Cilantro is a delicious addition to any indoor garden and with this plant you get two for one; The seeds are also known as coriander. With colder temperatures, frost, and snow on their way, it's a great time to start growing it at home. Planting cilantro in your kitchen will give you a steady supply of this herb throughout the coldest months of the year. Plus, it's a top way to keep your green thumb active when you aren't spending quite as much time outdoors.

Ready to get your indoor herb garden started? Keep reading to find out just how easy it can be to grow cilantro indoors!

List of Materials

a bowl of cilantro seeds for planting

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Before you start throwing soil in a pot, make sure you have the items needed to grow cilantro properly.

  • Planting pot
  • Coriander seeds
  • Potting soil
  • Water
  • Sunshine
  • Fertilizer

How to Grow Cilantro Indoors

Step One: Pick a Sunny Spot

A green cilantro plant growing

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Cilantro loves the warmth and will grow best in full sunlight. Place it close to a windowsill that receives about six hours of sunlight every day. If you have a few herbs already growing in a sunny kitchen herb garden, cilantro will make a wonderful addition to the club.

Don't you have a sunny window? Another alternative is to use fluorescent or LED growing lights. Then, keep your lamps on for 12-16 hours to ensure the cilantro receives enough light.

Step Two: Prepare Your Pot With The Best Potting Soil

A trowel full of potting soil for cilantro

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When planting cilantro, you'll want to use high-quality potting soil to ensure the best success. Look for a potting soil mix that is mildly acidic with a pH of 6.5 If you want to use soil from your garden, you can test the pH to ensure it's the right acidity.

Also, make sure that your potting soil has good drainage. When soil becomes too soggy from frequent watering, it can grow mold or aid in root rot. To prevent this, set up proper drainage within the plant pot. There should be plenty of organic matter as well.

Step Three: Plant Cilantro Seeds and Water Regularly

Children,Hands,Carefully,Pour,Water,From,A,Jug,Of,Water

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Once you have the perfect potting soil and spot for your cilantro plant, it's time to get planting! When placing your seeds in the soil, space them about 1 to 2 inches apart. When your seedlings grow, thin them out to 6 inches. It will give the seedlings room to grow and stop overcrowding.

While your seeds germinate, water them regularly. How often will depend on how well your soil is draining! The best practice is to check on the dampness of the soil daily. If it looks like it is starting to dry, it is time to water your cilantro seeds again. Once your cilantro plants start growing, water them less often so they stay moist but not soggy. The seeds will germinate in three weeks.

Step Four: Fertilize Cilantro Plants

Adult woman using fertilizer on her houseplants

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Cilantro thrives best with a nitrogen-based fertilizer. When picking out your fertilizer choose one specifically made for potted plants.

While garden fertilizers are great for the outdoors, they can prove too strong with container planting. Follow the package's directions and adjust the ratio of fertilizer to the size of the pot you use.

Step Five: Harvest Your Herbs

Harvesting cilantro

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Cilantro bolts quickly! It will be ready to harvest when the bright green leaves are still low to the surface of the pot. Pick the large leaves first and leave the smaller ones to grow. You can preserve these by drying them out or using them directly in your recipes.

Oops, my cilantro bolted - now what? If you've neglected your cilantro, don't worry! You can still get a great spice from your plant. Allow it to continue bolting, and harvest the cilantro seeds or coriander as a spice!

Wondering how to prevent your plant from bolting again? Keep an eye on how warm the window where you are growing it is. Cilantro tends to bolt in mid-summer temperatures when planted outdoors. It can still happen if temperatures get too hot inside! Find a different spot for your potted plant, or shift the plant out of sunlight to imitate shade for part of the day.

Step Six: Repeat!

Person holding a cilantro plant inside

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If you have harvested your plant, it has bolted, or about every two to four weeks, you'll want to start the whole process again. It will ensure you have a steady supply of cilantro in your indoor herb garden at all times.

You can even harvest a whole plant while another is growing by its side. Simply place new seeds in the potting soil where you completely harvested your last plant to keep your indoor herb garden luscious.

Are You A Cilantro Lover Yet?

Cilantro is a popular addition to indoor gardens, and growing it indoors can be easy when you follow these simple steps. It's well worth the effort to have a steady supply of fresh and dried herbs to sprinkle on dishes for an extra flair of elegance and flavor!

What do you think about growing cilantro indoors? Comment below, and as always, please share!