Grow Cilantro Indoors: Window Light and Grow Lights

You can grow cilantro indoors all year, which is one reason the Kratky method suits it. The step-by-step Kratky method guide for cilantro notes that a Kratky setup needs no pump or electricity and no garden. What it does need is light, and indoors that takes planning.

How much light cilantro needs

The guide says to place your setup where it receives at least six hours of sunlight daily, or to supplement with grow lights. A window facing the sun for most of the day is best: in the northern hemisphere, that usually means a south-facing window. A bright east or west window can also work, but plants may need more help from a grow light.

When to use grow lights

If you have no sunny window, or the winter days are short, add a grow light. Full-spectrum LED lights are the usual choice for herbs. Follow the maker's instructions for how far to hang the light above the plants and how many hours a day to run it. A simple outlet timer keeps the schedule consistent, and the plants still get a dark period each day.

Keep it cool

Cilantro likes cooler conditions than many herbs. A windowsill that bakes in afternoon sun, or a spot right beside a warm light, can push the plant to bolt. If that happens, how to stop cilantro from bolting explains what to change.

Where to put the container

• On a windowsill, a shelf beside a window, or under a light on a shelf or counter.
• Out of direct heat from radiators, vents and appliances.
• Somewhere you will see it, so you remember to check the water level.

Rotate the plants occasionally, as the guide advises, so they grow evenly and do not lean toward the light.

Plant choice

Calypso Cilantro is described on our cilantro varieties page as compact, with high yield, and perfect for indoor hydroponic systems. It is a good place to start for a small indoor setup.

If the plants stretch

Tall, thin, pale stems usually mean not enough light. Move the plants closer to the window or lower the light, within the light's instructions. Leggy cilantro: causes and fixes covers the other possible causes.

A year-round routine

The appeal of an indoor setup is that the seasons matter less. The step-by-step Kratky method guide for cilantro describes a continuous supply of fresh cilantro regardless of the season. In summer, the challenge is keeping plants cool. In winter, it is getting enough light. Each season, check the light, the temperature and the water level, and the rest of the method stays the same.

Common questions