Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Herbs such as Italian parsley, chives and curly parsley can be moved indoors, but they need an extra light source left on about 10 hours a day if they will be harvested regularly. Click photo for larger image.

When you brought in your herbs from the garden in the fall, they were still green and healthy. Now, after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, they might be showing the effects of neglect. It's time to give them a check and see how they're doing.

When you brought your plants inside, the angle of the sun was still quite high. In January, the angle is much lower and the number of hours of direct sunlight that your plants get is dramatically reduced. You may be lucky to get more than a few days of sunshine in the whole month of January.

Light is the prime reason most herbs fail to thrive, particularly the common culinary ones such as thyme, rosemary and chives. In nature, they would be dormant at this time, so do not look for vibrant growth in the middle of winter. Signs of problems include pale green stems that are flimsy and growing toward a window or light source.

In general, these stems are weak and should be removed before they get too long. They may not have as strong a flavor as the summertime herbs do, but they will add some zest to stocks and other favorite winter recipes.

To avoid weak, one-sided growth, rotate the plant regularly and consider adding another light source. Keep the bulb about 8 inches above the plant and leave it on about 10 hours a day if you want to harvest the plant regularly. If you are just getting the herb through the winter, five or six hours a day is enough.

	Paul Aiken, The Daily Camera via SHNS Light is the prime reason most herbs fail to thrive, particularly common culinary ones like thyme. Click photo for larger image.

Second in importance are heat and humidity levels of the home, which also affect how much you water. Herbs such as rosemary are happy to rest in a cool, unused room with just occasional watering. Overwatering rosemary, or under-watering, will cause a quick and sudden demise. Look for the needles to turn black at the tips. If you notice black, check the soil and see how the roots look.

If they are still white and healthy, repot and move the plant to a bright area to stimulate growth. If the roots are brown or black and limp, the plant is probably past saving.

Rosemary and lavenders tend to suffer from fungus problems. This is particularly common when they are inside where the air is still. A simple remedy is to place a small fan nearby to create a flow of air over the leaves. The fan does not have to be on all day, but a few hours will greatly improve the health of the plant.

When a plant is weak or in poor health, there is also an increased chance of bug problems. Check herbs regularly for spider mites and tiny flies that might be attacking them. In larger-leaved herbs such as basil or Italian parsley, be sure to check under the leaves as well. If you find bugs, try to dislodge them with a spray of water.

If the infestation appears to come from the soil, consider repotting. This is much easier to do in the spring than in midwinter, but if you use a bucket for the waste soil and rinse the plant under a faucet to remove all contaminated soil, it doesn't have to make a big mess.

When harvesting herbs to add to recipes or salads, take care not to take too much. The plant needs as much leaf area as possible to stay healthy. Harvest the weaker new stems first as you correct any problems of light and moisture. A healthy plant can sustain a light harvest on a regular basis, but you can't take as much as in the spring and summer.

Fortunately, just a little bit can go a long way when adding extra flavor to meals. So check plants regularly, adjust water or light problems and enjoy your herbs inside until springtime.