HYDROPONIC HERBS
A Guide for the Herb Freak

 Hydroponic herbs...

Are you an herbalist at heart? Does the thought of having fresh basil and chives growing on your windowsill get you excited? Are you interested in learning more about the many uses for medicinal herbs?

Then this page is for you! We present below three types of hydroponic herbs for you to explore:

• Culinary herbs (chives, oregano, dill...)
• Medicinal herbs (home remedies)
• Pot (yep)... some good advice
   

CULINARY HERBS (COOKIN' SPICES)

One of the real joys of hydroponics is the re-discovery of fresh kitchen herbs! Once you have used and tasted them, you won't want to go back to bottled.

Yes, hydroponics is a great way to grow herbs. But we recommend that you keep a separate 'ponics unit dedicated just for your herbs. Why? Veggies are grown and harvested in 2-4 months, then it's time to clean out your unit and start over. Herb plants can be kept growing and providing for up to a year! So keep a small separate hydroponic herbs unit right there in your kitchen.

Plant 4 or 5 of your favorite ones, and harvest straight from the plant into your stew! You will soon become a gourmet cook! There is no comparing the savory, sharp and flavorful fresh hydroponic herbs to the dried out, processed, "dead" bottled spices from the grocery store. Whether you opt for a traditional soil-based planter or a water-garden; if you love fresh herbs, just do it!
 

                           


We always keep a planter of fresh hydroponic herbs going year-round. It adds a charming earthy touch to our kitchen. We have searched and experimented and settled on these two small self-contained hydroponics units which we recommend for your herb garden:
 

HOMEGARDEN®, by HydroFarm

                                          

This is a "wick-type" unit. It consists of a boxy reservoir which contains the nutrient solution and the grow-rocks. There are felt mats in the mix to wick up the solution to the plants. A good sturdy unit that works well on a wide sunny windowsill. Includes rocks, nutrients, everything but the seeds (Where to get herb seeds? See below)

Homegarden®   [These sell pretty often on ebay, or try Amazon]

• Advantages:
• Room for all the plants you would ever need
• Works well with low maintenance
• Inexpensive ($60-75)
   
• Disadvantages:
• Bulky (9"x28")
• Seeds must be started in jiffy pots or rockwool cubes first
• No light included. You must provide either a sunny window or small gro-light (Walmart)
   

AEROGARDEN®

                           

This is a compact aeroponic (root-misting) unit that is very popular with herb-growers. It has a built in canopy with grow lights, so is great for a dim kitchen. It can be tucked into a corner so is great for smaller kitchens, too. Includes little pre-planted "seed pods". You can also grow lettuce or patio tomatoes in the Aerogarden®. A fun little unit for hydroponic herbs that we love! Click on this for the best price around:


                               

Aerogarden®

• Advantages:
• Easy setup; totally automated; idiot-proof
• An excellent intro to hydoponics; a great gift for a child or that "black thumb" you know
   
• Disadvantages:
• Needs height; the light canopy lifts up to 22" for full-grown plants
• Expensive ($139-149)
   

Hydroponic herbs...

Both of these herb gardens can be found for sale on ebay or Amazon, or surf around. Do not buy used kits. Insist on "new in sealed box". You want only fresh supplies and seeds and you will need all the instructions and little bits and pieces.

Want to experiment with several different culinary herbs? We found this really cool herb seed collection from HerbKits.com. You get 12 different species, sorted out in packets, with planting instructions. Cost is about $12. [Note: we do not benefit from this recommendation]. Click on "Products", then go down to "Herb Seed", NOT THE "KITS".
 

                           


For more detailed information about the many different herbs, check out our new page:  Growing Herbs.
 

MEDICINAL HERBS (HOME HEALIN')

                           

If you are into medicinal herbs, hydroponics is "tailor-made" for you.

Are you interested in herbal remedies? Would you like to learn more about how medicinal herbs can enhance your health and well-being?

Simon and I are avid herbalists, and we wanted to let you know about a cool website we frequent that might be just what you're looking for...www.learningherbs.com. The Gallaghers have created a delightful, fun and informative website we know you will love. They provide excellent information on medicinal herbs and remedies, and even offer a free e-course:



                   



Oh, they've also put together a fun and simple way to get started "hands-on" with this herbal medicine making kit. Click on the photos above to learn more.

Herbalist, heal thyself!
 

Dig herbs? We found an "herbal remedies reference website" which lists all the medicinal herbs and which to use for particular ailments. Very easy to find what you need here:    www.digherbs.com.

And that nifty little seed company we talked about earlier? They also sell Medicinal Herb Seeds, including those most often used for home remedies. Cool! HerbKits.com.
 

HYDROPONIC WEED

Now, a word about pot... weed... yep, marijuana...

We are going to be honest about this. Way back in our youth... during the hippie days... we might have tried pot. Well, okay, we did, (but we didn't inhale...). Today, decades later, we are heavily into hydroponics. But we don't use it to grow anything illegal. For one simple reason... we don't want to go to jail! Pot is just not a part of our lives now.

And this website does not promote the use of hydroponics for illegal plants, nor does it give instruction in any illegal activities. We do, however, understand that some of you live where the cultivation of marijuana is legal. So if you landed at our website for information on this subject, medical herbs, please click here for some good advice: HYDROPONIC WEED: Things To Consider.

 

Custom Search