Herbs You Can Grow in Water Again and Again

Yes, you can stop by the local supermarket once a week to load up on your favorite herbs, but with a bit of ingenuity and care you can grow a selection of your favorite herbs right in your own kitchen, no soil required. In the right environment many popular herbs flourish in water (known as hydroponic gardening). To get your own water herb garden started here’s what you need:

• Containers – Using a clear jar and placing your herbs right on the windowsill is not ideal. Root systems like to grow away from sunlight, so for best results try to use a dark, amber-colored glass or mason jar. Wrap a piece of paper around the jar to further keep the root zone dark and to prevent algal growth.
• Nutrients – to encourage plant growth and provide essential elements for your herbs to grow (like phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium) stop by your local gardening store and pick up some hydroponic nutrients for use in your indoor herb garden.
• Filtered Water – Chlorinated water like that straight from a tap can cause damage to delicate plant tissue. For best results only use filtered water that is free from contaminants like chlorine and chloramines. An Under Counter Drinking Filter System is an affordable method of reducing chlorine, chloramines, cysts, lead, and mercury from the water used for growing your herbs.
• Cuttings – Soft herb clippings will root in water without much trouble. For best results wash the herbs and cut off 6-inch clippings. Remove lower leaves and clip lower tips to the node. There should not be any leaves in the water, only two or three at the top of the cutting. Once you have fashioned your cuttings place then in a container with filtered water.
  

Here are just some of the herbs that will grow dependably inside a jar of water:

• Thyme – Anyone who relies on poultry dishes should have some thyme handy. Edible flowers will bloom in approximately two weeks after you place the cuttings in a jar.
• Peppermint – Peppermint is used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and can be converted into an essential oil for a calming effect and pain relief. Toss a peppermint leaf into your next cup of tea or cocoa for a minty kick!
• Oregano – Flavor almost any vegetable and create a signature pasta sauce or soup with a dash of oregano. Oregano can become large quickly, so keep an eye on your jar as it grows.
• Basil – This fragrant herb can be added to nearly any recipe to create a complex flavor, from egg or meat dishes to an afternoon cocktail. Be sure to give your basil plenty of light as it grows for best results.
• Rosemary – A delicious and well-known herb, rosemary is not only useful in the kitchen: you can add a drop of lemon or vanilla to rosemary to craft a natural air freshener. Take care to remove all of the bottom leaves from rosemary cuttings before placing them in water.
• Sage – Thyme’s partner in crime, sage is terrific sprinkled in a poultry or turkey dish. It’s also great for stuffing! Use a tiny amount when flavoring food, as sage packs a punch.
• Stevia – This zero-calorie sugar alternative has been steadily gaining traction in the United States as more families ditch sugar altogether. Give stevia as much light as possible, and add a leaf to your next cup of tea or coffee for a naturally sweet taste.

With practice you can become an herb-growing expert without buying an ounce of soil. Transform your kitchen counter into an herb oasis with dark mason jars, fresh herb clippings, and filtered water.

_{Disclaimer: The information on this website has not been reviewed by the FDA. Products offered for sale herein are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. No medical claims are being made or implied. Contaminants mentioned are not necessarily in your water.}