How to Care for Rosemary Plants
If you want your rosemary to be the envy of all your neighbors, then it’s imperative that plant in a sunny location. This can only happen with 6-8 hours (or more) per day exposure and proper watering practices! Once established these plants are robust and will thrive even if neglected a bit.
Re-pot as the plant gets larger and your roots fill up this container. A rosemary that lives only in pots can grow up to 3 feet high, but it’s always a good idea for you (and them!) to transfer these guys to a larger container if they are crowded or lack space.
Keep your rosemary well-watered and prune it to encourage new growth. The more you trim, the bushier this plant will grow!
Tips for Growing Rosemary Indoors in Winter
Quarantine: If you’re bringing home a new rosemary plant, it is important that they go through quarantine before becoming fixtures in your house. Put them on their own isolated spot for at least three weeks and make sure there are no hitchhikers or pests!
Light: Your rosemary plants will be happy in the bright light of a south-facing window. Or you can give them grow lights to keep them going through winter months, too!
Watering: An important part of caring for a plant is watering. Over-watering will cause rot and damages to the roots, while too little water can lead an unhealthy lifestyle with death as its ultimate result! Therefore, do some frequent checks on your plant and water only when the topsoil of the plant is dry.
Temperature: Rosemary likes it a bit on the cooler side during winter. Keep plants away from heat sources and wood stoves, about 60 to 65 degrees is ideal!
Humidity: Misting your rosemary plant will help it stay hydrated and keep you cozy all winter long.
Pests and Diseases: The pests that plague indoor rosemary plants are red spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. They suck on the leaves causing them to wilt or dry up before your eyes! Use organic insecticidal soap (which you can find at a garden center) for control methods – just spot treat with it as needed against these little creatures.
Dried out soil and over-fruiting are two of the most common plant diseases. To avoid these problems, allow at least an inch of space in between waterings for your plants’ roots to dry out before watering again; make sure you run a fan if there is poor air circulation around them!
