If you’re wondering how you can grow lemon balm indoors as a beginner, and whether it is indeed a beginner friendly plant you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing lemon balm indoors, from choosing the right pot and soil to troubleshooting common issues.
A little bit about lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis)
Lemon balm is a versatile plant that is closely related to mint, and it shares a couple of the same qualities as mint which make it a good plant to grow indoors as a beginner. It’s been around for over 2,000 years dating back to Greek times, it’s used as a herbal remedy for stress, and it has a fresh citrus smell that will add flavor to any recipe if you choose to cook with it.
Lemon balm looks quite similar to mint, the leaves look similar and it can get leggy if it doesn’t have enough light. Lemon balm also tends to grow quickly and aggressively, taking up as much space as you give it, so it’s best potted in a container without other plants.
Choosing the right pot and soil for growing lemon balm indoors
You want a pot with good drainage so make sure your container has holes at the bottom. You should also consider layering some pebbles at the bottom to further aid with drainage, as lemon balm does not like soggy soil that can lead to root rot. Well-draining, organic potting mix is your best option for soil. Even though lemon balm isn’t picky you still want to give it the best start.
Lemon balm grows fast when it’s happy, so you’ll need to repot it during the growing process. It’s a good idea to have a pot to hand as even in just a couple of months lemon balm can shoot up, outgrowing its pot. When you notice the roots start poking out of the drainage holes, that’s the time to upgrade your pot.
How to Plant Lemon Balm Indoors: Seeds vs. Cuttings
As a beginner the question of growing your lemon balm from seeds or cuttings is a big one? Both options have their own pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Growing From Seeds
- Easy to grow as a seed especially if you can replicate the March – May growing season conditions indoors.
- Likes to grow in pots and containers, so perfect for a project as a beginner who can enjoy that sense of satisfaction of raising a plant.
- Requires little maintenance apart from watering and is hardy.
Cons of Growing From Seeds
- In comparison to starting with a cutting, a seed will take much longer to grow.
- As a beginner it can be hard to manage the 10-20 day period of germination where you wait for the seed to grow. Errors like overwatering are common and this can result in the seed failing to grow.
Pros of Growing From Cuttings
- It’s a faster process, as once your cutting grows roots it will continue to grow with the advantage of height and leaves.
- It’s easier to tell if your cutting doesn’t take, as it will wilt and droop.
Cons of Growing From Cuttings
- You need to be able to get a 4-6 inch cutting of lemon balm to begin to grow your cutting.
- It needs a little more attention as the soil has to stay moist, not soggy until the roots develop and you need a spot with indirect sunlight.
Best option for beginners
Seeds take longer but may be the most accessible option if you don’t have someone to give you a cutting. You also may only get one cutting, which can make it more stressful than having a pack of seeds where you can plant lots of seeds and have more chances of success. Equally, a cutting or two will most likely be free, so the best budget friendly option for a beginner to grow lemon balm. Either option works for a beginner who wants to grow lemon balm indoors.
Caring for your lemon balm indoors
When you grow your lemon balm indoors it has the following care needs:
Light
Lemon balm loves sunlight. If you’ve got a south-facing window, that’s the best place to put it. Also rotate your lemon balm every couple of weeks, so it doesn’t get tempted to grow bushier on one side. Lemon balm needs about 5-6 hours of light a day to really thrive. Without enough light, your lemon balm can get leggy, which means it’ll grow tall and spindly instead of nice and bushy.
Temperature
Temperature-wise, lemon balm isn’t too fussy. It does well in typical indoor temperatures of around 65-75°F (18 – 24C). If it gets too hot or too cold, you’ll notice the leaves drooping or yellowing.
Watering
Watering your lemon balm is not a high maintenance job, it’s better to forget to water this plant than to overwater it. It likes a moist soil, but waterlogged roots will lead to the death of your plant.
Check to top layer of soil using your finger and if it is dry, it’s time to water. Using a spray bottle helps you from overwatering. Give your lemon balm a couple of sprays from the spray bottle once a week. During Summer and Spring it may need more water.
Fertilizing
Using an organic liquid fertilizer about once a month during the growing season between March and May will help your plant to thrive. Lemon balm doesn’t need much fertilizer though, so don’t go overboard as too much can actually burn the roots.
Pruning
If you want your lemon balm to grow nice and bushy, regularly snipping back the stems, will help your plant from growing all leggy. Pruning keeps the plant looking good and encourages new growth, which means more lemon balm for you if you want to cook with it.
Harvesting
When it comes to harvesting simply snip off the leaves as you need them. You can dry or freeze it for later use, which is great if you end up with more than you can use at once.
Why you should prune flowers on your lemon balm
If your lemon balm blooms the flowers alter the scent and taste of the leaves. Some people say they become more acidic, whilst others feel they become bland and lose the unique lemon balm flavor. It tends to depend on the plant and your taste buds, but flowering lemon balms definitely have a different taste.
Avoid harvesting leaves during blooming, unless you want to try the taste for yourself, and then give your plant a good pruning after the flower is over. This will help the plant to grow back bushier.
Common Problems Growing Indoor Lemon Balm
My lemon balm is growing leggy.
If your indoor lemon balm is growing leggy and straggly it is possible that it is not getting enough sunlight. If you live somewhere and you have low lighting conditions, or your windowsills don’t get enough sunlight for your lemon balm you can still get it to grow healthy and bushy. Investing in a spectrum led grow light and placing your lemon balm under it for 6 hours a day will help fix the problem. Prune your lemon balm before you start with the grow lamp so it can grow back without being straggly.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew starts on the underside of the leaf and is white in color. It looks like your plant has been dusted with white splodges. This is fungal infection that lemon balm is prone to get, particularly if there isn’t good air circulation around your plant.
The best way to avoid this is to give your plant plenty of space to grow in its pot and make sure that there is ample air circulation. If your plant shows signs of powdery mildew, you’ll need to get a mild fungicide to treat it with, move it away from other lemon balms near it, and remove any infected leaves.
Conclusion
Growing lemon balm indoors as a beginner can be rewarding, especially when you finally start harvesting those fragrant leaves. Just remember, good drainage, plenty of light, and a little patience go a long way. Embrace your journey as you learn how to grow your lemon balm indoors and enjoy every moment.
