In most kitchens I enter, there it is: a basil plant. And I can also say, every now and then I like to buy such a little pot. Why? I love to freshly pluck the aromatic leaves of the spice plant to flavor pasta sauces or garnish tomato mozzarella. However, the reason I have to keep replenishing is usually because: dry leaves, fungal infestation, the plant dies on me. Did I water it too much or too little? Did it get too much sunlight or not enough?

These are the questions I have tried to answer.

Here you will find some helpful tips, so that this will not happen to you and me in the future =)

Tips for keeping your basil plant alive

Place and temperature

Put your green roommate in a bright and sunny place, temperature min. 16 degrees, in summer you can give it a more shady place half day.

More space

As you bought it, it is often too densely planted. If you carefully pull out a few of the shoots by the roots and replant, the remaining ones will have more of the nutrients in the soil.

Watering

To keep the soil hydrated, but not too hydrated, place the pot in a bowl of water (daily in summer) for 10-20 minutes.

Harvest

The leaves of the plant should not touch the moist soil. Harvest first the lower and then the upper leaves and tips of the highest shoots, in these places the plant will sprout again and become more lush.

Basil Plant Care

After a few weeks, the nutrients in the soil will be depleted and you can add new ones to your basil plant with some fresh compost.

If all else fails and you do end up with a basil plantlet, quickly pick all the good leaves and dry them for later use.

If you’re interested in how to cook more sustainably, read more here.