Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:58 pm
In the successful care of basil, a balanced water balance plays a central role. Learn here which water is particularly suitable for watering and how often to water. There are also tips on watering techniques.
How to keep basil in balance
If you want to water royal herb properly, you should avoid rashes in one direction or another. In order for the herb plant to thrive vigorously, the substrate should neither dry out nor stand in water. How often you reach for the watering can, does not determine a firmly cemented schedule. Here’s how to do it right:
- In the early morning, press your thumb 2-3 centimeters into the substrate.
- if the soil feels dry, there is a need for watering
- Give the water directly to the roots and not over the leaves
The thumb test provides information about the moisture content of the substrate both in the bed and in the pot.
Watering correctly from below – this is how it works
Since basil does not want to be watered overhead, the ideal watering technique for the pot is the following option:
- place the herb pot in a bowl filled with water to a height of 5 centimeters.
- the capillary action of the roots will automatically draw the water into the substrate
- once the moisture has reached the surface, the pot is removed from the tray.
How often you proceed according to this watering technique, again proves the thumb test. Since this involves completely soaking the soil with water, watering from the bottom is usually done once a week.
Tips & Tricks
Where very hard water flows from the tap, lime-sensitive basil should be watered with an alternative. Aquarium or pond water is ideal. Here the lime content is very low and valuable nutrients cavort in it, which promote the growth of kingwort.