Lemon basil

Lemon basil Care

Ocimum × citriodorum

What is the plant

Lemon basil is a beautiful plant that is extremely easy to maintain. Moreover, it does more than add a splash of green color to your home; it adds a pleasant citrusy taste to your cooking too!

Lemon basil, sometimes referred to as hoary basil, is a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, meaning it is related to plants like mint, for instance. This plant comes from south Asia and is commonly used as an herb in home cooking around the world.

Lemon basil can be identified by its bright green color, oval leaves that come to a point, and fuzzy-looking stocks emerging from the top of the plant. During August and September, the lemon basil blossoms with small white flowers.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

15°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

2 - 11

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
It is important to keep the soil moist, and you can do this by watering about 1 inch (2.45 cm) a week.
Pruning
Cut just above the leaf buds on the main stems to reduce your lemon basil's growth. These guys get big quickly!
Fertilizer
Lemon basil grows quickly with just soil, so fertilizing is not recommended. The maximum frequency is once a month. We especially discourage feeding the greenie if you plan on eating it, as fertilizer may destroy the taste.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Lemon basil plants love sunlight. So, make sure they get as much as possible. Place your greenie next to a south-facing window.
Soil
Common potting soil is perfect for lemon basil plants. Adding some rocks or wood chips can help in drainage.
Propagation
Plant seeds in soil that has access to direct sunlight and make sure they are warm and the soil is moist too. You should see sprouts after about two weeks.

You can also cut about 6 inches (15.2 cm) from the top of the plant, place it in a glass or water with direct sunlight, and new roots will grow after a couple of weeks.

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Temperature
Anything under 50°F (10°C) begins to damage lemon basil plants.
Container
Lemon basil plants need significant room for their roots. A pot about 12 inches (30.5 cm) deep and 7 inches (17.8 cm) wide will do the trick perfectly. Drainage holes are a must, or your greenie's roots might begin to rot.
Fun fact
The lemon basil's name hints at its citrusy taste.