Growing Herbs Indoors

The Inside Dirt visits the Denver home of Lisa Steiner, who's been growing herbs indoors for years.

"Herbs are very forgiving," says Steiner. "If you give them too much water or not enough, they tend to survive okay."

One drawback to growing herbs indoors is that they don't get the break they need in winter, that resting period they have when grown outdoors. Because indoor temperatures are constant all year round, continuous growing can stress a plant. If an herb starts to look bad after a year or so, Steiner simply throws it away. "That's one thing about herbs--they're not that expensive."

"Herbs are addicting," says Steiner. She got started with scented geraniums and now has herbs growing indoors, outdoors and in a small greenhouse her husband built for her. Some of her favorites in the kitchen are ginger-scented geranium, bay leaves, dwarf sage, chives, basil, curly parsley and Italian parsley.

Steiner also makes dried arrangements from her plants and uses them to decorate her home. Her dream is to someday have acreage with a 100-foot-square greenhouse where the couple could grow tomatoes, peppers and, of course, lots of herbs.

Also in this Episode

Inside Dirt : Episode ISD-119
•	Gourmet Gardens
•	Growing Herbs Indoors
•	Herbal Condiments
•	Herbal Teas