Last updated on September 23rd, 2022 at 11:42 am
Basil, sometimes identified as sweet Basil, is an annual herb known for its aromatic, sweet-smelling leaves.
Basil is used fresh or dried to add incredible flavors to meals, fish, salads, and other dishes.
Basil’s leaves are a little shiny and round in shape. These leaves are arranged on the plant’s stem in opposite directions.
The plants are very sensitive to even the slightest unfavorable environmental conditions. As a result, they tend to display many different colorations and reactions, which may occur for several other reasons.
Basil Leaves Drying Out? Basil Leaves (Plant) dry out due to the completion of their lifespan, injuries to the Basil plant, Nutritional deficiency, climate changes, over or under-watering, and dry soil.
Is it Normal for Basil Leaves to Dry Out?
People who use Basil a lot for several purposes are constantly torn between throwing away Basil leaves which get dry for fear that a dangerous plant disease might have befallen the planet.
But after a series of analyses, enthusiasts and Basil leaf lovers have drawn straightforward conclusions that it is normal for Basil leaves to dry out after the plant completes its lifespan.
Though the Basil leaves can get dry for different reasons before the expiration of their lifespan, harvested Basil leaves may dry out after some time if not properly stored.
However, this does not make it any less fit for use, provided it isn’t decomposed or mildewed.
Also, as the Basil plant grows, the older leaves may dry before falling out to let the stem get larger and grow taller if not picked out in time. And just like any other plant, the Basil is prone to harsh environmental conditions.
So if the conditions of a place at a particular time do not support the growth and regeneration of a Basil plant, the leaves may dry out, or the entire plant may die off.
Thus, the Basil leaves which have dried up on a plant can be harvested and stored for future use or put to good use in any way the individual sees fit.
For example, it may be best to use it as a dry spice in some saucy dishes.
How Many Times Does Basil Need to Be Watered?
The Basil plant, just like any other organism, needs enough water to grow, develop, and to be able to reproduce.
Because each plant has optimal resources with which it best thrives, the Basil plant is no exception.
Basil is a plant that loves to be grown in a well-watered and moist environment. Its water requirements far exceed that of other plants.
It grows better if it is watered with approximately one inch of water every week. You should water basil plants deeply to aid the roots in growing deeper into the moist soil.
A Basil plant grown in containers should be watered more frequently as the water holding capacity of the unlimited soil may be higher than the quantity of water a container of sand can hold.
When raising Basil plants, the goal is to keep the soil moisturized at all times to prevent the plant from dehydrating.
Although excessive watering can cause the root of the Basil plant to rot quickly, therefore, inciting a reduction in overall productivity.
Excessive watering can also mess with the plants’ perfectly aligned stature and the leaf’s beauty.
You should water the Basil plant deeply once weekly if it is planted in the soil directly.
How Do I Know If My Basil is Overwatered?
As mentioned earlier, applying too much water to your growing Basil can have severe consequences on the general well-being of the plant.
Basil is a very sensitive kind of herb which reacts significantly to even the slightest deviations from its standard growing requirements.
So there are quite some symptoms you would notice on your Basil plant if it is getting more than the required amount of water.
1. The leaves would start getting yellow from the lower level, affecting the ones upwards.
Therefore, severe yellowing of leaves, also called chlorosis, noticed on your Basil plant may result from overwatering.
Although this symptom may signify many problems on the plant, if this symptom persists with a few others that I would mention below, your Basil plant is most definitely suffering from too much water.
2. If the Basil leaves start drooping, looking tired, and dying little by little without stopping, you should first check the amount of water you feed to the plant.
Although water is essential for the plant to maintain its turgidity, excessive amounts may destroy this turgidity, in contrast. It starts with one leaf drooping, and then others follow suit.
Before realization hits, the whole plant may look sickly.
3. The basil plant may fall back considerably in terms of growth.
Although Basil plants grow swiftly after planting to produce the fantastic healthy leaves that become parts of tasty meals, overwatering the plant may make its growth very much retarded.
4. A quick comparison between an Overwatered Basil plant and a rightly watered Basil plant would thoroughly explain the difference between carrying out this essential yet straightforward activity correctly and carrying it out wrongly.
5. Overwatered Basil plants possess mushy leaves with brown or black colorations.
Because all the parts of a plant undergo photosynthesis, overwatering soil would prevent light from penetrating the soil and contacting the roots.
The result of this would be the much-dreaded coloration plague that attacks plants.
How Do You Revive Dried Basil Plants?
If your Basil plants have started drying up, do not panic because there are still many things to do to revive these plants.
Basil lovers can not stop talking about how resilient this plant is, so relax and do the following.
1. It would be best to expose the dried plants to bright, indirect light but avoid the full direct sunlight.
For example, when a Basil plant starts drying up, it means that the plant’s vessels have begun to weaken, so exposing these vessels to the bright sunlight would worsen the situation, causing the plant to dry up faster.
2. Also, it would help if you altered the watering frequency of the plant. It will dry up if a Basil plant is Overwatered or even underwatered.
So if you change the watering mode of a dried Basil plant to suit the requirements of that plant, it would swiftly revive the Basil plant.
If a Basil plant is Overwatered, you should halt the watering until the soil gets a little more solid.
Conclusion
Although We cannot match the Basil plant’s importance to the Culinary World, growing this plant requires tons of patience and conscious effort,
which you should put in place to ensure that the plant is comfortable and grows to its full potential.
This plant can be tended to and regrown regularly by lovers of its fragrance, thus keeping a steady stream of fresh Basil available.
Basil leaves drying up is a natural occurrence, although you may notice it in some extreme situations that signify the plant’s discomfort.