Indoor Herb Garden DIY | Wall-Mounted Herb Planter IKEA Hack

If you happen to’ve been looking for the right hanging herb backyard, let me introduce you to the DIY that may change the way you cook dinner: a wall-mounted IKEA herb backyard that prices lower than $30, takes beneath an hour to construct, and delivers recent basil, cilantro, and parsley proper at your fingertips each single day. 

It will grow to be one of many most-visited corners of your kitchen.

Whether or not you’re working with a tiny condo, a rental, or a full dwelling kitchen, there are numerous causes and many good issues about how a dangling herb backyard adjustments the way in which you reside — and IKEA offers you the plant pots, flexibility, and ideal add-ons to make it occur for lower than you’d spend on a month of grocery retailer herbs.

The Actual Advantages of a Hanging Herb Backyard (Not Simply “It Seems to be Fairly”)

Let’s speak in regards to the variety of distinctive advantages that make a dangling herb backyard well worth the effort, as a result of there are greater than you may count on.

A greater life begins with higher elements. Recent herbs aren’t simply tastier than their dried counterparts.  They’re extra nutritious, extra fragrant, and extra satisfying to cook dinner with.

Having greenery actually in your wall means you’ll attain for it each time you cook dinner, not simply on particular events.

It solves the “counter area” drawback. In case your kitchen counters are already at capability, vertical rising is the reply. Hanging planters use out of doors area in your partitions (and indoor area close to your home windows) that might in any other case go utterly unused.

It’s considerably cheaper than shopping for recent herbs on the retailer. A single basil plant from a nursery prices $3-5 and will provide you with recent leaves for months if you take care of it effectively. Examine that to purchasing reduce basil at $2-3 per bunch, a number of instances a month. The mathematics makes the hanging herb backyard a motive to DIY.

Pets and children can’t attain it. If you happen to share your house with curious pets or little fingers that like to dig in soil, wall-mounting your herb backyard is a sensible security resolution. 

It brings inspiration into your every day routine. There’s one thing quietly fantastic about having dwelling greenery in your kitchen. It makes the area really feel extra alive, extra intentional, and extra like you.

The Finest IKEA Merchandise for a Hanging Herb Backyard

IKEA’s flexibility as a model is one among its biggest strengths — their merchandise are designed for one objective however work fantastically for others. Listed below are the standout choices for constructing your IKEA hanging herb backyard setup, from the basic hack to trendy alternate options.

The IKEA Vurm Wine Rack (The OG Hack)

The IKEA Vurm is technically a wall-mounted wine bottle holder, however mounted horizontally, its cylindrical slots maintain pint glasses — and people glasses maintain herbs. 

If you will get your fingers on one, that is the unique IKEA herb backyard hack, and it stays top-of-the-line as a result of it’s cheap, wall-mounted, and holds 4 crops in a tidy, organized row. 

The Vurm is discontinued in some markets, however it exhibits up frequently on Fb Market, OfferUp, and thrift shops. If you happen to discover one, seize it — it’s completely value it.

ORDNING Utensil Holders + DIGNITET Curtain Wire

For a sleeker, extra trendy hanging herb backyard, mix IKEA ORDNING stainless-steel utensil holders with the DIGNITET curtain wire system. 

Thread the wire via the holes within the holders, mount to a kitchen door or wall, and you’ve got a surprising vertical backyard that appears like one thing from a design journal. 

Combine the tall (7 1/8″) and shorter (5 3/8″) ORDNING variations for visible selection and adaptability in plant sizing.

Hanging Pot System

There are a number of IKEA hanging pots with {hardware} already included. This makes these choices some of the beginner-friendly choices on this checklist. 

Particulars to bear in mind: these plant pots may be on the heavier aspect when full of soil, so examine your wall anchor rankings earlier than putting in. For a lighter setup, swap the included pots for smaller plastic or metallic containers that match the identical hanging {hardware}.

RÅSKOG Cart (The No-Drill Vertical Backyard)

Not able to decide to wall mounting, or renting, and must keep away from holes? The RÅSKOG utility cart might be your reply. 

Three tiers of herbs on a rolling cart which you can wheel to the sunniest spot in your house is a genius resolution — versatile, transportable, sturdy, and genuinely trendy. 

It’s much less of a dangling backyard and extra of a vertical one, however it solves all the identical plant wants with not one of the permanence.

Stress Rod Technique (Good for Renters)

IKEA stress rods positioned inside a window body allow you to dangle planters from S-hooks with zero drilling required. 

Place your stress rod at window top, dangle planters or mason jars fitted with hooks, and also you’ve received a floating herb backyard dwelling precisely the place the sunshine is greatest. 

Particular reductions on stress rods and hooks make this some of the reasonably priced setups of all.

Step-by-Step: How one can Construct the IKEA Vurm Hanging Herb Backyard

Able to construct? Right here’s the entire tutorial — together with updates on drainage and plant care that may preserve your herbs thriving lengthy after the preliminary construct.

What You’ll Want

IKEA Vurm wine rack (or related rack with cylindrical openings)

4 pint glasses

4 small herb crops (basil, cilantro, parsley, thyme, mint — extra on selecting beneath)

Drainage rocks or pebbles (Greenback Tree is a good supply!)

Potting combine for herbs

Latex paint in any shade (non-compulsory)

Americana Clear Chalkboard Coating (non-compulsory, for labels)

White chalk

Drill and wall anchors, or picture-hanging {hardware} rated for 20+ lbs

Stud finder

Enhance Your Glasses (Optionally available however Lovely)

Dip the underside inch of every pint glass into latex paint. Let the surplus drip off, set on wax paper to dry, and transfer every glass barely after an hour so it doesn’t stick. As soon as the paint is totally dry, brush on a coat of Americana Clear Chalkboard Coating. Let it dry for an hour, add a second coat, then let the glasses dry in a single day.

To “situation” the chalkboard floor so chalk wipes away cleanly: rub the flat aspect of a bit of chalk over the complete painted space, then wipe off with a dry paper towel. Your labels are prepared to jot down.

If you happen to desire a minimalist look, skip the paint totally — clear glass with colourful pebbles seen via the edges appears stunning too.

Create Your Drainage Layer

Add rocks or pebbles to the underside of every glass, filling about one-third full. This step is non-negotiable: pint glasses don’t have drainage holes, so with no rock layer, water has nowhere to go and root rot units in rapidly. The pebbles create a reservoir beneath the soil the place extra water collects harmlessly.

Professional tip for higher drainage: Place the small plastic nursery pot your herb got here in immediately contained in the glass — water will drain via the pot’s holes into the rock layer beneath. Paint the glass absolutely to cover the plastic pot in case you go this route.

Plant Your Herbs

Gently loosen the foundation ball of every plant. It’s possible you’ll must take away some soil from the edges so it suits contained in the glass with out forcing. Don’t injury the roots — simply be affected person and work slowly. Add recent potting combine across the plant to fill gaps, leaving about half an inch of area on the prime. Press evenly to take away air pockets, then water gently to settle the soil.

Mount the Vurm (The Proper Manner)

That is an important step — a rack filled with water-heavy crops is heavier than it appears. Do that accurately and your herb backyard will probably be sturdy and secure for years.

If utilizing the Vurm, rotate the Vurm horizontal (that is the hack — mounted sideways, the slots maintain glasses somewhat than wine bottles).

Maintain it in opposition to the wall in your chosen spot and mark the mounting holes with a pencil. Use a stud finder to find studs. Mount at the very least one aspect of the rack right into a stud; if that’s not attainable at your most popular location, use drywall anchors rated for at the very least 20 lbs.

Drill pilot holes, insert anchors if wanted, then screw within the mounting {hardware}. Dangle the rack and provides it a agency tug to substantiate it’s safe earlier than including your crops.

Add Vegetation and Label

Slide every planted glass right into a Vurm slot — they need to match snugly. If there’s any wobble, wrap a rubber band across the glass earlier than inserting to create friction. Write herb names on the chalkboard bases with chalk. Performed!

Selecting the Proper Herbs: Which Vegetation Will Truly Survive Indoors?

Do herb crops want daylight? 

Sure.  However not all herbs want the identical quantity, and understanding this makes the distinction between a thriving backyard and a tragic, leggy tray of struggling crops.

Herbs for decrease mild (north-facing home windows or spots just a few ft from a window): Mint, parsley, chives, and cilantro are extra forgiving in lower-light situations. These are nice beginning factors in case your kitchen doesn’t get a lot direct daylight.

Herbs that want vivid, direct mild (at the very least 6 hours of solar every day): Basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano want the sunniest window you’ve gotten. 

In case your kitchen doesn’t get sufficient pure mild, a small LED develop mild strip mounted above the rack is an ideal add-on that makes an enormous distinction.

Herbs to keep away from in small indoor containers: Dill and fennel develop tall rapidly and don’t do effectively confined in small glasses. Save these for out of doors area in bigger pots or backyard beds.

Are you able to develop herbs in a hydroponic bowl? 

Sure, and it’s an incredible choice if you wish to skip soil totally. Herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro develop very effectively in water with added vitamins.

Protecting Your Herbs Comfortable: Care Ideas That Truly Work

Watering

The most typical herb backyard killer is overwatering. 

Test soil moisture each 2-3 days by inserting your finger about an inch into the soil — water solely when it feels dry at that depth. 

If you happen to see standing water above the rock layer and the soil continues to be moist, maintain off utterly till issues dry out.

How does a plant do in water? Herbs in closed containers (like our pint glasses) can keep moist for longer than herbs in conventional pots with drainage holes, so err on the aspect of much less water somewhat than extra.

Mild and Rotation

In case your herbs get mild from just one route, rotate every glass weekly to forestall uneven, lopsided progress towards the sunshine supply.

Harvesting for Higher Progress

Right here’s the key most individuals miss: the extra you harvest, the extra your herbs develop. Pinch stems from the highest, by no means taking greater than a 3rd of the plant directly. 

For basil particularly, pinch off any flower buds the second they seem — as soon as basil bolts (flowers), it places all power into seeds, and the leaves flip bitter. 

Common harvesting retains crops compact, bushy, and productive.

When Herbs Do Poorly: Troubleshooting

Leggy, reaching crops: Want extra mild. Transfer nearer to a window or add a develop mild.

Yellowing leaves: Normally overwatering or nutrient deficiency. Let soil dry out between waterings, and feed with diluted liquid fertilizer each 2-3 weeks.

Wobbly glasses: Add a rubber band or two across the glass earlier than inserting into the slot.

Fruit flies: Nearly at all times an indication of overwatering or decaying natural matter within the soil. Let the soil dry out and examine the rock reservoir for particles.

Root binding: Pint glasses are small — fast-growing herbs like basil could grow to be root-bound inside just a few months. If you happen to discover stunted progress or roots circling the underside, it’s time to repot or begin recent.

How Lengthy Does a Leaf Plant Final?

Herb plant lifespans range. Annuals like basil and cilantro sometimes final one rising season (3-5 months indoors) earlier than going to seed and declining. Perennials like mint, thyme, rosemary, and chives can final for years with correct care. 

Planning your hanging backyard with a mixture of annuals and perennials offers you each dependable, long-term greenery and seasonal selection.

Regardless of the way you select to implement your herb backyard, it’s the good addition to your kitchen and incorporating recent elements into your meals.