I wanted to say thank you for sharing and giving us all something to have fun with.
hello!
we also had a REALLY challenging time attaching the pipe clamps to the board. The nails didn’t fit through the holes and we tried drilling holes in them but that really didn’t work either…in the end, we took a flat-head screwdriver and stuck it into the slots on the back and twisted until we got a hole big enough to fit a nail through (phew!). While that easy solution took us a long time to get to the results are beautiful-thanks!
I have mine on my porch and it lasted all summer last year (HEAT WAVE in Ohio) and into the fall and I have already replanted it for this year. I put pebbles in the bottom for drainage. I planted two types of basil and 2 oregano plants since they are the ones I use the most often.
It was not in direct sunlight, if it is it may need watered more often, and you would need to plant herbs that prefer hotter conditions (rosemary, thyme oregano vs basil, parsley, etc)
O.k., call me goofy, lots of folks do:) But, I made a loop from some wire and put it around the neck of the jar and hung them outside in the trees for the summer. They are doing just fine. Also, I put coloured marbles in the bottom, instead of pebbles, for a little hint of fun. Now, when people tell me that I’ve lost my marbles, I just say “No I haven’t, they’re in bottles in the trees:)” Yeah, that helps support my side:) If I need a little aeration, I just stick a couple of straws to the bottom of the jar and pull out little plugs of dirt. That seems to work fine. The only thing is to not over stuff the jar with too many plants.
I LOVE this tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing it! I featured it on my DIY and Craft Mason Jar Projects and Tutorials post on my blog Sew Creative today. I’d love for you to take a peek:
This is a great idea, I too was worried about drainage I like the idea of rocks or gravel. I also thought about drilling a drainage hole in the bottom of the mason jar, not knowing how I would do that I checked out YouTube and there is a video on how to do this. Hope this helps! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34P_ZHj336w
If you want something to absorb water that is also pretty, you can use those Orbeez that were originally made for planting but are now marketed as a kid’s toy. They come in all colors, and swell up as they absorb water, then go back down in size as they dry out. Not only would they add a nice touch of color, but you could tell when you needed to water again by the size of the Orbeez . . .
I made this and am at the point of securing the metal ring to the board. My husband doesn’t think a nail will hold it. Did anyone else have an issue with the jars coming off?
Totally stupid question buttttt, can you have these all year round? Like, I’d like to give these as an xmas gift? But I guess the herbs wouldn’t be grown around the winter? (in a cold, snowy place). Sorry I know nothing about gardening/herbs/growing things. Just thought it would be a lovely Christmas present.
I have a question for anyone who had successfully done this project. Do the plants get too big for the space allowed? The pictures are obviously from a recently created project — the plants are still young. What happens as they grow? I can only visualize what is in my outdoor garden and they seem too big for this wall project. It’s idea if it works.
I use my planters (I have made two) each year. I put summer herbs in them and nothing has outgrown the containers yet. I am sure it helps that I continually use the herbs for cooking.
Just curious… Will all Troyes of herbs work in there? I’d like to plant basil and parsley. Also, does the wall where your going to hang them need a lot of sun?
I love herbs and having them on hand in the kitchen is so nice. I’m a gardener at gardenersbalham.org.uk and planting is my work and hobby. I sometimes make little herb and spice gardens as a gift to my my friends and they enjoy taking care of them. Mason jars are really good idea, thanks!
These look beautiful and the photographs are lovely but they just don’t work. Herbs need full sun and good drainage to grow. With no drainage in these jars the plants will rot within a couple of weeks. If you put them outside in the sun the jars would get too hot and cook the plants.
Does hanging at that angle affect the growth of the herbs at all? I am planning on starting mine from seeds with the jars set upright, and then hanging them after they have sprouted a bit. With rocks for proper drainage and plenty of light, will they be able to grow well like this?
How do you get the moisture content right for the jars? It seems like it would take ages to keep these going with out some sort of watering system in place
Wow!! I am in LOVE with how it turned out! I would die for that in my kitchen. I think it’s time for this girl to break out the wood and hammer…
for drainage you could put a litte gravel like you would find for fish tanks in the bottom of the jar so that the water can drain to the bottom and not keep the soil damp but not soaked.
Or put those round beads that soak up water and expand on the bottom, they get smaller when they are depleated of water and bigger when they soak up water!
Where do you get that type of beads?
You can get them from baby diapers that are slightly wet(with water)
I was told that the diaper material contains toxic materials and that you should not use that material in any soil that you growing plants to use in cooking. Is that true? I thought about organic diapers (if there is such a thing), but I am still concerned.
You can use activated charcoal from aquarium shop as your gravel to absorb odor and small piece of weed block to separate soil from gravel
I love this idea! It’s absolutely adorable. I love the labels under each herb, too. This would fit perfectly in my kitchen, thanks for sharing 🙂
How do you water them?
I use a watering can from Ikea that has a long skinny spout so I can put it into the mason jars and slowly water.
I LOVE this idea! But am curious about the watering. I understand How you water them, I was just wondering if you run into a problem with the lack of drainage. Or does it not cause many problems because the herbs require damp conditions?
Okay, I continued reading the comments and found my answer. Thanks
Are you kidding? You need to be told this?
@Linda – a question is a question and apparently a lot of others had the same one – play nice for pete’s sake!
I had the same question, and it’s a logical question to have when most plants do need holes at the bottom of the pot for drainage. Gravel is a great idea, thanks 🙂
Demarie – what a nice way to respond. Don’t see much of that anymore. Are you related to any Rossi’s in Alabama or Georgia?
That was pretty rude. Many people had that question. Play nice as DeMarie said!
Thanks for asking about the drainage. That was my first question! If we knew how to do it, we wouldn’t be trolling around the how to section, now would we?
Yes that was rude…I just had the same question…I made self watering pots from a plastic bottle and they would stink a big time!! I guess if you just add the right amount of water plus the rock on the bottom for drainage it would be fine.
Someone probably told you once upon a time.
Really, Linda?? Not everyone has answers to every question. I remember teaching myself to quilt 35 years ago and had I not been able to be safe in asking questions, I would have never mastered the craft. Be nice.
See u next tuesday
That’s awesome! I’m definitely going to try and make this for my mom!
Your creativity is so impressive. What an inspiration! I cannot wait to this at home along with all of your other amazing ideas!
this is so cute! I’ve done one similar on a old shutter but my herbs died. Are you having any luck with yours? Not sure if their roots didn’t take or what?
The sun is a huge factor with herbs, at least that has been the case with my plants!
How about knats? I have north facing windows and I frankly booted my herbs outside because I have to water them so many times that it attracts knats. Please advise.
Thank you
I had the same problem as Veronica. Does anyone have a natural way of preventing gnats or other bugs?
I had gnats with my basil plant. To get rid of them I was told to put vinegar in a glass, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke some small holes. The gnats go in, then they can’t get out. I have used both apple cider vinegar and white vinegar with some success. I also started watering the plant more deeply, but less often. If you let the soil dry out a bit, they don’t have anywhere to live.
I know this reply is about 3 years too late. If you have a pesky bug house plant issue, try Neem oil. Home Depot, Lowes and garden centers now carry it. I dabble in essential oils so I made a solution in a small spray bottle. 2 oz water with 20 drops neem oil. It’s organic and doesn’t hurt your plants.
Gnats…really all bugs hatemint….add another jar and grow mint…you can also crush it up and put it in your corners to get rid of ants,spiders,roaches and so on.
Those are what is called soil gnats. They will lay eggs in the moist dirt of your house plants, including herbs. Cover the soil in your indoor pots with a good layer of fine sand – this keeps them from laying the eggs AND keeps the larvae from being able to reach the surface, which kills them.
You can find decorative (colored) fine sand at any Dollar Tree or at any craft store for a few dollars more. To get rid of the gnats already flying about – use a small glass with a bit of apple cider vinegar and a pinch of yeast. Cover it with plastic wrap, poke holes with a toothpick and they will be attracted to the smell of fermentation. Keep doing this until they are gone.
If you herbs are dying they are probably being overwatered.
With the mason jar—there are no holes in it to let the water drain.
And herbs are very sensitive to overwatering.
If you are still having problems with them dying you might try switching to a different pot or jar thing that has a hole in the bottom of it to let it drain.
I had the same concern regarding the overwatering or an option of how to have the pot drain and it still look as pretty as this. Any suggestions?
Oh I see my question answered below. Nevermind
Thanks for everyone’s responses so far!!
Samantha, I watered them for the first time lightly with a long spouted watering can, but you could also consider just spritzing with a spray bottle or placing ice cubes in there!
Danielle, so far mine have done well (it’s been about a week), but I’ve grown basil before and know herbs can be a bit tricky! Fingers crossed 🙂
That’s awesome! What a great idea!
Kacie
Was draining an issue for you? I alway have my mason jars ready to go just need a little insight about any draining issues I might encounter after planting. 🙂
If you water lightly I don’t think it should be an issue. Also, you could put small stones in the bottom. This way the water collects in the stones and not the soil & it allows you to see how much you have watered!
OOH! Ok, I kept seeing this on pinterest but was wondering…how do they drain?? Thanks for the answer 🙂 I’ll try the stones.
hi….so cute…was wondering about the drainage…do the roots get “soggy”…thanks
of course …stones is the perfect answer!!!!…thanks
Do you have a lot of light in your kitchen? I have a total open floor plan but no window, just glass french doors to my deck. I love this but wonder how much sunlight herbs need to grow.
Herbs do typically thrive with a lot of light…I’d definitely put in a sunny spot, which sounds like your french doors *might* supply enough?
I am thinking of mounting the board on the side of the cabinets directly over my kitchen sink. It opens to a screen porch and if I find not enough natural light added to my over the sink light i could mount OUTSIDE the window and still be accessible from the kitchen window for cutting and tending. I think green onions or chives and parsley as well as the Ruby bush basil would be a good addition.
For keeping moist but not soggy, try wetting the soil medium until it barely makes a loose ball when compressed in your hand before planting. Then, water very sparely during the low light winter months. better to let dry out a little then just small amounts of water.
Are you kidding me?!?!?! This is AMAZING!!!!
This is awesome! I am so doing this in my new home. Super super cute.
Eek! Love it!
Passing along to my own readers who just eat up the goodness of recycled and repurposed.
Michael
thanks!!!
Yep, I love this, I am totally doing this!
—mel
OMG, I love this!! Can’t wait to add this to my deck!
My sister grows house plants in jars & they look great. She hasn’t tried herbs. I tried herbs in the jars then put them in a wire rack from a canner & it looked really nice, unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with it. May just have to try it again.
Thank you Carole! I have long tried to figure out where to put my herbs in my kitchen. I have 2 windows but one is directly over the kitchen sink area – no room for herb plants and the other lacks shelves or something to place the herbs on. this idea is great, but again, i would have no where to hang the finished racked that would be in good sunlight. re-using an old canning rack would be perfect in front my 2nd kitchen window. there is even a hook already in the ceiling from previous plantings! awesome!
With no proper drainage, isn’t mold a problem?
Yes definitely a concern, but if you are careful not to over water then you should be ok!
You can use a little carbon – available at Trooical Fish Stores – and the carbon will help the water that leaks to the bottom to stay fresh. Best bet is to combine carbon with gravel
Absolutely love this idea. I buy these jars from thrift stores, they are so incredibly useful. You have just given me a new idea! Thank you for the inspiration!!! Your blog is lovely! Check mine out: fashionableshenanigans.blogspot.com
Just thinking maybe plant something else besides herbs? Like so other small house plant that don’t require alot of sun light….or just filling the jars with water and using them to start plants to root…
Good idea! I thought maybe succulents would be fun!
I’ve done something similar but had no luck when roots began to spread out and become exposed to light. I thought I could have fixed it by painting the outside of the glass jar or if I would’ve planted initially in a colored container. Are you having any similar problems?
I haven’t run into that, if anything I want more light on my herbs! But, painting the glass sounds like a good solution.
Or…wrapping a wide decorative ribbon around the jar where the roots are visible may be easier.
or you could cut out apiece of pretty contact paper to fit around about halve of the jar
great idea – i’m so going to have to do this!
Hi Claire,
This is a great idea. I’m wondering how well your herbs have held up. I’d love to do something similar, but wasn’t sure how long the herbs would last in a mason jar.
Good luck with your herbs!
Hi there!
I have neglected my herbs slightly, so they need a little TLC 🙂 but still alive! I definitely would suggest putting rocks in the bottom as well as putting them in a place where they will receive a fair amount of sunlight. Goodluck!
Is there a special type of dirt to us with herbs? I have been looking for container ideas and I think I just found it!
I had small enough jars that I just used the dirt they were planted in and didn’t had to buy any extra!
I love this idea. Might be just the ticket to help me survive the rest of winter until I can get my hands dirty in the garden this spring. The additional idea of using the canning rack sounds like a fun way to display! Herbs do needs lots of sunlight, fertilizer and careful watering. They should eek along until you can get them outside in the spring. Thank you for the inspiration!
This is a genius idea! I just built a set for our apartment because I love to cook and I’m tired of not having fresh herbs at my disposal. Plus we live in an apartment so gardening isn’t an option. I am trying the rock suggestion, plus they look really cool in the bottoms of the mason jars. I am beyond excited about having live plants in a place our cats can’t eat them!
I live in an apartment as well and I love having fresh veggies in the summer so I planted a container garden this year. I just planted all my veggies in 5 gallon buckets. Google “Global Buckets” or “Earthbox” or “Container Gardens” for more ideas! I happen to live on the ground level which helps, but you could still do it on a balcony too!
Totally Love this idea! Concerned that even with rocks the roots would grow into rocks and rot. What do you think?
Hopefully if you don’t over water this won’t happen!!! Just make sure it’s pretty dry before you water again!
I’m making this for my wife for Valentines Day. Our kitchen color is mainly red so I painted an old board red and then sanded it down after the paint dried so it would give it a rustic look. Not fully finished but it looks good so far. Also, I couldn’t find chalk paint in a big can but I found it in a spray can which made it pretty easy. Great idea, my wife loves the one on here so hopefully she’ll like this one! Thanks for the idea!
I can’t imagine a more perfect and thoughtful gift! Your wife is a lucky lady… be sure to let us know how it turns out!!
Wow! I agree with Chanel, you are quite a wonderful husband! Good luck and please share with us your finished product!
Are you going to use quart-sized Ball mason jars? If so, what size are your pipe clamps?
Great idea! I featured a link to this on my blog today, in an article about the many uses for mason jars.
-Erin
diyonthecheap.blogspot.com
Thanks, Erin!
Where did you find copper pipe clamps?
Hi Sonny, I bought silver ones at Home Depot and spray painted them gold! Good luck!
Hello. So I started doing this project just by looking at it, instead of going to the instructions first..bad idea. But I’m glad I read this before going to far. I am now going to go buy some rocks. But when I went to go buy the pipe clamps, they were pretty expensive for just one. And I need 8. So i bought something else but they didn’t hold and the jar was slipping and the paint kept coming off. Is there a place I can go to get them for cheap? Thanks!
This looks like a great idea! We grow all our vegies from seed indoors. One question: Where do you get the “triangle ring hangers”?
Hi Janice, they are just picture hangers that you can buy at a craft store, a frame store, or even home depot! Thanks and goodluck!
I love this and want to make something similar! Just curious where your mason jars came from? I almost got some at hobby lobby but wasn’t sure if the top opening was large enough…
My mason jars are vintage ones, but I found some at a grocery store that have pretty large mouths. Hope this helps! -C.
I started this same thing last fall but I have some rocks on the bottom. I have mine hanging on a wire so I can easily take down the jar to water and when I am done I put my fingers around the plant and flip the jar over so excess water will drain out. The rocks go have a bit of green moss on them from the humidity that I cannot get out. I tried rosemary twice and both times they died. I tried cilantro from seeds but they were too leggy (I have them hanging in a north facing window) but my parsley thrives in this environment. My take is that it is a really cool concept but they would be much better with drainage.
Love the rustic appeal!
love this project.
I’m new to herb gardens and I was wondering how you use the herbs. Do you cut off the stems? Rip them off? I don’t want to kill my plants! 🙁
Hi Jenny, they are usually thin enough to pinch off with your fingernails, this won’t harm them, or you can trim them with scissors! I pick off leaves individually, but don’t take more than around 1/3 of the plant growth. Hope this helps!
Hi.. How did you attach the pipe clamps to the board?
The pipe clamps have small slits in them, I nailed a small nail through one of the slits into the hole. Make sure the head of the nail is large enough to hold the pipe clamp! Goodluck and let me know if you have any other questions!
I’m having trouble with this aspect of the building…maybe I don’t have the right size nails. They are slightly bigger than the slots and they start to go through but then they start bending and don’t hammer in straight. Now I have two pipe clamps with nails stuck in them that I can’t get out! Hope I can figure this out (trying to make it as a gift for my brother)…if you have any suggestions let me know! Thanks for the beautiful idea.
Will you sell this? I love the idea but seems like too much work for me with work and 2 kids. I would supply the soil and herbs. I think you could totally sell them on etsy or thru your blog. $15 + shipping?
Sorry Nilu, we’re not currently doing any e-commerce on the site…maybe one of our crafty readers would be up for the challenge??
Sorry to be obtuse, but what does “me sure around” mean in instruction number one? I’ve read it over and over and can’t figure it out.
I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, but wasn’t willing to spend money on a board. Today we went sight seeing and found a board washed up on the shore of the Cheat River. I was beyond excited!!!
Oh dear! How did I not see this? It should say “measure”. I will change right now, thanks!
-Claire
Oh. Duh. Haha. I should have seen that. Oh, well. At least it gave you an opportunity to fix it. 🙂 I am making mine tonight. I did buy small pebbles from Lowe’s for the bottom of my jars. So excited to see the end result!!!
Also, if you add a little bit of ground charcoal above the drainage rocks and below the soil, it will help control mold that may be caused due to over watering. Happy herbing!
Oh my! I am so doing this!!! Thanks for posting!
I love this!!! It’s so cute. I especially like the golden tone metal clamps holding the jars, where did you get them and what were they for (auto, plumbing) ? I can only find silver tone ones. I can’t wait to try this.
She Spray painted them, it was in an above reply. Bet you could spray then any cool color!
I was told u have to use pots because in a bottle the water in the bottle will make the soil go bad and smell is this true?
I love this idea but what about drainage? Do herbs need to be able to drain?
Put rocks in the bottom, don’t overwater and you should be fine. See above replies. A few replies up charcoal was suggested between rocks and soil.
beautiful, fun, fantastic, clever, useful, upcycled, useful, organic…
my daughter has wanted me to plant an herb garden for some time. I found your creative idea, but wondered about the drainage. I used my diamond bit and went slow, drains fine. Thanks for the great idea. Now I can get her to make some salsa with fresh cilantro
Great idea, John! Glad that solved your drainage issue.
With the small drainage you can alternate the jars so the top one drips into the next and so on. Only the bottom jar would need a “catch basin”.
I think I will try this.
I planted mine with small rock in the bottom for drainage and have been very carful to not over water or allow to get too dry. I planted from seed, but they’ve only grown a few inches. I used soul specifically for planting seed. Not sure why they’re so stunted and not putting out. They’re not much bigger than sprouts and have been growing for about six weeks. Ideas?
That would be *soil* not *soul* 😉
hmm I’m not sure….maybe lack of light? I’ve noticed this is my biggest issue with plants in the kitchen. Hope this helps!
I’D SAY MAYBE SOME FOOD FOR THE PLANT..SUCH AS MIRACLE GROW OR JOBES STICKS…I WOULD/WILL TRY JOBES STICKS…:)
There’s something called Johns Ladybug Recipe. It’s a liquid fertilizer and I’ve heard it really works. I am going to try it on my herbs. If you would like to try some go to http://www.ladybugbrand.com. Try a nursery or anywhere that may sell plants or fertilizers. You may be able to get your local one to buy it.
Thanks for the inspiration, Claire! http://butfirstcomeslove.blogspot.com/2012/05/parsley-sproutsfinally.html
glad it inspired you!
Thank you SO SO SO much for the inspiration. I just completed this project myself, thanks to you. I blogged about it, in case you are curious:
http://www.kellygorneyphotography.com/blog/2012/05/16/herb-who/
Yay! It looks lovely!
Hi! i was wondering what size mason jars you used and what size pipe clamps you used! thanks a bunch!
Hi Shelby, my mason jar was vintage but it was similar to a wide mouth quart jar. I don’t remember the size of my pipe clamps but I brought a mason jar to Home Depot and measured out which clamp fit around without too much extra length. Hope this helps!
Hi Claire-
Your mason jar herb garden is perfect for the family who wants to grow their own food, but is limited on space.
We featured your post at our summer fun 101 series: gardening round-up.
Hope you have a lovely week!
Nicolette & Karen
editors of The Classroom Creative.
So happy you featured it! Thanks!
I SEE ALOT OF COMMENTS FOR THE DRAINING…i HAVE A TOOL THAT DRILLS INTO GLASS AND i PUT SEVERAL SMALL HOLES INTO THE SIDES OF THE JAR…WORKS GREAT!
This is a great idea! Now to find a wall to build one.
I’m your newest follower from A Season for All Things. I can’t wait to hang out on your site for a while!
Back in the ’70s, terrariums were very popular. The bottom layer always had a layer of charcoal then the pebbles. The charcoal keeps the water sweet, so the roots don’t rot.
Ooh that’s a great tip! I loooove terrariums… suddenly feel like making one as a weekend project!
Charcoal bricks like for a grill work?
charcoal like is used in aquariums can be bought at a hardware store. It comes in a jar
Love this idea…will be featuring it on my fb blog page today @ http://www.facebook.com/PargasJunkyard
Thanks for letting me know (and thanks for featuring it)! So happy to have this many wonderful responses!
Claire, if you are interested at all about possibly posting some of your projects on another blog I would be blessed if you would consider Parga’s Junkyard! You can contact me at pargasjunkyard@q.com … My blog is a mixture of family related stuff…from couponing to recipes, life blog posts, homeschooling stuff from another blogger and occasionally crafting ideas…. I can’t offer payment as right now the blog doesn’t pay even myself but I am working on getting it there eventually hopefully!
This is so super cute. I really love it. I always consult my Horticulturist Husband on projects concerning plants. He said this will work better if the jars are covered in fabric, or blacked out with paint. It will hurt the roots to get light; it may damage the plants. I’m going to give this a try with his suggestions. I’ll let you know how it works out.
Good suggestion, Amy!
You can also try wrapping moss around the soil of the plant before you ease it into the jar, this way you will still have the natural look and be able to hide the roots away from the light 🙂
Or line the jar with landscaper fabric like the Raingutter gardeners do. I am using my great-grandmother’s beautiful green mason jars and don’t want to drill holes or paint. That would feel like desecration!
This craft was made at our latest monthly dinner. I referenced your site on the blog post. Love this idea and loved receiving this gift!
Check it out the post at http://www.inviteanddelight.blogspot.com
So fun! Thanks Carole!
I live in a place where winter is here for 7 months out of the yearjust wondering ifthey would last through winter? Thanks
Eek not sure I could give you the perfect answer! I’m no herb expert, I’d ask someone who works where you buy the herbs. I would think with proper sunlight and water they should…
I purchased all the required materials today including reclaimed wood from a great out of the way place. Anyway, how are the jars kept on the diagonal? Is this with the pipe clamps only? How exactly did you attach the pipe clamps? I have enough materials for 4 boards and I want toile sure and get this right. I will keep one or two and give away the rest.
I made the nail (or screw) that attached the pipe clamp to the wood tight enough so that it could hold firm at an angle. Hope this helps!
What size mason jars did you use? I love this and I can’t wait to make it myself!
Hi Anna! I used a vintage mason jar that is equivalent to 4 cups.
What a cute project! I love it so much that I decided to feature it in my roundup of mason jar craft tutorials on the FaveCrafts Blog! Check it out here: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/link-love-mason-jar-craft-ideas/
Have a great day!
Yay! Thanks Julia!
just FYI if you want to spend a lil less for project you could use soda can tabs instead of triangle hangers 🙂 recycle and use them for tons of stuff…like if you slip one over a hanger you can snuggle hang another hanger on it to save space 🙂 just love recycling also could use old glass ragu jars or speghetti jars instead of mason…but I DO LOVE a mason jar 🙂 I just LOVE THIS project ! 🙂
Thanks TJ good suggestion!
congrats, i have been doing this for years,i just wish i posted it myself. fresh herbs every day beautiful, for you egglovers and spuds grow alot of chives nothing like fresh! bh
So true!
I was wondering what to do with my old spice rack and bottles. Great Idea!
For all of you who have been asking about over watering and the water not being able to drain out: I found an idea here that works well… http://meetmina.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-mason-jar-herb-garden.html
this was a wonderful idea! i did it for hanukkah last night and it was a hit! thank you! 🙂 one question, i have not been able to find the pipe clamps, i ended up using something else copper which worked but wasn’t as “finished” can you maybe point me somewhere online that i can get them? thanks.
So glad it was a hit! Here is what I used (and I spray painted them gold). Just make sure you get a size large enough to hold your mason jars. http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1vZbqew/R-202309386/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=clamps&storeId=10051
Any hardware store should have them. Ask them about it, or go to the plumbing section. They may be a little pricy, about $5 for the big ones that would fit around the quart sized jars. I need 8 so that’s about $40 right there:/ Good Luck!
I’m having a heckuva time getting anything to go through the pipe clamps – nails, screws, I’ve already literally bent one drill bit to a 90 degree angle. How/What are you guys doing?
Hey Kevin, I’m sorry you are having such a hard time! Drilling through the pipe clamps can be tricky but is definitely doable. I just made some more for Christmas presents and think it’s easier when you use a drill bit made for drilling through metal. Instead of putting a lot of muscle into it, let it drill slowly through on its own so you don’t break the bits. Hope this helps!
Love the idea just one question . . what type of fertilizer to use?
I would ask the people at the gardening center that question but I’m sure something geared toward herbs would be best.
Love the idea just one question; what type of fertilizer do you recommend?
I would recommend asking someone who works where you buy the herbs. They are more knowledgable about all of this than I am!
love this!!!!! I think small terra cotta pots might work also and would help with drainage.
Some pasta sauce jars look like mason jars. They are free after you use the sauce and would work for this. Good way to recycle them.
How long is the board?
I made my board 27″
I am very interested in doing this and have read alot of the comments but was wondering if anyone had any input on what the best herbs to grow like this are! thanks!
Thanks so much for this great idea. I hope you don’t mind if I modified it a bit for our own kitchen that has oil rubbed bronze & copper accents.
My tutorial gives you credit for the design idea 🙂
Have a great day.
Of course! Thanks for asking and can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Claire, here’s a link to my tutorial. It really turned out better than I expected. Thanks for the inspiration.
http://www.homerepairtutor.com/custom-indoor-herb-garden-design/
Looks so great! Thanks for sharing I love seeing other people recreate these DIY’s.
Are you interested in making one and selling it??
Hi Rita! I haven’t started selling any of my items but I will definitely let you know if I do!
I am so glad to have found this, which someone posted the link on FB. I too have questions about watering, in fact that was the first thing that came to my mind. Then when I read down the list of questions I see a lot of people had the same thing on their minds. Then I read what Linda wrote and not only felt stupid but was embarassed for everyone else. So I wanted to say thank you for sharing and giving us all something to have fun with.
I was thinking of doing this OUTSIDE on my fence….I wonder if that will work? trying it!! Thanks for the idea :o)
I would think it would! As long as it gets enough sun and water.
I don’t know if you already answered this, but did you grow your herbs from seeds or repot them?
ps… I’m new to your site and I love it!
I repotted them but I’m sure seeds would work too! Thanks!
I may try this! I have some old barn wood that would work perfect with this! Thanks for the idea!
hello!
we also had a REALLY challenging time attaching the pipe clamps to the board. The nails didn’t fit through the holes and we tried drilling holes in them but that really didn’t work either…in the end, we took a flat-head screwdriver and stuck it into the slots on the back and twisted until we got a hole big enough to fit a nail through (phew!). While that easy solution took us a long time to get to the results are beautiful-thanks!
which mason jars did you use? i know they’re ball, but which kind?
So, to water the garden, would you just use a spray bottle?? This is a great idea! love it!
Sorry if someone asked this already, but does anyone know if this would work outside? Or would the jars get too hot & kill the herbs?
I have mine on my porch and it lasted all summer last year (HEAT WAVE in Ohio) and into the fall and I have already replanted it for this year. I put pebbles in the bottom for drainage. I planted two types of basil and 2 oregano plants since they are the ones I use the most often.
It was not in direct sunlight, if it is it may need watered more often, and you would need to plant herbs that prefer hotter conditions (rosemary, thyme oregano vs basil, parsley, etc)
OMG…this is awesome!!!
I love this idea! It is so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing!
What website can I get charcoal from? I have checked homedepot.com and lowes.com, but all I can find is charcoal for grilling. 🙁 Please help!
Oh, and what are the measurements of the wood you used for this project?
Nevermind on this one comment, I just saw your reply for another that said 27”, thanks! (But still awaiting a reply on my previous question :))
O.k., call me goofy, lots of folks do:) But, I made a loop from some wire and put it around the neck of the jar and hung them outside in the trees for the summer. They are doing just fine. Also, I put coloured marbles in the bottom, instead of pebbles, for a little hint of fun. Now, when people tell me that I’ve lost my marbles, I just say “No I haven’t, they’re in bottles in the trees:)” Yeah, that helps support my side:) If I need a little aeration, I just stick a couple of straws to the bottom of the jar and pull out little plugs of dirt. That seems to work fine. The only thing is to not over stuff the jar with too many plants.
I LOVE this tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing it! I featured it on my DIY and Craft Mason Jar Projects and Tutorials post on my blog Sew Creative today. I’d love for you to take a peek:
http://www.sewcreativeblog.com/diy-and-craft-mason-jar-projects-tutorials/#
Best Wishes,
Crystal
I love this idea. how long will it last
To drain: You can get tricky and purchase a diamond head drill bit for cutting holes in glass. Just a thought. They are cheap on EBAY.
This is so cool. i am definately going to have this hanging in my kitchen. thanks for that wonderful idea.
This is a great idea, I too was worried about drainage I like the idea of rocks or gravel. I also thought about drilling a drainage hole in the bottom of the mason jar, not knowing how I would do that I checked out YouTube and there is a video on how to do this. Hope this helps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34P_ZHj336w
If you want something to absorb water that is also pretty, you can use those Orbeez that were originally made for planting but are now marketed as a kid’s toy. They come in all colors, and swell up as they absorb water, then go back down in size as they dry out. Not only would they add a nice touch of color, but you could tell when you needed to water again by the size of the Orbeez . . .
I made this and am at the point of securing the metal ring to the board. My husband doesn’t think a nail will hold it. Did anyone else have an issue with the jars coming off?
So cute! I guess you’d have to grow them for a while before securing them so as not to have to plants growing sideways?
Totally stupid question buttttt, can you have these all year round? Like, I’d like to give these as an xmas gift? But I guess the herbs wouldn’t be grown around the winter? (in a cold, snowy place). Sorry I know nothing about gardening/herbs/growing things. Just thought it would be a lovely Christmas present.
Are you sure that the pipe clamp is strong enough to hold the mason jar?
I have a question for anyone who had successfully done this project. Do the plants get too big for the space allowed? The pictures are obviously from a recently created project — the plants are still young. What happens as they grow? I can only visualize what is in my outdoor garden and they seem too big for this wall project. It’s idea if it works.
I use my planters (I have made two) each year. I put summer herbs in them and nothing has outgrown the containers yet. I am sure it helps that I continually use the herbs for cooking.
Just curious… Will all Troyes of herbs work in there? I’d like to plant basil and parsley. Also, does the wall where your going to hang them need a lot of sun?
I love herbs and having them on hand in the kitchen is so nice. I’m a gardener at gardenersbalham.org.uk and planting is my work and hobby. I sometimes make little herb and spice gardens as a gift to my my friends and they enjoy taking care of them. Mason jars are really good idea, thanks!
These look beautiful and the photographs are lovely but they just don’t work. Herbs need full sun and good drainage to grow. With no drainage in these jars the plants will rot within a couple of weeks. If you put them outside in the sun the jars would get too hot and cook the plants.
Does hanging at that angle affect the growth of the herbs at all? I am planning on starting mine from seeds with the jars set upright, and then hanging them after they have sprouted a bit. With rocks for proper drainage and plenty of light, will they be able to grow well like this?
I’m hoping to make this for my mom this Cristmas. What kind of pipe clamps did you use and where can I buy them?
What diameter pipe clamps do you need?
How do you get the moisture content right for the jars? It seems like it would take ages to keep these going with out some sort of watering system in place
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Good project, and I like the writings, it gives a classic look for that board. I would just print and paste the names 🙂
My experience is that it is difficult to grow herb indoor.
Amazing post great,keep up the good work!