Recommended Gear for Indoor Herbs

We keep this list short on purpose. Most indoor herb problems come down to light, drainage and water, so that is where we start. Links go to Amazon searches so you can compare current options and prices yourself. The one product we use ourselves is Lost Coast Plant Therapy; everything else is recommended from extension advice and maker specs, not our own testing.

Grow lights

The fix for most struggling indoor herbs. Look for full-spectrum LED, a built-in timer, and a light you can hang close to the leaves.

Timers

A cheap outlet timer turns any grow light into a set-and-forget setup, so your herbs get the same hours every day.

Plug-in outlet timers

Read more: Grow lights for winter herbs

Pots, potting mix and seeds

Drainage holes are the one non-negotiable. Use fresh potting mix, not garden soil, and start with easy herbs like basil and chives.

Smart gardens and seed pods

A countertop smart garden bundles the light, timer and watering into one box. Our guides compare models from maker specs.

Hydroponic nutrients and pH

If you grow in water, you feed through the water. A nutrient made for leafy greens and a simple pH test keep things on track.

Pest control

Catch pests early with sticky cards and weekly leaf checks. For spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and powdery mildew, Lost Coast Plant Therapy is the spray we use on our own herbs.

Harvesting and storage

Sharp, clean snips make pinching and harvesting easy, and an herb keeper helps cut herbs last longer in the fridge.

Read more: How to prune and harvest basil