Why do indoor basil plants often struggle?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Indoor basil mainly suffers from environmental mismatches from its Mediterranean home. After diagnosing and treating many plants, most failures can be attributed to five reasons. Most notably, a lack of light, watering too much or too little, temperature stress, poor air quality, and neglecting care. Limiting these will prevent them from happening again!
Light Deficiencies
- Less than 5 hours daily light exposure
- Failure to supplement winter sunlight
- Unrotated plants developing uneven growth
- Using incorrect light spectrum bulbs
Water Imbalances
- Top-watering causing leaf diseases
- Inconsistent moisture levels
- Poor drainage leading to root rot
- Watering frequency ignoring seasonal changes
Temperature Stress
- Exposure to drafts below 50°F
- Day-night fluctuations exceeding 20°F
- Heat sources drying out foliage
- Lack of winter root zone warmth
Avoid air circulation problems that lead to disease. When air is stagnant, it encourages the growth of fungal pathogens, weakening your plants. You want to ensure that your plants are in an area where air can flow around them slightly. I run a fan near my plants for about 2 hours per day. This mimics a gentle breeze from outdoors without stressing your plants. Proper spacing prevents moisture from collecting.
Tackle care routines that are neglected consistently. Establish a weekly schedule of reminders for plant inspections and trimming. Create first steps for seasonal adjustments before weather changes occur. My plant care routine takes place on Sunday morning, which helps me stay on schedule and take care of the plants according to my timetable. Saturday afternoon was when I rifled through the plant bottoms, checking for pests, and tending to the soil's moisture.
Put in placerecovery protocols on plants that are struggling. Isolate the affected basil. Cut off the damaged leaves so that the plant can redirect its energy to healthier growth. Change one variable at a time while you observe results. My rescue protocol is to repot it in fresh soil and place it under grow lights. Most plants come back in 3 weeks.
Read the full article: How to Grow Basil Indoors Successfully
