Lemon balm looks like one of those herbs that should be easy indoors. It grows like a weed outside, smells incredible, and promises tea, cocktails, and calm evenings. Indoors, though, mine struggled at first. It didn’t die dramatically. It just slowly lost energy, flavor, and enthusiasm.
What changed everything was realizing that lemon balm indoors needs clarity, not constant care.
Light is the non-negotiable
This plant is forgiving about many things, but not light.
What finally worked for me:
- A bright south- or west-facing window
- At least five to six hours of direct sun
- Rotating the pot every few days
Without enough sun, the leaves grew weak and lost their scent. Too much intense sun in one spot caused browning. Rotation solved that immediately.
I stopped treating it like a thirsty herb
Outdoors, lemon balm can handle moisture. Indoors, soggy soil is a fast way to lose it.
My watering rule now:
- Let the top layer of soil dry before watering
- Water thoroughly, then let excess drain completely
- Never let the pot sit in water
Lemon balm tolerates brief dryness far better than wet feet. Overwatering didn’t just weaken the plant. It pushed it toward flowering.
Why I actively prevent flowering
The first time it bolted, I didn’t think much of it. Then the leaves turned bitter.
Indoors, flowering is a stress signal.
To prevent it, I:
- Pinch off flower buds as soon as they appear
- Harvest regularly to keep growth focused on leaves
- Avoid heavy fertilizing
Once flowering stopped, the leaf flavor came back.
Fertilizer is optional (and often unnecessary)
This surprised me. Lemon balm doesn’t need much feeding indoors.
What I do now:
- Skip fertilizer entirely most of the time
- Use very diluted liquid feed only if growth stalls
- Never fertilize heavily
Too much fertilizer reduced the scent, which defeats the point of growing it.
How I harvest without weakening the plant
Harvesting isn’t just about using the leaves. It’s part of maintenance.
My approach:
- Never remove more than one-third of the plant at once
- Cut stems just above a leaf node
- Focus on older growth first
Regular harvesting keeps the plant compact and productive.
The container made a bigger difference than I expected
Once I switched to a pot with excellent drainage, everything improved.
What I look for now:
- Drainage holes, no exceptions
- A pot that doesn’t trap moisture
- Soil that drains quickly
Semi-porous ceramic pots helped keep moisture levels more stable without constant adjustment.
Where I keep it (and where I don’t)
Lemon balm likes stability.
I keep mine:
- Away from cold drafts
- Away from radiators and heat vents
- In a spot with steady temperatures
It doesn’t need high humidity, so I don’t mist it or run a humidifier.
