Rosemary tree - anybody ever have one?

[NancyR]

My local Costco has the mose beautiful Rosemary trees for the holidays. I am soooooooo tempted but hate the thought of condeming it to a miserable life in my house. Has anyone ever grown one successfully and if so do you have any tips?
Thanks a bunch.:confused:

[boisewinesnob]

Nancy,
I can only tell you what NOT to do...I think.
I actually did not have a tree, but a topiary-type of thing made out of a rosemary plant. I think the thing only lasted about 2 months before I killed it. My guess is that I over-watered it. I have come to that conclusion because this past summer I planted a bunch of different herbs in a whiskey barrel out on our back patio and was not very good about remembering to water. Guess what....everything died but the rosemary still looks great! I am thinking the moral is to not give it too much water, but I'm sure that someone else will probably be a bit more knowledgable than I on the subject. I refuse to have ANY indoor plants at all because they all die. I just stick to outdoor plants now.

Suzy

[dcornelius]

I have a cousin who has rosemary out side her house here in AZ and it gets next to no maintnance! I t is a very haearty plant and it smells wonderful! It grows rightoutside hr front door so it is a wonderful greeter for guests! I knoe thats not much help as far as wht to do for it but perhaps mt point is, that you don't have to do a whole heck of a lot!

[clarksmom]

Rosemary at your gate keeps evil spirits away and lavender at your door brings good friends and happiness?

Not a practicing just goofing around. But I did hear that once.

[kgraham]

I was given a Rosemary Tree from Costco 6 years ago. The Christmas Tree shape did not last very long, but it is still alive. I've had to transplant it to a larger pot every couple of years and at this point I should probably just plant it in the ground.

It doesn't need too much water, has beautiful purple flowers in the spring and fall and its quite handy having fresh rosemary on hand at all times.

[javajulie]

That sounds like a really great thing to have. Rush down there TODAY and get one. You deserve a treat - one that keeps on giving all year round!

Take care
Julie

[Peggy]

I have a rosemary tree and love it. I did have to transplant it outside though. My kitchen is fairly dark and they like lots of light.

Peggy

[JA]

I bought a Rosemary tree this year - I just love it. I had one a couple of years ago, and found last year that I went looking for one too late - there weren't many around, they sold fast.
My last one lasted most of the winter, and I just dried it out. However, I'm trying to treat this one better, and I think it's working. I put it in the window in the moring, so that it gets some sun. Water it regularly, but don't overwater it - it can be a little on the dry side. Also, water only the roots - not the green part.

Actually, I'm making gails psycho chicken with rosemary right now - it smells wonderful! I also took emeril's advice, and rubbed the chicken with a lemon. We'll see how that is.

You're worth it!
Julie

[Terrytx]

My DH brought me home one last weekend. He ran over to Walmart for something or other and they were on sale. It is already losing it shape. We have it outside in a nice pot. It smells so good.

[adb]

I saw them at Costco too and was very tempted...The directions on them were not very detailed though, so I have been looking around on the internet about how to take care of them. The consensus that I have found is that they often die on people. Particularly, in a northern climate with limited sun in the winter. I may still get one anyway though! I have read that drainage is very important and that they like humidity so bringing them in the bathroom for hot shower steam is another way to keep them going. They smell so good and it will definitely be an adventure trying to keep it alive.

[Liz K]

I have a small rosemary plant in a pot. I keep it outside my front door, since that area gets sun most of the day. So far, I haven't killed it and it's several months old.

[hendsl]

I have had a Rosemary plant in my kitchen for several years. It is true that they don't like a lot of water. I water about 1 x a week.

Instead of putting it into larger pot when it is root bound, I pop it out of its pot, cut the roots by half, put it back into the pot with more soil. Has worked great.

According to a herbal gardening book I have, Rosemary should be fertalized with a liquid fertalizer 1 x a month January through September.

The saying I know about Rosemary is "Where Rosemary flourishes, the woman rules". Amen

[Shirley Ekstein]

Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb. Grows on the hillsides in Provence where it dries out naturally - is an indispensible part of the distinctive scent of Southern France.
I grow it in the English midlands with great success - it likes as much sun as it can get and very free-draining soil - is better in the ground than in a pot, but a pot will do. Don't feed it and never over-water it - in its natural habitat the soil is dry and poor and stony - having to fight for life seems to increases its pungency.
(That sounds awfully cruel. . . true, though.)

[Barb856]

I have a rosemary plant (in a pot) which I've had for two years. Last year in about October, DH brought it inside and put it on a window sill in the basement. I don't believe it was watered again until he took it back outside in April (maybe once or twice at the most) and it is huge. Grows like a weed. During the winter months it did not do much growing but once it was outside it took off. It's back on the window sill in the basement and as green and healthy looking as ever. From this experience, I'm guessing that it does not need much care.