How to Grow Herbs on Your Desk

Choose herbs that are well-suited to your desktop space. If your desk sits near a sunny window, choose full-sun herbs such as basil, lavender or oregano. If your office receives no sunlight, choose herbs that grow well in low light conditions such as parsley or lemon balm. Purchase seeds or seedlings of the herbs you choose.

Select small pots suitable for your plants in maturity. Research the size containers that best suit the types of herbs you chose; select containers that meet your space requirements on your desktop and which offer features such as drip trays to prevent water from leaking onto your desk after you water the herbs.

Fill the pots with a rich, high quality potting mix. You may choose to work some organic fertilizer, such as peat moss, into the potting mix to help nourish and keep herbs healthy.

Add the seeds or seedlings to the pots. When planting seeds, follow the planting directions printed on the seed packets. If using seedlings, be careful when transplanting the herbs to avoid damaging the roots of the plants.

Water the herbs daily. After planting the herbs, water them thoroughly to help the herbs adjust to life in their new containers. Maintain hydration of the herbs by watering daily or as needed. Research the individual herbs you wish to grow and water according to their hydration needs. Herbs that require drier growing conditions may be watered every other day or every two to three days.

Prune the herbs to keep them healthy and to help them maintain a manageable size for desktop growing. Never prune away more than two thirds of the plant in any pruning session.