Learn how to grow basil indoors in water for herb garden freshness all year long!
Are you a busy gardener looking for an easy way to grow basil indoors in a small space? Growing your own basil isn’t as impossible as it sounds — all you need is the right know-how and some basic supplies! This comprehensive guide will get you started on growing delicious, fragrant basil at home.
From selecting the perfect variety and understanding sunlight requirements, to caring for your plant and harvesting those flavorful leaves, we’ll go through it all so that even beginner gardeners can reap big rewards from this delectable herb. Let’s get our hands dirty (or rather green!) and dive into how you can start cultivating amazing fresh basils in no time!
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Why grow basil indoors?
Basil is an annual herb and member of the mint family. It is native to central Africa to southeast Asia and is commonly cultivated as an herb for kitchen essentials. Its leaves are used to spice up foods, fish, salads, and to prepare different sauces.
Basil is primarily a warm weather herb annual, so many of us in zones that experience cooler temperatures in the fall and winter are only able to enjoy the freshness of basil during the summer months, preservation aside.
Whether you live in one of these cooler climates or have a small space where you want to incorporate more culinary growing inside your home, basil is one of the easiest herbs to learn to grow inside.
Growing Basil Indoors: Cuttings vs Seeds
There are multiple ways to grow basil inside. Basil’s affinity for growing in water and rooting makes it an easy herb to cultivate for even the most beginner gardeners.
The two most popular methods include starting with either cuttings or seeds. Growing basil from seed is a common practice, but rooting cuttings is often the preferred approach for small space growers. Let’s take a look at both methods!
How to Grow Basil indoors in water from a cutting
This may be one of the easiest ways to grow basil indoors. This method can be done using basil that is purchased from the store as well as from cuttings that you remove from your own plants indoors. In order to propagate basil this way you will need the following things:
- Sharp pruning shears
- a glass of water
- a grow light or sunny window
- basil cuttings
What you need to do is take a 4-inch basil cut right under a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves from the basil, around 5 cm from the end. Ensure that the cutting of basil is a part that has not yet flowered. Your basil cut will then be put in the glass of water making sure that water is not on any of the leaves and then placed under the grow light or in the windowsill in a jar of water so it can get better daylight (at least 6 hours of sunlight each day).
Use a transparent glass to watch the growth of roots in your basil growth. Adjust the water level when you see root growth, then leave your basil roots to grow to around 5 cm or so. It can take up to 2-4 weeks.
Once roots develop you can transplant the basil into soil and maintain indoors. But you can also continue growing the new basil plants in the glass jar being sure to continue to water and feed your plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
How much light does Basil need indoors
Basil requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight for healthier growth. If you are growing in a window a sunny south-facing window should provide adequate sunlight throughout the winter months, however if the window is shaded out you may consider a grow light to supplement adequate sunlight. These can be placed on a timer which allows the plants to thrive without much thought on your part!
Growing Basil indoors in water from seeds
My favorite way to grow basil indoors is through using hydroponics! And my favorite way to grow hydroponically is using the Aerogarden (in fact I have three of them)! The Aerogarden takes the guesswork out of growing plants indoors and seed starting! All of my outdoor basil plants are started indoors from basil seeds using my Aerogarden, and I doubt I will look back!
To grow basil in the Aerogarden is as simple as setting up the system and dropping the seeds. The Aerogarden informs you of when to add water and when to fertilize your basil seedlings without much thought on your part. You don’t even have to worry about maintaining proper light conditions because the Aerogarden has built in grow lights that run on a timer.
Pruning and Harvesting your Basil Plant
Pruning basil, like pruning most herbs helps encourage the plants to continue putting on more leafy growth as well as creates a bushier plant. For the best taste, prune basil frequently.
To prune your basil plant you’ll want to cut just above a leaf node! You could also prune weekly by pinching off the very top leaves of the plants.
Additionally, be sure to watch for flower formation. These should be pinched off immediately as plants that switch to flower production tend to have diminished flavor.
Fertilizing your Indoor Basil
Feeding our plants is how we continue to get healthy harvests for months and even years, and indoor basil is no different! If you are growing your plants in water alone, you will want to use a liquid fertilizer or compost tea every two weeks. In the water you’ll also want to change the entire contents of the water at least once a week.
If you are growing in soil, a balanced liquid fertilizer should be applied every two weeks as well. You can also top dress your plants with some homemade compost or worm castings to give them an extra boost and help keep the soil microbes happy!
What basil variety should your grow inside
I may be biased, but I believe you should try all of them! Basil is quite honestly one of my favorite herbs and every one of them I have attempted to root has worked well! While my favorite basils are Holy basil, Lemon basil, and sweet basil, here is a quick list of many of the basil cultivars you could consider growing indoors!
Note: The most popular variation available at the grocery store is sweet basil.
- Sweet Basil
- Genovese Basil
- Thai Basil
- Holy Basil
- Lemon Basil
- Purple Basil
- Dark opal basil
- Lettuce leaf basil
- Lime basil
- Cinnamon basil
- Cardinal basil
- Greek basil
- Green ruffles
- African blue basil
- Spicy bush basil
- Boxwood basil
As you can see there are many varieties of basil available, so have some fun and experiment with different types to find out which one works best for you!
Frequently asked questions about growing basil indoors
When learning how to grow basil indoors you may come across a lot of questions. I have personally found that I can grow basil very well when using my Aerogarden to grow it. Both Thai and Sweet Basil grow great in the hydroponic medium. Here are a few additional questions many beginner gardener’s have when starting to grow basil indoors.
Do I need to transplant my basil to soil?
You do not need to transplant your basil to soil, however most people will eventually want to move their plants from water to soil when they have established a good root system. If you’re growing in an Aerogarden there are special pots and trays that allow you to transplant directly into the system. You will also want to make sure that the pot you transplant into has good drainage! Adding a few drainage holes to the base of the pot is a great way to ensure your plant flourishes.
What type of soil is best for growing basil plants indoors?
In gardening I always believe that you should grow where you are, that relates to space, and financially. Because of that, I have honestly used all manners of potting soil as long as they are well draining and without significant clumps.
Can you grow Basil indoors during the winter?
Basil is a tender annual that loves the heat of summer. It’s often grown in early spring and thrives through the first frost. So propagating your plant indoors is a good option for growing through the cold temperatures of winter. Basil is one of the simplest herbs to cultivate indoors, as long as you can provide sufficient light for their growth. A good basil plant can certainly be kept indoors, but you’ll want to make sure it receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. Place them on a sunny windowsill in a warm cozy spot, it will survive in the cold months.
How long will a Basil plant stay alive indoors?
This plant will act as a short-lived annual herb in frost-free areas. In warm climates, basil can last for 2 years before being replanted. An indoor basil plant with maximum sunlight and stable warm temperatures can also last longer.
Will Basil regrow after cutting?
Yes, basil will regrow after cutting. The trick is to cut or trim the basil early and preserve it throughout the season. This will cause the plant to expand additional stems; two new stems will replace one cut stem. And, you’ll be able to cut those back in a matter of weeks and double the stems again.
Grow basil indoors, extend your growing season and enjoy fresh herbs all year long
Growing basil indoors in water may seem complex, but with careful planning and attention to detail it is an incredibly rewarding task that can be enjoyed by even the most novice gardeners. It does not take a great deal of effort to ensure your basil will thrive – simply use clear glass containers, be vigilant about changing the water every 3 days, and keep a keen eye out for any pests such as spider mites which can quickly sap your plant’s strength. With minimal care requirements and an incredible aroma and flavor, basil is perfect for growing indoors in water and can help make your living space smell delightful.
Furthermore, there are numerous varieties of basil from which you can choose so you can really customize your set up. Finally, why not try experimenting with the different ways in which basil tastes best? From pesto to flavoring stews or salad dressings, there is sure to be something delicious that sits well with you. So gather your supplies and try your hand at growing basil indoors today. You may just surprise yourself!
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