Chia Herb Gardens: Endless Variety

Chis isn’t the name of a cute terra cotta animal with growing herbs on its “skin” or does it need be any such variety to be called a chia herb garden.The use of animal shaped containers is not even a requirement, for that matter.What make it Chia is first of all that it is planted within a container, which can be any kind virtually, but more on that later.

Second, the chia herb garden is started in a special medium, a sponge material available on the web as well as many garden centers, and only requires some seeds, and a clear, plastic covering. This material can be placed within any kind of manageable enclosure, moistened, the seeds added and the entire container placed within the covering, a clear plastic bag or a clear protector to keep it humid.

The light isn’t that important at first, but once those seedlings become plants, it is much more so..

Once we realize that setting up a chia garden gives us much flexibility in terms of space and choice of container, it is no wonder that we see why they are so popular at home and at work. In facat, they are limited only by your imagination and you can come up with dozens of interesting ideas how to add special quality to each room in your house, for example.

If you are raising your herbs with the idea of consuming them in food or beverages, it is very important that you choose containers to plant them in which are also food safe and contain no harmful chemicals. These chemicals can find their way into the roots and consequently the plants themselves. Needless to say, this could be dangerous for consumption. These containers must be food safe. Typically if one is harmful, it should be labeled, but this isn’t always the case. Colorful containers should not be considered since they frequently contain iron and other materials in the coloring that can be dangerous.

But this shouldn’t stop you from having bright and beautiful containers to raise your plants in. You can have some fun with chemical free ones and paint them yourself, any way you like.Using an acrylic paint on the outside of the container should pose no problems for either you, your family or your plants.

There are many different ways to begin your chia herb garden.You can begin with seeds, watching and caring for them as they sprout and grow into full grown herb plants, or you can buy a complete herb kit which will provide all you need to quickly be harvesting leaves and other parts for cooking or storing.Remember if you go this route that even though these “pre-started” plants are already growing, they will need your continued care and attention. They need you to water them and add fertilizer as recommended.

Once the plants have reached maturity, you have the option of transplanting them into a traditional medium such as soil or pellets.When upsizing your plants’ containers, especially when they are young, don’t increase the diameter of the new pot size by more than an inch. The “pot” you transplant to must allow the roots to expand their network, but still has to offer some familiar containment.You will be able to be a little more assertive about upsizing once the plants have become large.

A wonderful characteristic of chia herb gardens is that the plants themselves aren’t the whole show; their containers can be just as attractive and delightful. It’s totally up to your creative juices to decide.One idea is to look around your house and create a special look, feel, and aroma for the plants you create in each room/

And keeping to basics, please remember that your chia herb garden will need some good light, at least occasionally and regularly, so if there is not any or enough where you want to display them, just remember to bring them outside or to a bright window for “meal time” and so they can enjoy the beautiful light, just as you might yourself.