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lack of light for herbs,,yikes!!!
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:20 am Post subject: lack of light for herbs,,yikes!!! |
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Hello everyone, i have a problem with light for my herbs that i have indoors. first let me explain that i live in the artic an when it gets dark, no amount of light indoors really helps, its like the dark outside swallows the light indoors. heres the problem, i have tarragon, rosemary, mint. they aren't getting enough light an i have tried a grow bulb for my light fixture. will they go into a dormant stage an hopefully come back in the spring. they are dying out really fast an i saved an dried what i could. can anyone help me? my lavender seems to be okay at the moment (keep fingers crossed everyone) but who knows, the flower shoots are getting smaller an smaller,,again i think lack of light, will that come back too if it dies out. 
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
Posts: 5688
PlantStew: 521 |
| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have no experience growing herbs indoors and have never grown true Tarragon. But both Rosemary and Lavender are native to the Mediteranian area and require hot, dry, sunny growing conditions.
The Rosemary in my garden is an evergreen, blooming all winter long. And Lavender is a perennial that does go dormant in the winter. Both suffer if they get too cool or too much water.
Also here, Mint is a perennial that goes dormant in winter too. Usually morning sun/afternoon shade is best because our summers are so hot and the sun is so intense.
Maybe you need to take some cuttings to root for next years plants just in case they actually die instead of going dormant.
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 5032
PlantStew: 5804 |
| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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You need a proper plant light to help them through winter, but it's difficult for them to thrive indoors anyway. I've tried. You're in zone 6 so I guess it's no good trying to overwinter them outside. Except maybe the mint. I'm in zone 4 so I get to keep my lavender, but rarely the rosemary.
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for that info, now i can at least know what to expect. heres the crazy part to all this is my lemon balm, parsley, basil and stevia are growing like crazy. those are the ones i thought for sure would die out. the stevia i know comes back so that one i wasn't worried about. but now i know i have to move my lavender, rosemary to the kitchen where it is always toasty warm....the tarragon has gone. (shaking head here) that herb tastes so good too. well we still have almost 6 hours of daylight left but that is goin fast now, so i'll check out an see if they have better grow lights in town. if not i'll have to order a few from the mainland. thanks again. an droopy i'm glad you liked the site, there is so much up here culturally that i don't think the southern part of norway realises. ww2 museum, bronze age sites, viking burial sites, hiking an biking trails that have the most breathtaking views,,,,,,,
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Droopy
Slug Slaughterer
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Location: Western Norway (Map)
Posts: 5032
PlantStew: 5804 |
| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: |
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I wish for a greenhouse, but we've no room for one. I'm totally useless in keeping outdoor plants alive inside.
I know that you've got a lot interesting up there Biita, but many southerners think it's all rein deer and mosquitoes.
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2691
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Biita,
Of course, as Droopy said, you need a proper light source. What you might also try is putting heat under the herbs. Keeping their roots warm may help. I am doing this at the moment with some Solanum muricatum that I am nurturing along in the house.
What you can use for a heat source is,for example, the heated bottom of a heated propagator...or what I use is small electric heating pad (the kind you might use if you have strained your back). I use some newspaper between the heating pad and the container that the plants are in. How much newspaper you use depends upon the thickness of the plant-container's bottom, naturally.
Good luck with those herbs!
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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