Countertop Harvest
Free 5-day course · Lesson 4 of 5 · About a 5-minute read
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Your herbs are potted. Now for the habit that decides whether they thrive: watering.
The rule is simple: water by touch, not by schedule.
- Push a finger about an inch into the soil.
- If it's dry, water thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
- Empty the saucer so the roots don't sit in water.
- If it's still damp, wait and check again tomorrow.
Different herbs, different habits:
- Basil, parsley, chives and cilantro like evenly moist soil. Uneven watering makes cilantro bolt early.
- Oregano, thyme, sage and marjoram prefer to dry out between waterings (University of Maryland Extension).
Quick troubleshooting:
- Yellow lower leaves and damp soil usually mean too much water or poor drainage.
- Tall, leggy stems mean too little light, not too little water.
- Black spots after a cold night mean basil got chilled. Move it away from cold glass.
Your task: do the finger test every morning this week.
If something already looks off, our troubleshooting guide matches symptoms to fixes: