Small Herb Pots

The Pot

• The material, size and drainage of the herb pot affect the growth of the plant. Purchase plant pots or use small containers from your home. Porous pots, from wood and unglazed terra cotta, allow moisture and air to pass through them, allowing air flow around the herb roots. However, these pots dry out more quickly than those of non-porous materials such as plastic and metal.

  The size of the pot should suit the size of the plant. Pots that are too large hold extra water that will rot the plant's roots and pots that are too small cause the plant to become root-bound. A single herb plant grows comfortably in an 8-to 10-inch diameter container. If you're grouping plants together, three will fit into an 18-inch diameter pot. Herbs need well-drained soil, so ensure that there are drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.

The Soil

• Choose potting soil or a soilless mix for your herb pots. A basic soilless mix contains equal parts of peat, vermiculite and perlite, with a little limestone. As well as these ingredients, potting soil contains sterilized soil and compost. Soilless mix is physically lighter than potting soil, a consideration if you plan to move your herb pots.

Herbs

• Grow herbs from seed or purchase seedlings from a greenhouse or garden center. Select herbs that you use and also experiment with unusual varieties. Basil, oregano, chives, sage and cilantro are popular culinary herbs. Varieties of basil include Thai basil, which has a spicy tang, lemon basil and cinnamon basil. Choose herbs also for their colorful and interesting foliage, such as golden sage and lemongrass. If you grow the plants outdoors, be aware of which herbs are perennials and which are annuals that you will have to replace next year.

Planting

• Add a base layer of potting mix to the pot. Remove the herb from its seed tray or container and gently loosen and spread the roots if they are tangled together. Place the plant on the soil, and adjust the soil level so that the top of the root ball is about 1 inch below the top of the pot. Add potting mix all around the plant and gently press it down. Water the plant gently to settle the potting mix and let the water drain. Add more potting soil if the soil settles.