Basil Plants grows long, lush, and aromatic leaves with just a little sun, water, and trimming. Because of its pleasant scent, which helps keep pests away, this low-maintenance herb makes a great companion plant in the garden. However, basil can also be easily harvested from a kitchen window by growing there.
There are several types of basil, ranging from sweet to spicy, and it comes in hues like deep purple and dark green. Even though basil is often considered low-maintenance, it still needs certain conditions to be healthy, whether it is being grown indoors or not.
Is it possible to grow basil indoors?
Basil needs light to grow well indoors. Like many other herbs, basil thrives in the sun. It will thrive if you give it six to eight hours of bright light each day, preferably near a sunny, south-facing window. Basil, on the other hand, grows well under grow lights.
Basil grows readily. It requires little maintenance, save for fertilizing and watering. There are also fewer illnesses and bugs there. This plant is small enough to fit on a window sill in an apartment.
How to Grow Basil Indoors
There aren’t many differences between growing basil outside and indoors.
Sunlight
Whether grown indoors or outdoors, basil plants need a lot of light—at least six hours a day in full sun.
Artificial Light
Basil bulbs should be planted two to four inches above the tips of the plants, and they should be exposed to twelve hours a day of fluorescent light. To prevent burning the bulbs, take care to keep the leaves away from them.
Temperature and Humidity
Keep your basil in a room with an average temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid setting the plant near an air conditioner, in front of an open window in the winter, or anywhere else it might be exposed to cold or strong winds.
Basil plants also need some humidity, so give them some water sometimes, especially if your home is too dry. If your basil seems to need a little more moisture, set your basil planter on a bed of wet river rocks to raise the plant’s relative humidity in the air around it.
Watering
Try to keep your basil plants consistently moist for optimal results. Basil needs around one inch of water each week to thrive, but plants grown in pots frequently require a little bit more. Water your plant as soon as the top soil layer dries out or as soon as it begins to wither.
Fertilizer
Due to its frequent harvesting, basil needs very little fertilizer to continue producing magnificent leaves. Applying a full liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month is advised. In the interim, if the plant isn’t growing too much, think about boosting the fertilizer to twice a month.
Pruning and Maintenance
Basil requires little upkeep and is a carefree plant. To maintain optimum health, a basil plant only needs well-drained soil, plenty of sunshine, sufficient air circulation, and seldom watering.
Pruning works well for this plant, but don’t anticipate indoor plants to reach the same size as outdoor ones. A young plant can be pinched to promote additional leaf growth.
Once your basil plant has become established and branched, regular harvesting also functions as pruning. Always gather leaves by working your way down. For smaller plants, cut off individual leaves; for larger plants, trim stems a few inches below the ground.
Troubleshooting
Growing basil indoors has its share of difficulties. Often, the solution is as easy as changing the moisture content or the number of hours of light. Temperature variations may slow down the growth of your basil.
There could be tiny holes in the leaves or other indications of a pest issue. To prevent this, make sure your basil is not immersed in water and let the top few inches of soil dry off. Use a pinch to remove any diseased or rotting leaves. Use organic insecticides as necessary.
Additionally, plant diseases like damping off, fusarium wilt, bacterial leaf spot, downy mildew, and root rot can affect indoor basil plants. Some of these problems you might be able to save the plant from, but not all of them.
Container and Size
Basil requires a container with great drainage and airflow to prevent fungal diseases like root rot. A beginner basil plant normally fits in a 4-inch planter.
Potting Soil and Drainage
Soil that drains properly but is still damp is ideal for basil. Add a few teaspoons of organic compost to a high-quality potting mix for optimal outcomes. To prevent the soil from becoming too wet or soaking, choose a pot with many drainage holes towards the bottom.
Potting and Repotting Basil
If you began your basil plants from seeds, move the seedlings from the tray to a 4-inch container filled with compost and potting mix.
Replanting basil normally waits until it is almost finished with its yearly life cycle. It is essential to repot the plant into a larger container with fresh potting mix if the roots have grown out of the drainage holes or filled the container.
Moving Basil Outdoors for the summer
When night-time lows regularly rise over fifty degrees Fahrenheit in the spring, take your basil plant outside. When the weather falls below that point, its leaves begin to turn black. There is no need for a frost to harm basil, as it is a cold-sensitive plant.
Considerations
Just like with seedlings, the plant must be gradually transported outside and left there during the summer’s intense heat.
Basil requires more frequent irrigation when grown outside as opposed to indoors. If there is no chance of rain, give it daily watering.
When to Bring Basil Back Inside
Bring the plant back inside when the temperature drops below fifty degrees Fahrenheit, either in the late summer or early October, depending on your climate; don’t wait until the first fall frost occurs. Bring the plant inside for the night if the days are still warm but the nights are getting chilly.
FAQ
What is the lifespan of a basil plant kept indoors?
When a flower stalk emerges and the plant starts to produce seeds, its life cycle has come to an end. Cutting off the blossom stem will extend the life of basil, but it will eventually die after six to eight months of development.
How can one cultivate basil from seeds?
Basil seeds germinate easily, especially when grown indoors under grow lights. When kept at 80 degrees F, most basil cultivars will germinate in approximately five days (a heat mat can be helpful to reach these conditions as well). The germination period will lengthen at lower temperatures.
Is it possible to cultivate basil cuttings inside?
It is possible to cultivate basil cuttings inside. Use a freshly bought bouquet of basil from the shop or a stem from a veggie. In the stem, there should be at least one or two nodes. When cultivating plants from cuttings, soak the cut end in rooting hormone and follow the instructions.