If you are not sure about How to Grow Cilantro Indoors, well, it is quite easy if you know these tips to get the best growth and harvest!
Growing Cilantro indoors is the best way to have an unlimited supply of its fresh, aromatic leaves all year round. The best part — you just need a sunlit windowsill to do so!
Propagating Cilantro Indoors
Growing this aromatic herb indoors is not rocket science and is so easy that even a beginner can do it!
Do remember that growing cilantro from cuttings and division is possible, but it may not be the best choice to do so. This herb has a long taproot system, which is not that tolerant of being divided, as compared to a fibrous root system.
The cuttings of this plant also fail to root most of the time, so it will be a hit or miss propagating it that way.
So, what’s the best method — Seeds! It will take only 7-12 days to germinate and it is the most successful way to grow this herb.
Get seeds from a local garden center or online suppliers. You can even try seeds from grocery stores, but the germination rate will be low.
One important thing to note here is coriander seeds are covered by a thick hull, which slows down germination. If you want to expedite, press and roll your hand over the seeds before planting to break them.
Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep in the directly in the desired planter because it doesn’t transplant well. Use a mister bottle to moisten the medium (it will not disturb the placement of the seeds this way), and keep the pot where it gets plenty of bright and indirect light (4-5 hours of direct sunlight is a must) all day long.
Best Pot Size for Growing Cilantro Indoors
You don’t need to get big containers for this herb — a pot size of 6-8 inches (minimum 8-10 inches deep as the plant has a long taproot) would do.
If you have old milk cartons or tin cans, you can also grow cilantro in them — just make a hole at the bottom, that’s it!
Requirements for Growing Cilantro Indoors
Sunlight
For the best growth, this herb will need direct sunlight, not just 2 hours of it — but at least 4-5 hours!
So, pick the sunniest spot in your home and keep your cilantro in a pot there. Also, make sure to rotate the plant twice a week so that every part gets light exposure.
If you live in a hot climate, avoid exposing it to the harsh afternoon sun, as it will make the plant bolt quickly.
Growing Medium
Though you can use garden soil to grow this herb, it would be a wise idea not to do so. Get a specialized herb and vegetable potting mix or make your own: Go for 30% sterilized garden soil or any usual potting mix, 30% coconut coir or peat moss along with 20% perlite or vermiculite or coarse sand.
Now, throw in about 20% of compost in this mix and top it up with a handful of worm castings. There you have it! The BEST growing medium for cilantro!
Water
Keep the soil of your cilantro slightly moist, but don’t water the plant daily like you would do outdoors in any sunny garden — always feel the topsoil to ensure it is lightly dry before you moisten it.
Temperature Range
An average indoor temperature is perfect for cilantro as long as it is above 60°F (15°C). Don’t worry about the higher range — the herb can tolerate more than your house can attain!
Cilantro Care Indoors
Fertilizer
If you have used the growing medium that we have suggested above, the plant would do well without the need of a fertilizer.
If you still want to boost growth, go for any balanced feed on the market—just ensure you dilute it to 1/4 to 1/2 of its recommended strength by the manufacturer and use it once 3-4 weeks. This will be more than enough!
Deadheading
Get rid of the flowers the moment you spot them to save the plant from spending its energy on seed development at the expense of leaves.
If you want to collect seeds, you can plant a different cilantro from cutting and grow it for that specific purpose.
Pests and Diseases
While growing cilantro indoors, you don’t have to worry much about pests as long as it gets proper sunlight and air circulation. Still, keep an eye on aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites; of these three, spider mites can be the real challenge!
To keep potential diseases at bay, just do two things — avoid overwatering and water logging and wetting the foliage a lot. That’s it! A simple way to keep the herb safe from issues!
Harvesting Cilantro
Now comes the best part about growing cilantro indoors — harvesting fresh sprigs as per your need!
Snip off leaves whenever you want — just avoid harvesting more than 30% of the plant at a time. This will make sure you are not robbing it of its energy, leaving plenty of leaves behind for it to regrow for future harvest. Also, don’t pull the leaves off the plant – it may make them come along with the stem. Use scissors to make clean cuts.
Don’t worry about storing them — you have a plant now,? Who needs storing when you can have fresh leaves anytime you want! Remember, cilantro tastes the BEST when fresh!
