Happy Spring! As the last frost retreats and the sun lingers a bit longer each day, I've been bustling around in my garden, preparing my little sanctuary of herbs.

This year, I'm nurturing 12 different types – each with its own story and magical properties. I'm a little too excited!

Growing your own herbs isn't hard. You can use dried herbs for spells and teas, and perform quick and easy witchcraft.

Here are my top 4 tips for successfully growing your own magical herbs.

1) Grow herbs that you'll actually use in the majority of your spells.

My favorite herbs for magic are basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, bay leaf, and mugwort.

Herbs contain energetic properties, much like crystals, that we can call upon during spellwork to strengthen our own magic. These herbs are useful for most areas of spellwork (such as protection, healing, hexing, cleansing, manifesting, etc.) so you'll be able to use them quite a bit.

I recommend starting with the basics and then branching out to more specific herbs for a certain spell. I talk more about the uses for each herb on the Patreon where I do in-depth herb profiles.

2) Grow outdoors if at ALL possible.

Growing herbs outdoors is the easiest method because the plants simply have everything they need. You don't need to adjust grow lights or deal with indoor bugs. If at all possible, grow the majority of your herbs in a garden bed or even a pot on your deck, then dry your herbs for use during the winter.

3) Indoors, focus on easy-to-grow herbs.

You don't want to waste a lot of time growing herbs that simply won't survive indoors. If you're using a hydroponics system like an Aerogarden, stick with the common household herbs that do well in water - basil, cilantro, parsley, lemon balm, mint, and dill are all good choices. Hydroponics is my favorite way of growing indoors.

While you CAN grow herbs in a pot on your windowsill, they often struggle due to lack of light. I only recommend this if you a) can water daily, b) can provide a grow light, and c) intend to plant these herbs outside once the good weather hits.

4) Dry your herbs as soon as possible.

Don't wait - you never know how long a plant will thrive. As soon as you can harvest some of the herb leaves, hang them to dry. I typically wait about 15 days before storing my herbs in a jar. This is the best way to immediately preserve your herbs for usage in spells and teas.

If you're not quite ready to don your gardening gloves, no worries at all! For those enchanting spells without the dirt, I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs. They offer an exceptional range of dried herbs and oils, all organic and responsibly sourced. Perfect for those of us who want the magic without the mud!

Here’s to a season of abundant growth and magical discoveries!

Blessings,

Alex