Dry soil is the primary cause of basil wilting, as basil needs porous, moist soil and regular watering during hot weather to avoid drooping or wilting; small pots tend to dry out too fast in the sun, leading to basil wilting, while soil that is consistently boggy can also cause the same problem.
Basil is a type of plant that is herbaceous in nature and thrives in soil that is rich in nutrients and moist, and there are other factors that can lead to the wilting or drooping of basil.
- If you don’t water your plants often enough during hot weather, they may suffer from dehydration and stress.
- Slow draining soils or pots without proper drainage can result in excessive moisture accumulation.
- rapidly can be a challenge, but there are ways to ensure success.Growing basil in tiny containers that warm up fast under direct sunlight and lose moisture quickly can pose a difficulty, but there are techniques to guarantee triumph.
- The basil herbaceous plant, which is an annual, tends to droop or wilt either after it has bloomed or as the growing season comes to a close.
- Fluctuations in temperature, which could be sudden drops or rises in temperature, like a cold snap or heat wave, can cause significant impacts on the environment and human health.
- When you transplant a plant, it may experience shock due to differences in environmental conditions between the garden center and your garden.
- If pruning is not done regularly, the plant may appear wilted or droopy.
For a robust and healthy basil plant, it is essential to plant it in an area that receives full sunlight for at least six hours a day.
Continue reading to discover the exact reason behind your basil’s drooping and how to fix it.
Not Watering Basil Frequently Enough
Basil is an herb with leaves that grows well in soil that is both well-draining and consistently moist.
To achieve a soil profile that is both moist and well-draining, it is necessary to use compost that is porous and friable, and to water the soil frequently.
When basil is left to dry out, it will wilt quickly because of its large leaves that transpire a lot of water and lack of woody stems.
If the basil’s soil feels dry, it is crucial to water it generously to prevent dehydration; for potted basil, continue watering until water trickles out of the drainage holes at the bottom.
During a scorching summer day, it is advisable to provide shade for the basil plant to recover from its wilted state without being exposed to high temperatures, and once it has regained its vigor, it should be returned to full sun, and the soil should be kept moist.
After providing sufficient moisture to the soil and ensuring suitable growing conditions, Basil is expected to recuperate from wilting caused by insufficient watering within a span of two days.
To prevent basil from wilting, it is recommended to add a layer of mulch, such as leaf mould or well rotted manure, around the base of the plant, which will not only help to retain moisture but also provide essential nutrients to the soil.
To keep the soil moist to a depth of one inch, water basil as often as necessary, which may mean watering daily during hot weather to avoid wilting, and watering every 3 or 4 days during cooler, cloudier weather.
To avoid fungal diseases like powdery mildew, it is recommended to water plants at their base instead of from above, and it is best to water them in the morning to hydrate them before a hot day.
The dryness of the soil is evident in the photo as it has separated from the pot’s side, so if you notice the same condition in your basil plant, it is crucial to water it right away and maintain a proactive watering schedule every few days to avoid the soil from drying out and the basil from wilting.
I have written an article that includes a useful table to assist you in achieving the correct balance when watering basil plants, which can be challenging in various climates.
Too Much Moisture (Soil is boggy and not well draining)
Consistently moist soil is necessary for basil, but it is crucial for the soil to have good drainage to prevent the roots from being waterlogged, which can also lead to wilting of the basil plant.
There are various reasons why soil can become boggy.
- If you want to grow basil, but your soil is slow draining, like clay, you can still plant it successfully.
- One way to grow basil is by planting it in pots or containers that lack drainage holes at the bottom, or by using a drip tray to collect excess water.
Planting basil in pots is the most optimal choice because it allows for complete management of the soil profile.
When growing basil, I prefer to use multi-purpose compost from the garden center because it has the ability to retain water and lacks soil pathogens, like fusarium wilt, that can lead to wilting in basil plants that may be present in garden soil.
If you plant basil in pots, you can prevent slow draining or boggy soils that tend to hold too much moisture, which can lead to root rot and cause your basil to wilt and turn yellow as a sign of stress.
To ensure proper moisture balance and drainage, it is recommended to plant basil in sizable containers or pots that have drainage holes at the bottom.
Many individuals who grow basil indoors tend to use pots with drainage holes at the bottom, but they also place a drip tray or saucer beneath the pot to prevent any overflow of water onto the furniture or window sill.
If excess water is caught by drip trays, the soil can become too wet, leading to the basil wilting as a sign of stress.
To prevent water from damaging furniture, it is advisable to take the pot of indoor basil outside for watering, or alternatively, place a paper towel under the pot for around 30 minutes until the water has ceased to trickle from the base of the pot.
Pot size too Small (Soil dries too Quickly and Basil Wilts)
If your basil is wilting, it could be due to the fact that it is planted in a pot that is too small, which is a common issue; typically, the pots from the garden center are not large enough, so it is recommended that you transplant your basil into a bigger pot in your garden.
Basil is a versatile plant that can thrive in various types of planters and receptacles, provided that they have adequate drainage; however, it is important to note that small pots tend to dry out rapidly when exposed to intense sunlight.
For basil to thrive, it needs full sun, but small pots have limited soil capacity, which means they can hold less moisture and tend to dry out too quickly.
It is important to note that containers made of metal or plastic have the ability to transfer heat, leading to increased evaporation of soil moisture and ultimately causing the basil plant to wither rapidly.
It is feasible to cultivate basil effectively in tiny containers by keeping a close eye on the soil moisture levels and watering appropriately; however, the plant will remain susceptible to drought.
The solution…
To avoid basil from wilting in a pot, it is recommended to plant it in a bigger container or pot that measures at least 12 inches across, and to use pots made of terracotta, clay, or ceramic, as these materials do not heat up rapidly, unlike metal or thin plastic pots.
If you handle Basil with care, you can transfer it to a bigger pot and ensure that the soil remains moist by watering it regularly to avoid wilting.
Check out my piece on reviving a basil plant that is on the brink of death.
Basil Wilting After Flowering (Requires Pruning)
Regular pruning of basil is crucial to prevent it from flowering, which, although attractive to bees and having a sweet aroma, can lead to the plant going to seed and ceasing to produce new leaves.
Once the basil plant has reached the point of seeding, it tends to droop and the leaves lose their optimal quality for use in cooking.
At the garden center, you can find inexpensive seeds of basil, which are typically tender annuals that do not survive beyond a year, but you can save the seeds to plant in the upcoming Spring.
To keep your basil plant healthy and productive for a longer time, it is recommended to regularly prune it from the top, which will allow more light to reach the lower leaves and promote a bushier growth; this will also prevent the plant from going to seed and appearing wilted.
To obtain additional details, you can peruse my composition on the topic of why your basil plant is producing flowers.
Fluctuations in Temperature and Transplant Shock
Most cultivars of basil are considered annuals due to the herb’s sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and extremes, as it is a tender plant.
Basil may show signs of stress, such as wilting, even if the temperature has not dropped below freezing, if there has been a sudden cold snap after a period of consistent mild temperatures.
To promote the growth of healthy leaves and hasten the recovery process, it is recommended to remove any damaged parts of the basil caused by cold, such as leaves that are curled, have brown edges, or are wilting.
Learn how to keep your basil plant healthy and increase its yield of delicious leaves by watching this instructional video on pruning basil.
Wilting Basil due to Transplant shock
Wilting in plants is usually caused by a temperature difference, but the plant can recover if you move it indoors or to a heated greenhouse during cold weather and return it to full sun during the day or a sunny window.
It is typical to experience transplant shock when you purchase a basil plant from a garden center and subsequently plant it in your garden.
Basil is typically cultivated in a temperature-controlled greenhouse when grown from seed in a garden center or plantation, causing the plant to acclimate to those particular conditions; therefore, when you transfer the basil to your garden, the temperature, humidity, watering frequency, and other factors may differ significantly, leading to a potential shock to the basil and resulting in wilting.
To prevent wilting after transplanting, it is crucial to provide the necessary care for the basil plant and allow it to adjust to its new surroundings, which involves taking certain measures to ensure that your basil:
- Planted in full sun
- The compost has good drainage properties, but it also retains moisture.
- Make sure to water the basil sufficiently to maintain a consistently moist compost, but avoid overwatering by adjusting the frequency of watering based on the weather conditions.
- To safeguard the basil from unfavorable weather conditions, like cold weather, heavy rain, and high winds, it is recommended to move the pot to a sheltered area.
Assuming you modify the growing conditions appropriately, basil ought to exhibit indications of recuperation from transplant shock in a matter of days, and with any luck, it should appear significantly improved after a fortnight.
High Temperatures
Wilting can be caused by high temperatures, just as basil can be affected by a sudden cold snap.
Basil is capable of withstanding high temperatures as long as the soil is kept moist because it originates from tropical regions in Africa and South East Asia.
When the weather is hot, if you let the soil dry out, the plant will experience stress and wilt rapidly, but it can recuperate with proper watering and careful observation of the moisture levels.
If your basil plant is wilting in high temperatures, it could be because of sudden changes in temperature rather than the heat itself, so it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist (without making it too wet) by watering it regularly, especially if you’ve planted it in good compost that retains moisture, as this should help the plant recover.
If your basil is wilting due to high temperatures, it would be beneficial to use mulch whenever feasible; by placing a layer of mulch on the soil surrounding the basil, the soil will remain cool and moist during hot weather.
Compost, leaf mould, and well-rotted manure are excellent materials for mulching around basil plants because they help to retain moisture and provide nutrients to the soil, which are essential for maintaining the health of the basil plant.
Prune Basil Regularly to Prevent it Wilting
To grow at its best, Basil needs a soil that is rich in nutrients because it is a leaf herb that grows relatively quickly.
- Having soil that is rich in nutrients is advantageous for achieving improved and more frequent harvests, and this can be achieved by adding supplements such as alfalfa or a nitrogen fertilizer that can stimulate the growth of leaves.
If the plant is given ample nitrogen, it can grow rapidly and become too heavy for its own herbaceous stems, causing it to bend downwards if it is not harvested frequently.
To ensure proper growth of basil, it is important to regularly prune and harvest the top leaves, and if you have a few basil plants, you may end up with more leaves than you can use in your cooking.
I have written an additional article about leggy basil to assist you in resolving the issue and rejuvenating your basil, as it can become leggy due to various factors.
Key Takeaways:
- Basil plants tend to wilt when the soil is dry, which is why it is important to keep the soil moist and water the plant frequently during hot weather to maintain its health; nevertheless, if the soil is boggy instead of moist and well-draining, basil can also wilt due to the excess water, causing it to turn yellow and indicate stress.
- When basil is grown in tiny containers, the soil tends to dry out rapidly under the sun, leading to the wilting of the basil; however, using larger pots can help to prevent this problem by providing more space for soil and moisture.
- If the temperature fluctuates, Basil can be affected and may wilt, so it’s important to remove any leaves that have been damaged by the cold and bring it indoors until the temperature increases; however, if it has wilted due to high temperatures, it can recover with frequent watering, and to prevent it from wilting in appearance, it’s recommended to snip away any leggy growth before it flowers.
- If you notice your basil plant wilting after transplanting, it may be due to transplant shock caused by the difference in growing conditions between the garden center and your garden; however, you can help the plant recover by giving it time to adjust, planting it in an area with full sun exposure, using compost that retains water but also drains well, and maintaining proper watering practices.
- If basil is grown in nutrient-rich soil and fertilized frequently, it may become tall and appear droopy if not pruned regularly, so it’s recommended to harvest the top leaves of the basil regularly to maintain its shape and prevent drooping, as this will also encourage growth from the lower leaves.