Indoor herb gardens are an easy addition to every home, and perfect for gardeners of every level to snip fresh herbs and use them in dishes without skipping a beat. Indoor herb gardens can a be compact and low commitment way to test out your green thumb without the expensive commitment of creating a full outdoor garden. Setting up plants in your kitchen, or any sunny spot in your home, can bring some of the outdoors inside, adding a fresh feeling to any decor. While starting may seem daunting, with these three factors, you are sure to find success.

*Plants

Possibly the hardest part of starting a garden is knowing where to start - which plants when starting a garden are; what type of plants? and seed or starters?

When it comes to picking your herbs, some are better suited than others for growing indoors. Evergreen herbs, or herbs that bloom year-round, like bay, rosemary and thyme are hearty and can last for years. Herbs like chive, mint, parsley and oregano can also bloom year-round with proper care, but they are meant to be dormant during the winter season so the life of the plant may be shorter. Annual plants like basil, cilantro, dill and lemongrass usually only last one growing season but do well in the stable conditions of an indoor setting.

Once you've decided what plants you want to grow, you then must decide from what point to grow them. Most herbs can be grown from three stages: seed, clipping and starter plant. Starter plants are a great, and easy, option for all herbs. They still require care and repotting but have less risk in the initial growing stage. If you are looking for more of a challenge, start with seeds. Annual herbs are the most beginner-friendly plants to grow from seeds, and evergreen herbs are the most challenging. For those wanting to flex that green thumb, using a clipping an option. This process requires you to clip off a part of an adult plant, propagate the stem in water and then transfer the newly grown roots into soil. This works best for herbs with soft, green stems like basil and mint. It can also work for herbs with wood-like stems like rosemary, sage, oregano and thyme but you should take clippings from the greenest part of the plant as the brown growth does not sprout as easily.

*Pots

The pot you place your plant in will become its home, so choose wisely. Nearly all herbs are well served to grow in containers, but you should always review the suggestions of the specific plant.

Just like with any plant, you want to avoid over watering. A collection of water at the bottom of the container can lead to a soggy bottom. Getting a "self-watering" pot or a pot with a drainage system is ideal to prevent your herbs from rotting. In addition to drainage, size matters. The size of your pot will decide the growing potential of your plant. If having lots of pots is not your vibe, you can plant herbs together. Keep plants that have similar requirements for water and sun together to maximize growth.

If you have a reputation for killing plants, and are willing to invest, an indoor herb garden system may be a smart choice. These all-in-one systems have multiple pots, lighting systems and self-water. They often run over $100.

*Environment

Even if you have all the best plants and tools, your herbs wont flourish if they aren't in the right environment. To grow successfully indoors, herbs need as much natural light as possible. Placing them near a window or in a sunny spot of your home is ideal. Getting at least 6 hours of sunlight throughout the day is best for most types of herbs, but some need even more. The typical indoor temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees will satisfy most plants but be careful of low evening temperatures, which can shock leaves. If you have a particularly drafty window, or the leaves are pressing against the panes, take measures to protect the plant.