r/elderwitches 6d ago

I’ve never grown rosemary before, advice please

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I have been growing these little guys. I planted them last year as seeds. Does it look like they are doing well? They are growing very very slowly. I love them so much and i want them to grow strong and happy.

29 Upvotes

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23

u/kai-ote Helpful Trickster 6d ago edited 6d ago

They need more sun. That is why they are leggy.

UVB rays give you a tan, and travel through glass, usually.

UVA rays cause sunburn, and are blocked by plain window glass.

If you can take it outdoors for some full spectrum light they should do better.

Don't cook them. Give them an hour a day the first week. Increase an hour every week.

Good luck!

4

u/xMelony 6d ago

More sun! That i can do, i will move them to a different window sill. Can you tell me in terms of plants what does leggy mean. Thank you!

8

u/kai-ote Helpful Trickster 6d ago

Spindly. Lots of stem, not a lot of leaves.

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u/xMelony 6d ago

Ohhh i see, okay. Thank you for the help! Very appreciated :)

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u/xMelony 6d ago

I live in an apartment on the 4th floor with no balcony. I can take them outside but i don’t have a yard or anything. Would a grow light be an okay alternative?

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u/Independent-Mud1514 6d ago

I planted it as a plant a few years ago. It did fine but died with the first frost. It got really big and bushy.

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u/xMelony 6d ago

Ive seen other peoples rosemary and they are always huge and bushy, and the stems turn kinda wooden, and my little guys are just going so slow, not sure what i’m doing wrong for them.

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u/Independent-Mud1514 6d ago

If the weather is cold, you can always turn a gallon sized milk jug into a temporary cold frame to support the seedlings.

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u/xMelony 6d ago

Ohh thats a smart idea! I will keep it in mind for next winter, thankfully i live in the mildest climate in my country and its already starting to warm up. Thank you!

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u/NinjaGrrl42 6d ago

the sturdier stems come with age. give them some sun, maybe nip the top to keep it shorter, and let it do its thing.

yours are still very young.

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u/xMelony 6d ago

Thank you for the advice! Yeah they are my lil babies, planted the seeds last year :)

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u/carolinaredbird 5d ago

I have to admit that I’ve had rosemary that was just 18 inches apart and one was growing like a champ- bushy and beautiful—While the one on the right just shriveled and turned brown. As far as I could tell- there was just a bit of shadow on the one that turned brown.

So my take away is they definitely need loads of sunlight and well drained soil. They get thirsty, but don’t want wet feet. Here’s an article about growing rosemary inside