Basil

Basil Care

Ocimum basilicum

What is the plant

Basil has not only a beautiful appearance and pleasant aroma. It can be very useful, especially if you like to use spices while cooking various dishes. However, you need to remember that this plant is finicky and not easy to keep.

Basil is an herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family. Initially, basil grew in South Asia. Now basil grows in the wild in any country with a warm and humid climate. Basil reaches a length of 15-28 inches (40-70 centimeters) and has a straight, leafy stem. Basil is green or purple. Green basil flowers are white, while purple basil flowers are more often red or pink.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

15°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 12b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Experts advise watering basil every morning during the warm season. In winter, you should reduce the frequency of watering. In a cool environment, basil needs two waterings per week. If you spray basil leaves with water, especially on hot days, the leaves will stay juicy.
Pruning
You need to prune the top and the flower buds about once a month, depending on the growth of the leaves. You can take the side leaves if you need several leaves for flavoring. However, experts advise not to cut the lower leaves of the plant.
Fertilizer
Once a month, you need to add organic compounds or humus to the soil. Gardeners advise loosening the soil in pots where basil grows to enrich it with oxygen.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
The summer sun saturates the basil enough, but you will need to help the plant in the cold and cloudy season. An ordinary photo lamp can give the required amount of light. You need to keep it 6-8 inches (15 - 25 centimeters) away from the plant for 10-12 hours daily.
Soil
To grow basil, you will need loose soil. Gardeners recommend using a mixture of garden and ordinary, universal soil. Instead of garden soil, you can use a universal substrate with humus in a ratio of 1 to 4. At the bottom of the pot, you need to put a drainage layer one inch (2.5 centimeters) thick.
Propagation
Most often, gardeners germinate basil from seeds. An alternative and simpler method is graftage. Basil is easy to root, so you just need to put the cuttings in the water and wait for the result.

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Temperature
You should better keep basil in a warm place away from drafts. In the cold, the plant grows much more slowly. The best temperature for growing basil is 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit (22-28 Celsius).
Container
For basil, you will need a container with drainage holes at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) deep. You would be better off using a large container to keep the basil shoots at a distance from each other. Gardeners recommend planting basil shoots 4 inches (10 centimeters) apart.
Fun fact
The soldiers of Alexander the Great brought basil from Asia to Europe.