JUST BROUGHT IT HOME?
A good start, in three steps.
- Choose a bright spot that does not overheat.
- Keep the root ball from drying out completely.
- Plan a second sowing for later harvests.
Light & placement
Cilantro grows best as a cooler-season crop. Give it light without trapping it against an intensely hot window. Heat and long days encourage flowering.
Water & drainage
Maintain consistent moisture and let excess water escape. Avoid prolonged drought and root disturbance.
Harvest & shape
Take outer stems while the plant is leafy and leave the growing center. Once it sends up fine, feathery foliage and flower stems, leaf production changes. You can allow it to set coriander seed.
Growing well
Sow small batches at intervals for a continuing supply. A deep container and sowing in its final position reduce transplant disturbance. It is naturally a short-lived annual.
When something looks wrong
Bolting is a normal life-stage response, often accelerated by heat. Cutting off flowers will not reliably return it to a long leafy season; start a new batch.
Three things to avoid.
- Expecting one plant to supply leaves all year.
- Repeatedly disturbing its roots.
- Treating normal bolting as a watering problem.
Rooted in good information
NC State Extension · Coriandrum sativum ↗Iowa State Extension · Growing herbs indoors ↗Reviewed October 3, 2026. Guidance is for container growing. Light, climate, pot size, and season change what your plant needs. Outdoor winter survival varies by location and cultivar.
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