With colder weather just around the corner, it's time to think about fall plant care and moving some of your garden plants indoors to protect them from frost. This year, I’ve decided to move basil, rosemary, and parsley into the house. These herbs are sensitive to cold temperatures, and I didn’t want to risk losing them to the frost. Here’s how I selected the right pots for each, along with some lessons learned from my past experiences.
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For more tips on how to choose the right shape, color, and size of pots for your plants, be sure to check out our detailed guide in this article here.
Basil
Basil thrives in moisture-retentive soil, so I chose a plastic pot for it. Plastic pots are lightweight and excellent at retaining water, which is ideal because basil prefers soil that stays moist but not soggy.
Personal Tip: I picked a medium-sized plastic pot, which allows enough room for root growth without holding too much soil. This prevents overwatering, which is a common issue when basil is kept indoors, especially in cooler, low-light conditions.
What I Learned: In the past, I used a large pot, thinking it would allow the basil to grow better, but the opposite happened. The excess soil retained too much moisture, leading to root rot. Now, I always opt for medium or smaller pots indoors to avoid waterlogged roots.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a hardy herb, but it prefers drier soil. For this, I opted for a terracotta pot. Terracotta allows air to circulate and helps the soil dry out, which prevents rosemary from sitting in damp conditions that can cause root rot.
My Experience: A few years ago, I used a plastic pot for rosemary, thinking it would be fine. Unfortunately, it retained too much moisture, and the plant struggled all winter. Switching to a terracotta pot made a huge difference—rosemary stays much healthier in drier soil.
Lesson Learned: It’s essential to match the pot material to the plant’s water needs. Herbs like rosemary, which thrive in drier conditions, do best in terracotta because it helps wick away excess moisture.
Parsley
Parsley is a bit more flexible, but like basil, it prefers consistent moisture. I planted it in a ceramic pot that balances moisture retention with good air circulation. Plus, ceramic pots are heavier and sturdier, which makes them a great decorative addition to my windowsill.
Personal Tip: I use a deeper pot for parsley because its roots like to spread downward. This helps reduce how often I need to water it, especially during the winter when indoor air can dry out plants more slowly.
What I Learned: I once placed parsley in a shallow pot, thinking it wouldn’t matter much, but the plant quickly became root-bound. After switching to a deeper pot, I noticed the parsley grew taller and healthier. The deeper pot also made it easier to manage watering since the soil doesn’t dry out as fast.
Don’t waste time on trial and error—Learn from my mistakes!
If you're looking to avoid the frustration of making the same mistakes I did, you can save yourself time and effort by getting things right the first time. Selecting the wrong pots, overwatering, or placing plants in poor lighting can be discouraging, but it doesn't have to be. You can prevent these errors by using the right tools and guidance from the start.
My Advice: Instead of experimenting and risking the health of your plants, try using an app like easyDacha that provides personalized tips on everything from choosing the right pot to watering schedules and lighting conditions. It helps you avoid the common pitfalls by giving advice tailored to your specific plants and environment. Don't waste time figuring it out the hard way— Subscribe to join the Pre-Launch list and be the first to use it!