You can grow basil in pots indoors. You can start by planting the seeds in 3.5 inch pots, and then you can move them to bigger ones as they grow. It is important to water your basil in the morning, and not in the evening. Basil likes to have dry feet, so you must avoid watering it at night. To encourage new leaves, you can prune your basil plants. Food writer Mark Diacono recommends pruning them occasionally.
Growing basil indoors
Basil plants can be successfully grown indoors without the use of a greenhouse. Basil needs a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day to thrive, so the most optimal location for growing basil indoors is a sunny window that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. You can also supplement the natural sunlight with simple growing lights. Regardless of your growing method, basil plants require a temperature range of 72-85 degrees Fahrenheit (22 – 29 degrees Celsius).
Planting basil seeds
To start seeds indoors, use seed starting trays or small containers filled with potting soil. Place the seeds directly into the soil and cover them lightly with more soil. Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout. Once the plants emerge, remove any excess water and place them in a sunny location.
Your plants will quickly reach transplantable size and have a wide range of culinary uses. In addition to its popular use in pesto, this edible plant is also known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This makes it a favorite with health nuts.
In order to grow basil successfully, it’s important to keep the soil warm. In the winter months you can use a Heat Mat if needed. Once the basil seedlings reach about 3 inches tall, they’re ready to be transplanted into larger pots. When transplanting them outdoors, you should make sure that the threat of frost has passed. To transplant your basil plants, fill your final pot with potting soil and make a hole in the center.
Growing basil from cuttings
If you’d like to grow basil from cuttings indoors, you’ll need to know a few things to get the most out of your basil plant. The first step is to ensure that your cuttings have ample room to root. Make sure they get a window with morning light, but avoid direct afternoon sun. During the first couple of days, your basil cuttings may look a little limp, but that’s just a normal adaptation period. After four or five days, you’ll be able to plant them in your kitchen.
To begin the process, take a cutting of basil about four to five inches long. Make sure to cut the leaves at the leaf nodes, where the leaves connect to the main stem. Remove the leaves from the lower two-inches of the cuttings, leaving only the leaves that you wish to grow. Keep the tiny leaves on the cutting for water propagation.
Fertilizing basil
Fertilizing basil indoors can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. If you want to grow basil in your home, it’s important to choose the right fertilizer for the needs of your basil plant. There are many products on the market, but some of them have unique characteristics that are better suited for certain plant types. In addition, some may have too much potency for the size of your basil plant.
Basil plants don’t require a lot of fertilizer, but too much may impact their flavor. It’s advisable to fertilize basil plants once every three to four weeks with a liquid fertilizer diluted in water. A blood meal fertilizer can also be useful for basil indoors.
Lightning indoors
Basil wants enough light to grow. Make sure to give it at least six hours of sunlight every day. So, the best location for your plant would be a sunny window facing south. Another option is to use a growing light. There a several options, from which you can choose. But, if you use a growing light, you need more hours. You should turn the lights on for up to twelve hours. The grow light should be placed two to four inches above the plant.
It is not hard to grow basil plants indoors. A good place is always the kitchen. This way, you can just cut the leaves in the moment you need them. Super fresh! Enjoy 🙂