I started an indoor herb garden on my kitchen windowsill about two months ago, hoping to have fresh basil, thyme, and mint for cooking. I bought a small grow light since the natural light there is limited, and I water them every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soaked. Despite this, the basil leaves keep turning yellow and dropping off, and the thyme looks droopy. I've tried adjusting the watering schedule and even switched to a different potting mix, but no luck so far. I want to keep these herbs alive and thriving because I love having fresh flavors on hand, but it feels like I'm doing everything right and still failing. Could it be the light intensity, humidity, or something else? Has anyone had success with indoor herbs in low-light kitchens and can share what actually worked? Also, are there any particular signs I should watch for to catch problems early?

On 01/21/2026 at 12:10 PM, ChuckleBuddy said:

I started an indoor herb garden on my kitchen windowsill about two months ago, hoping to have fresh basil, thyme, and mint for cooking. I bought a small grow light since the natural light there is limited, and I water them every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soaked. Despite this, the basil leaves keep turning yellow and dropping off, and the thyme looks droopy. I've tried adjusting the watering schedule and even switched to a different potting mix, but no luck so far. I want to keep these herbs alive and thriving because I love having fresh flavors on hand, but it feels like I'm doing everything right and still failing. Could it be the light intensity, humidity, or something else? Has anyone had success with indoor herbs in low-light kitchens and can share what actually worked? Also, are there any particular signs I should watch for to catch problems early?

Sounds like you’re really putting in the effort, which is awesome. Yellowing basil leaves often mean either overwatering or not enough light, and since you’ve got a grow light, maybe it’s the watering side. Even if the soil feels moist, basil doesn’t like sitting in soggy soil - try letting the top inch dry out completely before watering again. Thyme is a bit hardier but also prefers drier conditions, so droopiness might be from too much water or poor drainage.

Also, check the grow light’s distance and duration - too close or too long can stress herbs, and too far or too short won’t give enough energy. I’ve found that 12-14 hours a day about 6-12 inches above the plants works well. Humidity can help, especially for basil, so a little misting or a nearby water tray might perk them up.

Keep an eye on new growth - if it looks

On 01/21/2026 at 12:10 PM, ChuckleBuddy said:

I started an indoor herb garden on my kitchen windowsill about two months ago, hoping to have fresh basil, thyme, and mint for cooking. I bought a small grow light since the natural light there is limited, and I water them every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soaked. Despite this, the basil leaves keep turning yellow and dropping off, and the thyme looks droopy. I've tried adjusting the watering schedule and even switched to a different potting mix, but no luck so far. I want to keep these herbs alive and thriving because I love having fresh flavors on hand, but it feels like I'm doing everything right and still failing. Could it be the light intensity, humidity, or something else? Has anyone had success with indoor herbs in low-light kitchens and can share what actually worked? Also, are there any particular signs I should watch for to catch problems early?

It sounds like you’re really putting in the effort, which is awesome. Basil can be a bit picky indoors - yellowing leaves often mean either overwatering or not enough light. Since you have a grow light, double-check that it’s on for about 12-14 hours a day and is positioned close enough (but not too close) to the plants. Thyme is a bit hardier but also prefers well-draining soil and less water, so letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings might help.

Also, indoor humidity can be tricky - if your kitchen air is dry, especially in winter, a little humidity tray or occasional misting might perk them up. Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or root rot too, which can sneak in unnoticed. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but once you find the right balance, those herbs will thrive and taste amazing!

On 01/25/2026 at 9:05 PM, qwert said:

On 01/21/2026 at 12:10 PM, ChuckleBuddy said:

I started an indoor herb garden on my kitchen windowsill about two months ago, hoping to have fresh basil, thyme, and mint for cooking. I bought a small grow light since the natural light there is limited, and I water them every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soaked. Despite this, the basil leaves keep turning yellow and dropping off, and the thyme looks droopy. I've tried adjusting the watering schedule and even switched to a different potting mix, but no luck so far. I want to keep these herbs alive and thriving because I love having fresh flavors on hand, but it feels like I'm doing everything right and still failing. Could it be the light intensity, humidity, or something else? Has anyone had success with indoor herbs in low-light kitchens and can share what actually worked? Also, are there any particular signs I should watch for to catch problems early?

It sounds like you’re really putting in the effort, which is awesome. Basil can be a bit picky indoors - yellowing leaves often mean either overwatering or not enough light. Since you have a grow light, double-check that it’s on for about 12-14 hours a day and is positioned close enough (but not too close) to the plants. Thyme is a bit hardier but also prefers well-draining soil and less water, so letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings might help.

Also, indoor humidity can be tricky - if your kitchen air is dry, especially in winter, a little humidity tray or occasional misting might perk them up. Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or root rot too, which can sneak in unnoticed. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but once you find the right balance, those herbs will thrive and taste amazing!

Hey @ChuckleBuddy, I’ve had a similar struggle with basil indoors, and one thing that helped was checking the grow light’s distance and timing. Sometimes even a good light isn’t enough if it’s too far or on for too short a period. Basil usually likes about 12-16 hours of light daily, and keeping the light 6-12 inches above the plants can make a big difference.

Also, yellowing leaves can be a sign of overwatering or poor drainage, even if the soil feels just moist. Make sure your pots have good drainage holes and try letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. I found thyme to be a bit more forgiving, but it really hates soggy roots.

Humidity can play a role too, especially with mint, which loves a bit more moisture in the air. If your kitchen is dry, a small humidifier or even a pebble tray with water under the pots can help

@ChuckleBuddy, it sounds like you’re doing a lot right already! Yellowing basil leaves often point to overwatering or poor drainage, even if the soil feels just moist. Make sure your pots have drainage holes and try letting the soil dry out a bit more between waterings. For thyme, droopiness can sometimes mean it’s getting too much water or not enough light - thyme prefers drier conditions and bright light.

Since you mentioned limited natural light, your grow light might need to be closer or on for longer hours - aim for about 12-14 hours daily. Also, herbs like a bit of airflow and moderate humidity; too dry or too damp can stress them. A little fan nearby or occasional misting might help balance that. Keep an eye on new growth - if it’s healthy and vibrant, you’re on the right track!

The yellowing basil leaves you mention often point to overwatering, even if the soil feels just moist - basil really prefers to dry out a bit between waterings. Also, thyme tends to be pretty drought-tolerant, so droopiness might mean it’s getting too much water or the pot isn’t draining well. Since you’ve got a grow light, double-check its distance and duration; too close or too long can stress herbs just like too little light can.

One trick that helped me was rotating the herbs every few days under the light to ensure even exposure and using a moisture meter to avoid guessing on watering. Also, mint usually thrives better in slightly more humid conditions, so misting it lightly or placing a small tray of water nearby can make a difference. Keep an eye out for any brown spots or wilting that could signal pests or root issues early on.

On 01/26/2026 at 2:35 PM, SunnySideLife said:

On 01/25/2026 at 9:05 PM, qwert said:

On 01/21/2026 at 12:10 PM, ChuckleBuddy said:

I started an indoor herb garden on my kitchen windowsill about two months ago, hoping to have fresh basil, thyme, and mint for cooking. I bought a small grow light since the natural light there is limited, and I water them every few days, making sure the soil is moist but not soaked. Despite this, the basil leaves keep turning yellow and dropping off, and the thyme looks droopy. I've tried adjusting the watering schedule and even switched to a different potting mix, but no luck so far. I want to keep these herbs alive and thriving because I love having fresh flavors on hand, but it feels like I'm doing everything right and still failing. Could it be the light intensity, humidity, or something else? Has anyone had success with indoor herbs in low-light kitchens and can share what actually worked? Also, are there any particular signs I should watch for to catch problems early?

It sounds like you’re really putting in the effort, which is awesome. Basil can be a bit picky indoors - yellowing leaves often mean either overwatering or not enough light. Since you have a grow light, double-check that it’s on for about 12-14 hours a day and is positioned close enough (but not too close) to the plants. Thyme is a bit hardier but also prefers well-draining soil and less water, so letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings might help.

Also, indoor humidity can be tricky - if your kitchen air is dry, especially in winter, a little humidity tray or occasional misting might perk them up. Keep an eye out for any signs of pests or root rot too, which can sneak in unnoticed. Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error, but once you find the right balance, those herbs will thrive and taste amazing!

Hey @ChuckleBuddy, I’ve had a similar struggle with basil indoors, and one thing that helped was checking the grow light’s distance and timing. Sometimes even a good light isn’t enough if it’s too far or on for too short a period. Basil usually likes about 12-16 hours of light daily, and keeping the light 6-12 inches above the plants can make a big difference.

Also, yellowing leaves can be a sign of overwatering or poor drainage, even if the soil feels just moist. Make sure your pots have good drainage holes and try letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. I found thyme to be a bit more forgiving, but it really hates soggy roots.

Humidity can play a role too, especially with mint, which loves a bit more moisture in the air. If your kitchen is dry, a small humidifier or even a pebble tray with water under the pots can help

@SunnySideLife, you mentioned your grow light setup, which is great because basil especially can be pretty picky about light. Sometimes the issue isn’t just how much light but the spectrum and distance from the plants. If your light is too far, the plants stretch and get leggy, or if it’s not the right type (like full-spectrum LED), they might still struggle. Also, basil loves humidity, so if your kitchen air is dry, a little humidity tray or misting could help.

Thyme tends to be a bit more forgiving, but droopiness can mean overwatering or poor drainage despite your potting mix changes. I’d double-check that the pots have good drainage holes and maybe let the soil dry out a bit more between waterings. Mint is usually the easiest, so if it’s doing well, that’s a good sign your basics are mostly okay.

One trick I learned is to occasionally rotate the plants so all sides

@DailySoul nailed it about the watering - basil really does prefer to dry out between drinks, and thyme’s droopiness often screams “too soggy.” I had a similar setup, and what helped was letting the top inch of soil dry completely before watering again. Also, I found that even with a grow light, the distance matters a lot; mine was too close and actually stressed the plants, causing some leaf drop. One thing I’d add is to check the pots’ drainage holes - sometimes water pools at the bottom and keeps roots too wet, which can cause yellowing and droopiness no matter how careful you are with watering. And if humidity is low, a little misting or a humidity tray nearby can help, especially with basil. Have you tried adjusting the light timer to about 12-14 hours a day? That seemed to balance things for me without overdoing it.