Organic Herbs - Lighting the Indoor Garden

Increasing numbers of people are experiencing the pleasure of growing Organic Herbs indoors. They are easy to grow year-round, and they need little space. They can be plucked fresh for favorite recipes, or used for medicinal purposes.

Organic Herb gardens indoors call for proper lighting, of course. Unless you have a greenhouse, they will not get sufficient natural light throughout the door. In winter, especially, indoor Organic Herb gardens need artificial lighting.

What Kind of Light

Your Organic Herb gardening effort requires light, but what kind of light? You might choose from incandescent, fluorescent, or high intensity discharge (HID) lights. Which would be best?

* Incandescent: Your Organic Herb garden will not do well with incandescent bulbs. “Grow lights” that are incandescent are poorly labeled. They are too hot for plants and can “sunburn” your herbs. If you want to use them as display lights, keep them at least 24″ above your Organic Herb garden to prevent burning.

* Fluorescent: This is a much better choice for Organic Herb gardens. Fluorescent bulbs are readily available, inexpensive, and provide full-spectrum lighting. You should set up fluorescent lights on chains that can be adjusted upward as the plants grow. Be sure standard fluorescent lights are kept 2″ to 4″ above the tops of your Organic Herbs. Keep high-output and compact fluorescent lights approximately one foot above Organic Herbs.

* High intensity discharge: Perhaps best for Organic Herb gardening are high intensity discharge (HID) lights. HID lights are available in two types: MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium). MH lights are much like the noon sunlight on a midsummer’s day. They give light in the blue part of the light spectrum. This light will stimulate your Organic Herb garden. HPS lights give light in the orange part of the spectrum, much like evening light. This type of light encourages flowering and fruit production. Choose according to whether you are growing Organic Herbs such as Lavender, from which you want blossoms, or thyme, from which you want leaves. Combination HID lights are available, and convertible HID lights. Convertible lights allow you to begin your Organic Herbs under MH light, and switch to HPS light for flowering. Keep all types of HID lights 2 to 4 feet above Organic Herbs, depending on bulb wattage.

How Much Light

Most Organic Herbs enjoy full sun when grown outdoors. Grown indoors, Organic Herbs grow satisfactorily under standard fluorescent lamps. Most grow exceptionally well under high output fluorescent, compact fluorescent, or high intensity discharge (MH or HPS) plant growing lights. Remember the cautions given above regarding distance between lights and Organic Herbs.

Helpful Tip

Use an oscillating fan set on lowest speed to stir Organic Herb seedlings. Let the fan blow near the seedlings for at least 2 hours each day. This will result in sturdier and more natural Organic Herbs.