There are many healing applications associated with lemon balm or common balm thanks to its multiple beneficial properties that help treat and alleviate a myriad of conditions such as heavy bouts of indigestion or even insomnia. That is why it is very useful to have this medicinal herb in your humble home in order to use it when necessary.
Similarly, this plant will help you to maintain a pleasant odor at home or in the garden it can even act as an insect repellent. So do not wait any longer to plant it everywhere and discover in this OneHowTo article the best tricks on how to care for lemon balm.
First, it is good to know that lemon balm also has many other names such as:
- Common balm
- Honey leaf
- Balm mint
- Lime
- Balm
As a curiosity, we can add that most of these names are derived from the characteristic lemon scent that engulfs this adorable aromatic herb.
Now in terms of basic care for lemon balm plants, it is essential that the plants are in a place where they will not receive direct sunlight, since they are used to the Mediterranean climate, i.e. smooth and not excessively high temperatures. So that will be most appropriate place for them, in partial shade so they can grow properly.
With regards to watering lemon balm, it is important to note that watering should always be moderate. These herbs do not require excessive moisture. In turn, we must pay special attention to never leave the ground waterlogged, ensure good drainage and loose substrates. Sandy soil works fine for this particular plant.
Thus, lemon balm plants with water once a week will be happy and, in the case of plants that are directly on the floor, in winter they may even live without constant irrigation.
On the other hand, lemon balm is very sensitive to frost and it cannot stand excessively cold temperatures. That is why, during the winter season, you must protect the plants from the cold and ensure that they are not hit by temperatures below zero. Place them in a sheltered place or cover them at night - that will help.
Lemon balm plants appreciate the contributions of organic fertilizers such as compost. That will be very favorable especially when flowering in May and August. This ensures lusher leaves. It will also be very appropriate to remove any nasty weeds that can grow around the lemon balm.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Care for Lemon Balm, we recommend you visit our Gardening & plants category.