Ever since I got my lemon balm plant, it hasn't been a huge fan of me. Now its leaves are turning slightly yellow with brown edges. What am I doing wrong?

Hi, Lindsey:

Is your plant in the ground or in a pot? If in a pot, how large? Is it in full or part sun? Against a brick wall or patio?

I see you're in Ohio--here as your next-door neighbor in Indiana, we've had a ton of rain which has had a really devastating effect on many plants.

Sorry for all of the questions, but any additional information you can provide will help the experts here try to diagnose the problem. Hope we can help you out!

Linda

Hi Linda!

It is in an indoor pot in my Southern facing window. The pot is about a foot in diameter! (:

Thank you!

Hi, Lindsey:

A couple of thoughts: how long has your plant been in that pot? Lemon balm grows roots like crazy, so it's possible it's rootbound. In general, herbs don't need much fertlization, but if it's overgrown in it's pot, it might not have many nutrients left. The other things to consider: is it getting consistent watering? Is the glass from the window getting too warm and scorching the leaves?

You may wish to consider putting it outdoors in a sunny, but somewhat sheltered location for a while. It should do very well outdoors in your zone.

I grow my lemonbalm in my garden, and just routinely chop some out to keep it contained. You can also bury a pot outdoors to keep it contained. It is a perennial in our zone.

Linda

Thank you!!! I will repot it and see how it does. I've been trying to figure out how much water it likes. How much/often should I water it?

Lemon balm is really hardy--it needs regular watering. You really might want to consider putting it outdoors for a while. It is very hardy in your zone. You can easily leave it outdoors over the summer, and bring it in over the winter if you wish.

Linda

Brown edges can be a sign of not getting water deep into the pot, so the roots run into the edges of the pot, block the water, and burn the leaf for leaf drop. A deep soak isnt a bad idea either. Your pot is pretty deep?