It's so devastating - as soon as you buy it, the basil dies within a week. The causes were puzzled for a long time. You can find out here where the crux is buried and how the problem can be solved by repotting.
How should basil be repotted after purchase?
To successfully repot basil after purchase, divide the plant into 3 parts, place drainage in each pot, fill in a potting soil and sand mixture, place the basil segments in the pots, water generously and set Place them in a sunny, warm location.
That's why basil from the supermarket only lasts a short time
What made even experienced experts frown has finally been clarified. The juicy green appearance of basil in the supermarket is more appearance than reality. In fact, royal herb on store shelves is already so stressed that it is on its last legs. The causes at a glance:
- the transport route often extends over hundreds of kilometers
- the heavy feeder stands in a substrate that is too lean
- low temperature levels and low water supply increase stress
The ever-simmering suspicion of intentionally contaminated or inferior soil during production is now gone. In reality, you are holding a completely depleted basil in your hands. It is precisely this circumstance that gives hope that we can save the royal herb at home with just a few simple steps. The solution is: repotting by repotting.
Turn one into three – this is how it works by repotting
The negative influences on purchased basil are exacerbated by planting them far too closely in the pot. This leads to all-consuming competition for water, nutrients and light. To ensure that royal herb delivers a delicious harvest for longer than 1 week, proceed as follows:
- Immediately unpot the herb plant and cut it into 3 parts
- Place a pottery shard (€9.00 on Amazon) in 3 pots above the bottom opening as drainage
- fill a potting soil and sand mixture halfway up the top
- insert a basil segment into each and fill the cavity with substrate
- pour generously
- spend in a sunny, warm and protected location
Scientific experiments have shown that no more than 5-10 shoots of royal herb should be cultivated in a 30 cm pot. In this case, vital, lush green herb plants develop within a few days. Optimal care revolves around weekly fertilization and regular watering as soon as the soil has dried out.
Tips & Tricks
Basil doesn't just add the finishing touch to Mediterranean dishes. The versatile herbal plant also relieves itchy insect bites without any chemicals. To do this, freshly harvested basil leaves are crushed and rubbed onto the skin.
