Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors?

Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by Cristina

Lemon balm is an herb that many people love. So, you may wonder, can you grow lemon balm indoors? Growing herbs indoors is a great way to enjoy them all year round.

Lemon balm is a popular herb to grow thanks to its fragrant smell. The fresh, citrusy aroma will freshen up any home and is even great for use in different dishes. No matter your experience level of gardening, lemon balm can be a great addition to your home or garden.

What Is Lemon Balm? Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors

Lemon balm is a type of herb native to Southern Europe. It is closely related to mint and features wrinkled leaves that are oval-shaped leaves and have a fresh citrusy smell and scent. Many people enjoy adding it to salads, soups, sandwiches, and other dishes.

In ancient Greece and Rome, lemon balm was used in tonics and teas for medicinal purposes. The essential oils of the plant were extracted to be used for aiding in digestive health.

What Is Lemon Balm

When grown outdoors, lemon balm can grow to be over a foot tall or more in just one season. Since it can grow large and quickly, many people prefer to grow it in containers.

So where does lemon balm grow? Lemon balm can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3-7. This herbaceous perennial can grow to be 1.5 to two feet tall and 1.5 to three feet wide.

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Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors?

With the right care, you can grow lemon balm indoors. It is a great herb to grow indoors as it can be grown all year round. It adds a great citrus smell to your home and it is great to use fresh in cooking different dishes.

Lemon balm is great to grow in your home no matter your experience level as a gardener. It is relatively easy to maintain and can be grown in your home no matter if you live in a house or apartment, as it does not need much room.

To ensure that your lemon balm grows successfully in your home you will need to provide it with the right growing conditions. This is important if you want your lemon balm to flourish.

Care For Lemon Balm

How to grow lemon balm indoors is key if you want to enjoy this herb all year round. Lemon balm care indoors is relatively simple as long as you take the right steps.

Light

When grown indoors, lemon balm needs ample sunlight. You should place it on a windowsill or area of your home where it will receive at least five to six hours of sunlight a day. It can be beneficial to rotate your plant periodically so it gets the right amount of sun throughout.

If you don’t have an area in your home that will get good sunlight, you can use an LED grow light. A grow light will provide your plant with the light it needs to thrive.

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Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors

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Water – Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors

For lemon balm, it is best to water small amounts at a time once you notice that the top inch of the soil is dry. It is better to over water rather than underwater as it can recover from wilt better than it can from too much water. Avoid watering too often and don’t saturate the soil when you water.

Temperature

When grown indoors, lemon balms are often not particular about the temperature. However, it is best to keep them away from areas of your home that might get cold or warm drafts of air.

Lemon balm also does not need humidity to thrive. You don’t need to worry about adjusting the humidity levels in your home to accommodate your lemon balm.

Soil and Fertilizer

Ideally, slightly sandy, well-drained soil is the best option for your lemon balm. While most potting soil mixes will work just fine, it is beneficial to mix it with some sand or find a mixture that contains some sand in it already. Ideally, the soil should be neutral to slightly acidic for best results.

Lemon balm will do just fine without any fertilizer. However, if you like you can use a light liquid fertilizer every few weeks to help encourage growth. However, fertilizer can decrease the smell and flavor of lemon balm so many people opt not to use it.

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Container – Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors

Growing lemon balm in pots is the best option when you are growing it indoors. However, it is important that you choose the right container for your lemon balm.

When choosing a pot for growing lemon balm indoors, you will want to choose one with ample drainage. This is important to help the herb from becoming waterlogged and the roots from rotting. You can place a saucer dish under your pot to help collect any water or soil that may leak from the drainage holes.

Clay and terracotta are both good options for containers to grow your lemon balm in. The porous material of clay and terracotta will help to wick any added moisture from the soil. You want to choose a container that provides ample room for your lemon balm to grow.

Can You Grow Lemon Balm Indoors? Everything You Should Know

Lemon balm is a great herb you can grow indoors any time of the year. It has a lovely citrus scent and can be a great addition to soups, salads, and sandwiches. It is a relatively low-maintenance plant to grow and is beginner-friendly.

Lemon balm should be grown in an area where it will get at least five to six hours of sunlight or in an area with a grow light. It grows best in well-draining soil that is slightly sandy and it does not need fertilizer. It should be grown in a pot with adequate drainage holes and should only be watered when the top inch of the soil feels dry.

Do you have any questions regarding can you grow lemon balm indoors? If so, please ask any questions regarding the care of lemon balm or any other herb grown indoors in the comment section below.

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