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How to Care for a Fresh Rosemary Plant

November 29, 2013 by Barb 36 Comments

Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs, and while it’s quite easy to grow, I have a few tips on how to care for a fresh rosemary plant.

When I first bring a rosemary plant home from the greenhouse, I like to transplant it into a slightly larger pot that has good drainage holes. That way it has plenty of room to put down a sturdy root system during the summer. When I bring it in for the winter, I may repot once again, as hopefully it will have grown quite a bit.

Rosemary is a tender evergreen perennial grown as an annual in most areas of Canada. It loves full sun, tolerates shade and does very well in containers. It prefers light, well-drained soil.

So here’s the “down and dirty” part. If you want to keep your plant as healthy as possible for as long as possible, this is what I would recommend.

How to Care for a Fresh Rosemary Plant*

  • Remove your new rosemary plant from pot and if it seems potbound, pinch the roots to loosen, and stimulate growth
  • Choose a new, larger pot, with good drainage
  • Rosemary does not like to dry out, but it does not like to stand in water either, so place something on the bottom to help increase drainage even more—I used a plastic liner from one of my summer pots
  • Put soil in the bottom of the pot
  • Place the plant inside, then pour more soil down the sides, pressing down as you go until the soil reaches the top, making sure you don’t cover the top of the root ball
  • Water rosemary when the soil at the top feels dry
  • I like to either mist or spray the top of the plant quite regularly. It keeps spider mites at bay, and also revitalizes it
  • Having said this – most experts will tell you powdery mildew is a problem with rosemary, so make sure there is lots of airflow around the plant

This also works well on the large topiary plants available around Christmas-time.

How to Care for Fresh Rosemary, Tips for keeping your rosemary plant vigourous.

Rosemary Topiary at Christmas

How to Care for Fresh Rosemary, Tips for keeping your rosemary plant vigourous.

larger pot

How to Care for Fresh Rosemary, Tips for keeping your rosemary plant vigourous.

if it seems potbound, pinch roots to loosen and stimulate growth

How to Care for Fresh Rosemary, Tips for keeping your rosemary plant vigourous.

water well, using a sprayer but let drain completely

And lastly, don’t forget to use the herb in your cooking and baking. Pinch off the fresh new green ends that are sure to grow now that it’s happy!

Rosemary Windfall, What to do with Rosemary? Keeping With the Times

*Since being first published on Keeping With the Times in 2013, this post has been revised and updated.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

How to Care for Fresh Rosemary, Tips for keeping your rosemary plant vigourous.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy these:

Rosemary Thyme Parmesan Shortbread
Rosemary Thyme Shortbread
Mint Tea
Fresh Mint Tea
Maple Walnut Dressing

 

Filed Under: GARDENING Tagged With: gardening, rosemary, tips

Comments

  1. a spirit of simplicity says

    November 29, 2013 at 6:12 am

    I have brought my rosemary in for the winter. I am not sure how long I can keep it going but it sure looks pretty right now with little white lights on it.

    Reply
  2. Barbara Hurst says

    November 29, 2013 at 6:43 am

    very cool demonstration through your photography Barb. lovely photos. since i grow my rosemary outside no need to have it inside as it really doesn’t do as well with the AC on in the house but it sure looks lovely in yours. Love the pail.

    Reply
  3. Cheryl M says

    November 29, 2013 at 6:43 am

    Oh gosh Barb, I saw my first rosemary topiary yesterday during our Thanksgiving with my daughter. I guess I don’t get out much, huh? Didn’t even know they made these! And thanks SO MUCH for the care tips. I’m definitely getting myself one (or two) of these!! It’s the PERFECT solution this year. We always travel for Christmas and our ornery cat Bart LOVES to tear up my Christmas tree, so I’ve decided to forego the tree this year until he’s older and this will be absolutely PERFECT for a replacement along with my other decorations.
    Can’t WAIT for that recipe!!

    Reply
    • Cheryl M says

      November 29, 2013 at 6:44 am

      Shoot! Forgot to say I LOVE your pail too!!

      Reply
    • Barb says

      November 29, 2013 at 7:36 am

      Thank you, Cheryl! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

      Reply
  4. Becs says

    November 29, 2013 at 6:46 am

    So beautiful, what a great idea.

    Reply
  5. Lisa RedWillow says

    November 29, 2013 at 7:08 am

    Happy to read how to take care of this.. I adore this herb also. Loved the posting and images. As always “Stellar”.

    Reply
    • Barb says

      November 29, 2013 at 7:36 am

      Thank you, Lisa!

      Reply
  6. Lisa RedWillow says

    November 29, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Perfect for the holidays. I think I need one too… off to Costco and see if they have them..:) Thank you. So uplifting.

    Reply
  7. Beverly says

    November 29, 2013 at 7:10 am

    Such a magical way to have a cute, fragrant tree with lights! And your new pail is the best find of all!! Love the 2nd photo, a LOT, and your how to photos! Enjoy!!! Looking forward to your upcoming recipe as well.

    Reply
  8. Kia says

    November 29, 2013 at 7:49 am

    What a great idea for the holiday season! I used to grow mine outside while in Italy, but here in Scotland I don’t have a garden or a balcony. I must try this. Thanks! Lovely photos, btw. :)

    Reply
  9. TexWisGirl says

    November 29, 2013 at 8:17 am

    that’s really cute!

    Reply
  10. Viv says

    November 29, 2013 at 9:55 am

    Barb I love your header it’s really great. You would love our garden we have three huge Rosemary plants that flower all the time in fact it’s difficult to know when to prune them !!! In fact one of them is threatening to grow up past the window sill in the front of the house. Don’t you just love twinkle lights ? I’m waiting to get some twisted willow or hazel to thread some lights…

    Reply
    • Barb says

      November 29, 2013 at 11:41 am

      Thank you, Viv! I love my new header too! Isn’t Anna Aspnes the best!! I wish you would photograph those rosemary plants and publish them so I could see them!

      Reply
  11. Rosie Grey says

    November 29, 2013 at 10:03 am

    What a wonderful post, Barb! I can almost smell that rosemary! It looks fantastic at this size and so beautiful with the lights!

    Reply
  12. Sylvia says

    November 29, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Oh, what a great idea, Barb, a rosemary Christmas tree !
    And I so love that pail, it’s gorgeous !
    Thanks for all the tips …
    Nice weekend,
    Sylvia

    Reply
  13. Sheila says

    November 29, 2013 at 10:48 am

    I love rosemary too! I love your post too – what a wonderful way to decorate for the holidays!

    Reply
  14. Karen @ Pieces of Contentment says

    November 29, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    I’d never seen a rosemary topiary, nor heard of rosemary being kept indoors. What a great idea and with some little lights as well it sure does make a darling little tree. Useful all year round too.

    Reply
  15. Dotti says

    November 29, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    I have to agree with you … rosemary smells wonderful! And your looks wonderful as well … I can almost smell it!

    Reply
  16. lisa says

    November 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    This is beautiful, Barb, and like you, I so love the scent.
    Thank you for the information here, and have a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
  17. kelly kardos says

    November 29, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    I love Rosemary too. I have 2 different types growing in my back yard. The scent just soothes me. I’m loving that vintage tin pail too.

    Reply
  18. Angie says

    November 29, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Oh, I love this, Barb. Such beautiful photographs and demonstration. Very lovely. :)

    Reply
  19. Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader says

    November 30, 2013 at 10:04 am

    Barb Thank You!

    I love the smell of fresh rosemary. So wonderful, because of this I buy a plant every year. And every year between me and the cat (she has a nasty habit of chewing on the plant…) the plant ends up dead within 3 months ;(

    That being said the plants always came in a larger pot so I never thought to transplant them, and I didn’t water them the way you do. I will be employing your technique this time around. Here’s hoping that it survives (although the cat will still be an issue…)

    Sharing on Facebook and Pinterest in hopes that you are able to save more than just my Rosemary plants ;)

    Reply
    • Carolyn says

      April 6, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      I’m no expert, but you might try some red pepper to keep your cat away from the rosemary. Just a thought!

      Reply
  20. Sylvia says

    December 1, 2013 at 1:52 am

    Oh, what a great idea, Barb, a rosemary Christmas tree !
    And I so love that pail, it’s gorgeous !
    Thanks for all the tips …
    Nice Sunday,
    Sylvia

    Reply
  21. Sylvia says

    December 1, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Oh, what a great idea, Barb, a rosemary Christmas tree !
    And I so love that pail, it’s gorgeous !
    Thanks for all the tips …
    Have a nice week,
    Sylvia

    Reply
  22. Carmel says

    December 1, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    What a wonderful find…like the way you have used it for you beautiful rosemary Christmas tree….great idea…thank you.

    Reply
  23. cathy @ ma vie trouvee says

    December 3, 2013 at 4:57 am

    What a fun and informative post. i love the lights on your rosemary. can I just buy yours? : )

    Reply
  24. Roxi says

    December 3, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    My favorite of all herbs! I use it in porkchops and potato dishes.

    Reply
  25. Shauna says

    December 5, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    So nice to see a “gardening” post this time of year. Love rosemary!

    Reply
  26. Jodie @ Jodies Kitchen says

    January 28, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    Great Post thanks.

    Reply
  27. Connie says

    March 22, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    I love rosemary too, I was wondering if you have chlorinated tapwater, and if it bothers your rosemary.

    Reply
  28. kat says

    June 19, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    i bought rosemary plant but mines is dying badly how can I save it please help me

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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