Parsley Plant Care – An Ultimate Indoor Guide This Easy Herb

Parsley is one of those versatile herbs that can be a game-changer for your cooking. It’s also incredibly easy to grow parsley indoors. In this comprehensive parsley plant care post, we will tackle all of the dos and don’ts that you’ll need to know to keep your parsley looking healthy (and tasting good)!

What Is Parsley?

I know it seems like a no-brainer, but let’s start with some fun parsley history! parsley is a biennial plant from the Umbellifers (or Apiaceae) family that is famous for its culinary uses.

This herbaceous plant is also known as Scent Leaf, Effirin, and Coriander. It will grow well in hardiness zones 3-9 when outdoors.

Origin And Family

Parsley is a member of the Petroselinum genus. It is indigenous to the Mediterranean lands. Although originally the discovery of parsley is credited to Charlemagne, the Scent Leaf has become popular among plant cooks and growers of all stripes.

Parsley Plant Size

For those looking to bring the lush vibrancy of parsley indoors, you’re in for a treat. When adequately cared for, an indoor parsley plant can grow between 18-24 inches in height and width. For optimal growth, position the plant near a south-facing window to ensure it receives plenty of sunlight.

Parsley Plant Care Needs

While most plants come with their own set of requirements, parsley remains relatively straightforward. Generally, it appreciates being watered 2-3 times a week. But keep an eye on it—if the parsley lacks water, it’ll show signs of distress. And always remember, a pot with drainage holes is essential to prevent the risk of root rot.

Parsley Plant Care Difficulty

Contrary to what some might believe, parsley isn’t a demanding plant. Its primary need is ample bright light (shoot for a south-facing window). Once you’ve sorted that out, the plant offers a good degree of flexibility in its care regimen.

Does Parsley Grow Well Indoors?

Absolutely yes. parsley is both beneficial for cooking (and cooks!) and easy to grow indoors. All it really needs is a bright spot, ideally on a windowsill with good sunlight. With this simple setup, you can have fresh parsley right in your home, ready for use anytime.

Parsley Plant Care – Growth Rate

Patience is key when growing parsley, especially indoors. Though its growth rate is on the slower side, it will eventually reach its mature height of about 18-24 inches. It reaches maturity between 70-90 days after planting.

Potting

Choosing the right pot for parsley is crucial. Typically, a smaller pot with adequate drainage will suffice. Such considerations ensure that the plant remains healthy and continues to flourish.

Repotting

As with many plants, parsley occasionally outgrows its home. If you notice the leaves turning a shade of yellow, it might be signaling the need for a larger container. When repotting, opt for a fresh, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Parsley Soil Needs

For parsley to truly thrive, it requires well-drained soil that’s abundant in organic matter. Such soil not only provides the necessary nutrients but also ensures proper drainage, reducing the risk of issues like fungal diseases and root rot.

Recommended soil options:

pH

For indoor parsley, maintaining a pH level between 5.0-7.0 is ideal. This range ensures that the plant remains healthy, especially when fresh soil is added or during repotting.

Water

Keeping parsley hydrated is key. In spring, it requires watering about 2-3 times a week. Should it lack water, it’s easy to tell, as the plant will wilt. During winter, however, it needs less frequent watering—just ensure the soil remains moist.

Parsley Care Needs: Light

Parsley has a penchant for sunlight. For best results, aim to provide 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. A sunny, preferably south-facing window is often perfect. It’s also essential to monitor the plant for any signs of too much or too little light exposure, as indicated by changes in the leaves.

Fertilizer

Come early spring, parsley benefits from a bit of fertilizing. A balanced commercial fertilizer applied once or twice during this period can make a significant difference in its growth and vibrancy.

Parsley Plant Care: Propagation Information

Reproducing your parsley can be done with a suitable propagation method. Here are some options to choose from, along with detailed instructions to help you out.

Stem Cuttings In Soil

The most convenient way to propagate a parsley plant is by making a cutting and planting it in soil. 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost date is the best time to bear a Scent Leaf. Here are the steps to get started.

1. Collect your cutting. Look for a healthy section of the parsley’s stem with fresh growth that’s at least six inches long. Cut just below the Scent Leaf’s nodes with clean gardening shears.

2. Plant your cutting. Directly plant the cutting into well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter soil.

3. Maintain your cutting. Keep the soil around your baby parsley moist and maintain a temperature of approximately 50-70°F.

4. Rotate your cutting. For even growth in all areas of your plant, rotate the pot every now and then. 

So proud of my indoor hydroponic garden. Fresh basil, mint, and parsley. Can’t wait to get my outdoor garden in my back up this spring 🌱🌿🍉🥬🥒🫑 pic.twitter.com/V7wdSsD7Pg

— Papi Stylez (@PapiStylez82) March 23, 2021

Stem Cuttings In Water

The following are fundamental steps in water-propagating your Effirin:

1. Cut. Choose a healthy section of your plant with at least one node. Trim it off using clean shears.

2. Submerge. Keep your cutting in a water-filled transparent container while making sure no leaves are immersed in the water to avoid root rot.

3. Maintain. Keep your cutting in a well-lit, with good ventilation space while waiting for roots to grow.

4. Refill. Refill the water when it’s dirty or when the container is empty. To grow roots, the plant nodes should be constantly exposed to water.

5. Transplant. 2-3 weeks later, check to see if your cutting has enough roots to be planted in the soil. 

Humidity And Aeration

Parsley is an aromatic biennial that has no special humidity requirements.

Consider the following methods for boosting humidity if you notice browning edges on your plant’s leaves:

• Gather your houseplants together to form a humidity bubble.

• Obtain a humidifier.

• Set your pots on top of a tray of stones and water. This will produce mist to form around your plant.

• Mist your plant occasionally, but not too often, or you risk inviting fungal diseases.

Temperature

Cold climates are preferable for Coriander plants, but they can thrive in a temperature range of 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

They like constant temperatures, so keep them away from windows and gaps that may enable chilly air during cold seasons. Also, maintain a safe distance from vents and other heat sources that might dry up the air.

Flowers

If you’re lucky, you might be able to witness your Scent Leaf blooming with significant whitish-yellow flowers. However, this doesn’t typically happen in an indoor growing location.

Non-Toxic

Effirin is not considered toxic to humans, dogs, or cats! This means it’s a great plant option to place in your home, whether you have fur babies or not!

Love all kinds of herbs? Check out our top tips for growing your own indoor herb garden.

Parsley Plant Care: Pests And Diseases

Below are some of the common diseases, problems, and pests, along with the ways to treat them.

Spider Mites

Houseplants can bring unwelcome visitors to your home at times in the form of pests. One example of such is the spider mite. The larvae will not be visible, but adult mites can be seen quickly scampering around when disturbed.

Spraying diluted neem oil on your plant’s leaves can help eradicate spider mites at their larval stage. There are also organic Pyrethrin sprays that are effective in killing adult mites. When spraying any pesticide indoors, make sure you choose products that are non-hazardous for humans when inhaled.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that typically appears as round, fine white patches on the foliage and stems of your Coriander. Juvenile leaves are particularly vulnerable.

To treat, combine baking soda(one tablespoon), liquid soap (one-half teaspoon), and water (one gallon). Spray the mixture liberally on your infected plant.

It is also a good idea to keep the foliage dry by putting your plant in an area with good ventilation.

White Flies

Whiteflies are connected to scales, mealybugs, and aphids and can be identified as a cloud of white flakes floating into the air when they are disrupted.

Their larvae will eat the sap of your Scent Leaf, causing significant leaf damage. Whiteflies look like moths with a triangular shape and are typically gray-white in color.

In the case of a severe infestation, apply an insecticidal soap (or make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon of Castile soap with 1 quart of water). The soap will smother the eggs, larvae, and adults. Apply during the coolest part of the day to avoid any burns, and repeat as necessary.

Aphids

Aphids are tiny insects that will draw the sap of your Effirin. Some aphids are crawlers, while others fly. They can be brown, green, black, red, white, and a variety of other hues.

Examine the underside of leaves, unfurled shoots, and fragile areas of the stem. If you notice these insects (usually in a cluster), act quickly before they spread to other houseplants!

Before giving your plant a thorough wash using soap and water, cover the soil with a plastic bag. You can also use a sponge to make sure all surfaces are covered. After washing, isolate your plant in partial shade with good airflow so its leaves won’t burn from the soap.

If the aphids come back, spray your Effirin with neem oil, horticultural oil, or rubbing alcohol. Remember to dilute these products first. 

Mealybugs

Mealybugs may infest your Coriander. These tiny parasites wear your plant out by sucking on the sap. They can also spread fungal illnesses through the honeydew they emit.

Mealybugs are round with cottony masses that appear on all areas of plants. They will either remain still or creep slowly.

To fight a mealybug invasion, take a cotton swab, soak it in rubbing alcohol, and rub it over the curly-leaf Parsley or the flat-leaf parsley leaves or any affected areas of the pant. I also recommend neem oil mixed with water as a preventive spray.

Brown Leaf Tips

Brown leaf tips on your Scent Leaf can either be caused by low humidity, underwatering, root damage, and soil compactness.

You may also need to flush out excess minerals, salts, fertilizers, and chemicals in the soil from time to time by allowing water to pass through for a few minutes. You shouldn’t have to worry about inadvertently drowning your plant’s roots if you use a fast-draining substrate and a container with drainage holes.

Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves on your Parsley are typically a sign that your plant is thirsty. In this case, once hydrated, your plant will normally perk back up. It may also aid to raise the humidity.

Be careful! Plants infested with pests may have droopy and curled leaves initially, but they may gradually develop other symptoms such as spots, reduced development, and a general decline in health. If you suspect pests, always consider the underside of the leaves.

My indoor garden of Basil, Coriander and Parsley is going absolutely wild. Love the smell of Basil and Coriander 😍 pic.twitter.com/yxcYtOS1ol

— MelissaD 🔥💧🐨🌱💓🌍 4 x Covid-19 vaxx 💉💉💉💉😷 (@D_Melissa2) January 18, 2021

Yellow Leaves

Yellowing leaf spots on Effirin can be caused by lack of light, too much light, overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiency, overfertilization, recent disruption of the roots, changes in temperature and humidity, presence of pests, and many others.

If you’re confused, don’t worry! Gardening requires trial and error to figure out the ideal conditions for your plants, and even master gardeners are learning new things every day.

It is usually encouraged to prune off yellowing leaves so the plant won’t waste its energy trying to “save” the leaf instead of supplying nutrients to new leaves.

Root Rot

An overabundance of water could lead to root rot and is often fatal for the Coriander. Once rot starts to set in, it is difficult to control. Your best option is to completely cut off the root system and restart your plant like you would when propagating a cutting.

Of course, you can always take precautions to prevent root rot. Begin by giving your plant a fast-draining, well-aerated soil mix. You can do this by incorporating chunky materials that will create air pockets and allow the roots to breathe.

Next, make sure you select a pot for functionality, not just for aesthetics. The most crucial requirement for houseplants is drainage. If there are no drainage holes in your chosen pot, don’t be afraid to use your driller!

Finally, you should not water your plant until the soil is no longer moist from the prior watering. Touch your finger into the soil or use an old-fashioned wooden skewer to check for moisture.

Similar Plants

Love Scent Leaf? Here are some more plant alternatives you should consider:

Chervil – A fragile annual herb related to Parsley, chervil is sometimes known as French parsley or garden chervil. Because of the volatile oil in it, which has a scent resembling that of the resinous component in myrrh, it was originally known as myrhis.

Tarragon – A perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, tarragon is often referred to as estragon. It is widely grown for both culinary and medicinal reasons and is found in the wild throughout much of Eurasia and North America.

Oregano – A species of flowering plant belonging to the Lamiaceae mint family is oregano. Although it was widely naturalized in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, it came originally from the Mediterranean region.

Conclusion

As a popular herb for its culinary uses, Parsley is an excellent addition to your indoor herb garden. There are several varieties of Parsley and different types of Parsley, but it’s sure that parsley seedlings are easy to grow and care for. If you follow our care guide, you’ll be able to grow this plant with ease. Once you begin to harvest parsley leaves, you will surely enjoy growing fresh herbs in your home. Fresh leaves of indoor Parsley are just as good as other common Parsley available in any supermarket!

Do you have a Parsley? We want to see it! Please send pictures to [email protected], and we might share them on our blog.

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