Perennial Herbs That Make Good Tea

Perennial herbs provide long-term harvests without needing to replant each year, yet require extra attention for proper growth.

Most tea herbs require full sun and well-draining soil. An annual dose of compost tea or other gentle nutrient solutions will boost their productivity while harvesting regularly encourages new growth and keeps plants productive.

Container Potting Mix

The ideal container soil mix combines the advantages of both potting mix and garden soil. Potting mixes typically consist of composted organic materials rather than true mineral soil, featuring ingredients like sphagnum moss (a living, slow-decomposed plant material), peat moss and perlite to provide moisture retention and airflow aeration; perlite can also be found in specialty mixes tailored for succulents and cacti to facilitate faster water drainage thus avoiding root rot.

Use of an optimal container potting mix provides ideal drainage necessary for herb cultivation in containers. An ideal potting mix should settle gently around roots while remaining loose enough to allow consistent movement of air and water throughout the soil – leading to healthy plant growth that is rapid yet long-term. In addition to using quality potting mixes, perennial herbs benefit from harvesting regularly as well as application of liquid or slow release organic fertilizer at regular intervals.

Repotting

Quality container soil mixes should gently embrace roots without restricting their development. Their fluffiness allows water and air to enter the root zone more freely for improved aeration and better drainage. Plus, being lighter than standard garden soil makes moving potted herb plants indoors or out much simpler!

Perennial herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano and bay laurel tend to thrive in an array of soil mixes composed of peat moss, pine bark and perlite; however, perennial herbs thrive best when grown with more drainage-promoting potting mix such as one featuring more sand or perlite for faster draining.

Elderberry (which makes for the perfect cold, flu, and cough tea remedy) requires looser soil with faster drainage for best results. For these plants, combine equal parts cactus soil mix and regular potting mix; be sure to fertilize regularly using liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Watering

Lemon balm, like other tea-making herbs, grows well both indoors and out. As part of the mint family but with more subtle lemony taste and woody stems adorned with blooms in shades of white, pink, and lavender; lemon balm thrives well from zones 3-8. It makes an easy-to-grow and low maintenance perennial herb!

Consider purchasing bagged potting mix with a starter charge of fertilizer or slow-release blend already included, to reduce additional feeding requirements after planting and help the plants take root quickly.

Water your plants slowly and deeply so the soil can absorb all of the needed moisture and nutrients, without overwatering which could lead to root rot and imbalanced nutrition. A light application of all-purpose organic fertilizer may be helpful, however the exact needs of each herb vary; harvest regularly through the growing season for maximum strength and new growth; properly dried herbs can last up to a year in optimal conditions.

Fertilizing

Perennial herbs can be grown both in containers (or the ground) on their own and mixed with vegetables and flowers to form a “foodscaping” landscape design. Thyme is particularly drought-resistant, making it the perfect filler herb to plant at the front of a garden to mound over its edge and fill out containers or planters.

Pine bark, a byproduct of paper mills, helps retain moisture and some essential nutrients in soil, making it an excellent addition to potting mixes for container gardening. Pine bark also adds structure and airspace that outlives other wooden materials like sawdust. When creating your plant care plan it is crucial that an organic mulch be used around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, maintain healthy herbs with regular pruning/harvesting practices while encouraging new growth for tea-making! Regular harvesting helps you maintain fresh herb collections from which to draw inspiration when tea making!