How to Grow Pot Mint & Basil Indoors

Do you remember my Perilla Mint posts? The Sate Shrimp and the Healing Herb, and the Peanuts or Mango in Perilla Mint salads from my Michigan trip. I haven't written about Chinese Basil, but it is another challenging plant to grow. I only use them in Pho noodles, but on the cold winter days, they are missed!
I had a hard time keeping these guys happy in my yard. They like shade or filtered sun and I find they root fantastic in a glass jar by the window. Yet, once I take them outside, like my Perilla Mint Propagation survived four months, before they all burnt in the California heat.
This time, I am sharing an experiment. I am trying to grow them in my kitchen window to protect them from the harsh weather. Hopefully they won't die so that I can have them when I cook. And how am I going to do that? Please see the instructions and photos below.

Instructions:
1) Find yourself a few strong stalks / stems of Basil and Perilla mint, healthy with baby leaves coming.
2) Cut off the big leaves, leaving the new growth, little ones. The stalks will grow much better with some baby leaves. As the leaves will absorb the sugar needed for their growth.
3) Get a little jar or cup, and fill the cup with an inch of water. Do not do more than an inch as soaking the whole stem will cause it to turn soft and mushy.
4) Leave the cup by your window and watch the roots grow. Change the water every other day so that it won't build up with yucky slimy stuff.



5) Once the stalks establish some roots. Find yourself a few little pots. I have reused several containers that were make-up holders. They were about 6 inches diameter and 6 inches in height.
6) SO drilled 4 holes on the bottom of each and they are ready to go.
7) The soil is premium potting soil mixed with a some perlite. The perlite helps with drainage in a pot and also aids in separating the soil so that it doesn't become so compacted.



8) Once you fill the pots with soil almost to the rim, water the pot thoroughly but not soaking. Make a hole large enough for the roots, and start burying the stalk's roots.
9) Once the roots and stalks are buried all the way around, use your fingers and push the soil down gently around the stalks. Enough so that you can feel the soil resisting.
10) At that point the roots are pretty well covered and buried. You're all set to display it by your window and reap the benefit of the new growths.




Thanks for stopping by today.