Basil is one of the most used aromatic plants in the kitchen and one of the easiest to grow at home. However, it is necessary to follow some precautions to have a healthy and lush plant.
In this article, we’ve listed some tips to protect your basil plant and ensure you keep it in the best possible condition.
How can we have an always leafy basil plant?
Basil needs a lot of light, but be careful not to expose it to direct sunlight, whose rays could damage it.
Just keep the plant near a window or balcony, so it can receive indirect light.
Another important factor to consider when growing basil is drainage. Basil can be grown in pots as long as it has drainage holes that allow excess water to drain properly.
Basil needs constant watering
It is advisable to put a layer of clay in the bottom, very useful to avoid stagnant water. The soil must be constantly moist.
If you decide to keep basil indoors, consider watering it less, especially in winter. Check the soil moisture and, if it is dry, add a little water.
Pruning is necessary for its growth
An effective and little-known trick is to cut the tallest basil florets. The common and erroneous belief is that removing the lower and older leaves is more beneficial for the plant, but this is not the case.
It is necessary to cut new and fresher buds, located in the highest part of the plant. This will promote healthy growth of the plant.
Another effective trick is to remove the flowers and thin the stems.
Cutting the flowers helps us prevent the plant from decomposing, while gently removing the stems that come from the main stem of the plant will allow us to have a better and more constant supply of nutrients to the leaves.