rosemary or Rosmarinus officinalis It is one of the most used medicinal and aromatic plants for cooking, health and beauty. For this reason, more and more people want grow rosemary at home. Those who have land, such as an orchard or a garden, have it easier to cultivate this plant, since it grows very easily on the ground. On the other hand, those who live in a flat or a house where they only have a terrace, balcony and/or windows, need to use pots and the cultivation can be a little more delicate.
Thus, at EcologíaVerde we offer you a practical guide on how to take care of potted rosemary plant so that, in this way, it is easier for you to achieve it and take advantage of its benefits.
Composition and properties of the rosemary plant
Among the main components of rosemary we find essential oils, phenols, flavonoids, fibers, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper, vitamin B1 or thiamine and vitamin B3 or niacin. This composition allows the following properties of rosemary:
- It is a digestive plant, so it helps to alleviate problems related to digestion and all this apparatus, such as heartburn, flatulence, heavy digestion, etc.
- It is used to treat oral problems such as the prevention of cavities, reduces infections and inflammations in the mouth and eliminates bad breath.
- It helps take care of the liver and gallbladder, so it serves to prevent and reduce certain problems in these organs.
- It is a very powerful natural antibiotic.
In addition, in this other EcologíaVerde article we explain that the smell of rosemary increases memory by up to 75%. Thus, you can use it in the kitchen, to take care of your health and to increase your beauty because, for example, this plant is also widely used to make natural homemade shampoo.
This plant is also widely used in oils, both essential and concentrated vegetable, to improve health and beauty. Learn more about what rosemary oil is for and how to do it in this other post.
Potted rosemary care: light, temperature and humidity
The first thing to know to care for a rosemary plant is undoubtedly the conditions it needs to live in good conditions and grow. Among the conditions to be taken into account caring for potted rosemary we find the following:
- Proper light for rosemary: It is necessary that it receives direct natural light, since it is a plant that needs a lot of sun and light. However, it must be ensured that in times of strong sun the plant does not stay in full direct sunlight all the hot hours, because it will be easy for its leaves to burn. For this reason, in times of great heat and strong sun, it is best to find a place with sun and shade and in warm or cold times, find a place with as much natural light as possible.
- Optimum temperature for the rosemary plant: This plant can adapt to hot and cold temperatures, but really, the right temperature for rosemary is the one in warm and temperate climates. Thus, it will not withstand hailstorms, frosts and sudden drops in temperature, but neither will areas where the sun heats up excessively.
- Proper humidity for a potted rosemary: This plant is native to the entire area of the Mediterranean Sea and, therefore, is used to having times of drought and times with more water, although never in excess. Therefore, it does not need high humidity and irrigation will suffice.
In addition, we recommend knowing how to plant rosemary with this practical guide from EcologíaVerde.
Where to place the potted rosemary plant
Knowing the conditions explained above, you can deduce that this potted plant can do well in inside and outside. However, outdoors it will always be better to plant it directly in the ground, where it will grow much more.
Depending on the climate of our place, the exterior or interior will be more recommended. Thus, in cold climates it is better to have the rosemary pot indoors, although it can withstand some cold, it is better to avoid frost and significant temperature drops. Inside the house it is vital to locate the plant near a window, but not attached to the glass, as it could be too cold, and avoid being directly hit by radiators and air conditioners, as they can dry it out.
On the other hand, if we live in a temperate or warm or even hot climate, it is best have rosemary outsidein an area where it can receive enough hours of natural light, but if the sun in our area is quite hot, it is best to place it directly in an area of sun and shade, for example under a larger plant or tree or in a place with an awning.
When to Water a Potted Rosemary Plant
Another of the rosemary care It is irrigation, because as we have mentioned before, it must be dosed well, since this plant is used to times of drought and wet times, but never in extreme conditions.
For this reason, although there are different irrigation systems, both for plants in the ground or soil and for pots, one that is highly recommended for caring for aromatic plants at home, such as potted rosemary, is drip irrigation system. This system allows you to control very well that the irrigation is of an adjusted amount and is not excessive.
However, even if you use the most appropriate irrigation, if there is no good drainage It won’t do much good, because the plant can get waterlogged and die. Thus, when you transplant it to the pot you will have to make sure to use a suitable soil mixture and place some stones at the bottom next to the holes, to ensure that the water filters well and does not remain trapped, drowning the roots.
Similarly, when the plant is still small and in times of high heat, you can extend the watering to even daily, if there is good drainage, or every other day. On the other hand, during somewhat cooler times, it is best to water the plant between one and three times a week, depending on the temperature.
Rosemary pruning and possible pests
To continue learning how to care for the rosemary plant in a pot, you also need to take into account its pruning. suits prune a rosemary when you see that it has dry or yellowish leaves and flowers, when you see that it barely grows or when it has parts that are very full of pests, such as aphids or mealybugs. The ideal is to wait for the end of flowering to do so and to cut just below the part that needs to be removed, avoiding cutting totally healthy parts. In this way, you will see that for the next flowering the rosemary will be beautiful and will fill the place with scent.
The pests on rosemary they can be a big problem and, if not removed or controlled, they can completely ruin the plant. For this reason, we recommend that you consult this other EcologíaVerde article on How to combat pests in organic farming, so that you can do it in the most natural way possible.
Why does my rosemary dry?
Yes your rosemary plant is dry you will have to review the basic conditions that we mentioned at the beginning. If its leaves and/or flowers turn yellow and brown and dry, it may be too hot or too cold, or the plant may be drowning.
Try not to have excess heat or direct sun, or cold, or air conditioners or heaters too close that dry it out, or waterlogged soil. In case the plant is drowning, you will not only see the leaves yellowing, but some will turn very dark, even black, they will be rotten, and the stems will be soft.
In these cases, it is best to change its place and prune the dry parts. Also, if the land is flooded, it will be important that the transplants and put new land with a proper drainage.
Below you can see this rosemary care guide in a video on our YouTube channel. Also, below you will see our video on rosemary oil.
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