Need help with Rosemary plant

[SetzKitten]

I bought a couple of rosemary plants for Christmas gifts a few weeks ago. Since then they've turned brown and the needles are falling off. Does anyone know how to care for them? I've left them inside, in the sun (in front of a sliding door). I've watered them twice in 3 weeks (the tag said to water infrequently.) Is that not enough? Any chance they'll be looking good by Christmas, or do I need to start over? Thanks!

 

[mommytotwo]

Our rosemary grows wild and we have our plant in the ground.
Once it goes brown, you will need to start over again.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I don't know where you're from, but here in MA it's very difficult to grow rosemary indoors in the winter. The air is much too dry in a heated house. Although they do like dry soil conditions, they really need a certain amount of atmospheric humidity (think Mediterranean). It's also difficult to get them enough light to thrive in the off-season in the Northeast. I usually can keep them going for a month or so in a very sunny window in a very cool room, but eventually they fail. Once they're brown, they're gone. Better to replace them each spring around here, and grow them outside.

 

[LAinSEA]

I was told by the nursery manager that growing rosemary indoors is a no-no. So then why do they sell it in cute little topiary form for the holidays? Probably because it is pretty easy to get to grow this way quickly and it is an herb associated with the season.

So what to do with it? If you can, stick it outside where it won't freeze in the pot and it should get a little water but not drown. You might get it to come back from the dead. Once it looks like it has some new growth, prune it back.

If you want to have the topiaries indoors for holiday decorations, bring them in only for the event and then put them back outdoors. The same nursery manager told me that lavender is also much like rosemary--pretty easy to get to grow into the desired shape but it doesn't like the house. Again, why do they grow it and sell it for indoors?

 

[ron808]

I have bought two 2" Rosemary plants last spring & it got stunted because of the pots that I've transferred them into.

However, I've been trimming them and replanting the little cut offs. I have atleast 6 rosemary plants right now. There have been ice & snow but it doesn't seem to kill them.

 

[WDWfan uk]

There has been ice & snow but it doesn't seem to kill them.

...... I can vouch for that too ! Rosemary thrives in our gardens in the UK - they seem to grow very vigorously, and ours doesn't mind any snow, frost etc that our Winters throw at them - although I would not cut back at all until Spring. (I've never seen rosemary grown indoors).

Sadly, it may be too late for your plants if they have turned brown and shedding

 

[bullpup12564]

Maybe the light is not strong enough. I know even with three sixty watt grolights my plant is dropping neddles. I am afraid I still have four months till my plant can go back outside. Good luck

 

[rockyroad]

I brought rosemary in for the winter.
It died.

Now I leave it out. Sometimes it lives. I had one that lasted three years and then the winter got it. I don't know why.

 

[queendiamond]

You need to water Rosemary everyday if you keep it inside. Only about a cup of water though.

 

[MermaidsMom]

I even bought a special stand for my rosemary so that it could be by the window and it died anyway!! Of course a window in January up north doesn't mean sun, it just means less dark.