Basil is a culinary herb that thrives easily in a home climate without any extra caring initiatives. This perennial herb has great value in the culinary field. Basil leaves are used in various types of cuisines around the world.
Its aromatic sweet smell adds an extra flavor to any recipe in an exclusive way. This one from the Lamiaceae family is a perfect plant for any indoor herb garden.
The basic needs of growing basil plants are exceptionally simple; however, they are quite particular about those specific requirements.
Thus, a single disregard act can ruin the entire effort of cultivating this herb regretfully. Here we come up with some of those issues of basil plant along with their quick solution methods, in this attempt-
Why Is My Basil Plant Dying?
Basil or great basil is a simple tropical plant and thus, quite hardy when it comes to the matter of tolerating surrounding circumstances.
Despite being hardy, basil plants sometimes go towards their fatal outcome of constant negligence. Here are some possible ideas of why and how a growing basil plant suddenly starts dying along with some of their fixing tips-
Excessive Watering:
Watering more than the requirements of a plant is overwatering. A basil plant can’t stand this issue ever in its entire growing period.
Watering basil more than once a week or before drying the soil drags it to the overwatering signs. Overwatering often does instigate these problems in your plant-
- Soggy growing medium
- Suffocated roots
- Wilted leaves
Solutions:
- Water with a proper schedule like every 7 to 10 days
- Always use potting mix and pot with a good drainage system
- Never water your basil plant until the topsoil turn dry completely
Related: Why my rosemary plant is dying – how to fix
Drought Stress:
Underwatering or drought stress may not be a bigger problem for a growing basil plant but it often turns deadly after remaining untreated for a long.
To keep your plant away from drought stress, you need to keep it well-hydrated with a proper watering schedule. Keeping your plant underwatering may initiate these issues in your plant-
- Wilted leaves
- Crispy foliage and stems
- And eventually dead plant
Solutions:
- Set a suitable watering schedule depending on the sun-exposure timing of your plant
- Don’t keep your plant dehydrated with dry soil for long
- Install a self-watering pot for your growing basil plant, if you are not around your plant for a while
Related: Best aromatic herbs for your kitchen garden
Cold Stress:
Due to being of tropical origin, the basil plant turns susceptible to cold stress. It can stand frost but only with proper protection methods.
Otherwise, you must keep your plant away from open cold drafts attentively. Cold stress can cause some serious damage to your basil plant such as-
- Wilted plant
- Unwanted hydration
- Poor evaporation
Solutions:
- Don’t let your plant stay unprotected from open window drafts
- Keep your plant away from open windows or doors during winters
- And keep the outside basil planter inside your house until the frost gone
Related: Why my geraniums are dying reasons and fix
Improper Light:
This aromatic herb has a basic requirement of light in its regular growing period. You must cater your basil plant to an optimal amount of sunlight daily.
The light should be bright but indirect. You should be attentive to providing the right percentage of sunlight to your plant in this regard. Otherwise-
- Your plant will turn leggy in search of adequate sunlight
- Basil plants may get sunburned through scorching direct sunlight
- Crispy leaves with less than 4 hours of bright light a day
Solutions:
- Put your planter in a spot where it can get 6-7 hours of bright light every day
- Make sure the sunlight is filtered or indirect
- Let your plant arrange chlorophyll on its leaves with the right amount of sunlight supply
Related: How to save a dying watermelon peperomia
Untreated Pests and Diseases:
Disease and bugs attack both are dangerous for any growing herb including this great basil. Basil plants can have two deadly diseases which often turn fatal for your plant.
They are root rot and fusarium wilt. Root rot often occurs due to waterlogged conditions, while fusarium wilt appears due to fungal infections.
On the other hand, insect attacks are quite normal for such scrumptious herbal plants. Some basic issues the basil plant may have with these problems are-
- Rapid fungal infestation
- Wilted plant
- Soggy soil
- Nutrient deficiency
- And bitten leaves as well as stems
Solutions:
- Keep your plant in good dry condition with a proper light supply
- Never keep your plant in anaerobic condition as it weakens the roots badly
- Provide protection and apply remedies to keep the pests’ attacks at bay with organic methods
Unsolved Issues:
Keeping your plant inattentive and letting it suffer with untreated issues for a long often lead your basil plant toward a lethal outcome.
So, you must not keep your plants neglected for long or they will die with their unsolved issues shortly. Unsolved troubleshoots issues may occur in your basil plant as-
- Stunt growth
- Unhealthy foliage
- Dry stems
- And a plant that is losing its true form gradually
Solutions:
- Provide your plant with its basic needs accurately
- Give your plant a good check every two-three day
- Never let your plant suffer from untreated troubleshooting issues ever for long
Don’t skip any step unchecked once you find that your growing basil plant is dying without any logical reason. Try to recognize the signs at their primary stage and apply their suitable solutions accordingly.
This way you will get a chance to revive that dying plant inevitably.
Why Basil Leaves Are Turning Yellow?
Basil plant grows gorgeous green foliage in small leaf-shape. Sometimes, a few undetected causes can let your plant leaves turn yellow.
This is a clear sign of an unhealthy basil plant. If your basil leaves turn yellow before their proper older stage, there must be some unsorted issues that bother your plant constantly. Yellow leaves often lose their flavor and fragrance eventually.
Thus, today, here we come up with the possible causes of why basil leaves turn yellow and what you can do about solving this problem perfectly-
Reasons
- Over sun-exposed
- Interrupted photosynthesis process due to lack of light
- Overwatering
- Frequent cold stress
- Contact with open drafts
- Overcrowded plants due to unpruned seasons
- Nutrient deficiency due to poor fertilization
- Untreated diseases
- And uncured pests and bugs attack
Related: How to fix hibiscus leaves turning yellow – quick tips
Solutions
- Let your plant soak under bright and direct sunlight for 6-7 hours per day
- Keep your plant away from the dapple sun and direct sunlight
- Water your basil plant mindfully with 1-inch water per week
- Never place your plant in a full shady spot or near any open windows
- Install grow lights for your plant if you can’t provide your growing basil with enough natural light
- Set a weekly or monthly pruning session for your plant to keep it safe from being overcrowded
- Feed your plant every two weeks with a slow-release organic vegetable fertilizer in liquid form
- Treat and control any fungal and bacterial infestation in every possible way, once you ever detect one on your plant before it affects the roots
- Keep your plant safe from common basil insects attentively. Some typical basil pests are-Japanese beetles, aphids, mealybugs, slugs, etc.
- Give your plant a good rinse of homemade pesticide sprays to keep their attack at bay.
How To Harvest Basil Without Hurting The Plant?
Basil plants are sensitive due to their fragile stems and super-soft leaves. Thus, they often get hurt during the process of pruning and harvesting.
However, you can avoid this unfortunate outcome by following a few simple cautioning tips in this regard. They are as follows-
- Find a node where two leaves attached to a stem
- Cut exactly above the node and pinch the tip-off
- Try to harvest the stems from the top down by leaving one leaf pair at the bottom
- Make sure you hold the place where leaves are approaching the main stem
- Hold the place gently and cut with a sharp object quickly
- Try to set the measurement up to 1/3 of the topmost basil leaves in a single harvesting session to let it live without killing or hurting from any aspect.
FAQ: Does Basil Plant Bloom Ever?
Basil blooms from June to frost every year in nice purple to elegant white tint with a mild fragrance. Blossoms taste similar to the leaves with a mild flavor comparing the great basil leaves.
Why do Basil Leaves Grow Small?
A growing basil plant suddenly grows smaller leaves than its usual size due to some improper caring regimen; such as lack of nutrients; insufficient sunlight, small or improper containers; and poor soil.