Comments on: Help me save Basil!

By: Inez

Inez — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

I have a huge Basil plant in my garden, I pulled a limb to bring inside,I put it in a cup of water in my kitchen window. it has stayed fresh for 3 weeks and now has roots on the bottom. so are you sure you watered to much?mine is living in water,

By: Noirin

Noirin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Eek! Twice daily watering!? Call the cops - Basil was poisoned! Once every two/three days is all he could have handled, depending on the climate.

Unfortunately, he’s unlikely to undergo a resurrection - but should another member of the family ever come to visit, remember to groom & water regularly, but not too often! Three plants should let you have yummy salads every day - one plant will do for a couple times a week

By: dr Dave

dr Dave — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks everybody for your kind support and suggestion, but I fear Good Ole’ Basil has sadly passed away now. Despite our best effort (increased draining of the pot, sparse watering, daily conversation…) his health never recovered from the first major outbreak and he now stands mostly barren, all his leaves dead or dying… There is some very limited hope that he may some day be reborn with brand new leaves and a stronger health… but we’re not holding our breath.

But I’ll try again!

In the meantime, I got some freaking thyme: seeing how this thing grows in the wild in the barren swelteringly hot hills of southern France, I figure there’s just no way I could kill it.

Hualian: yea, I love the smell (and the taste) of basil. In fact, this may be the reason for my initial overwatering habit (assuming this was what killed it): each time I watered it, its smell really got released all over the house and it was quite nice… I didn’t pick up that many leaves (a few on the first day I noticed it was declining), and now it’s much too late…
I agree that a real garden would be the ideal solution, unfortunately I currently live in a fortress of solitude located on the fourth floor of a building sitting in the middle of Paris: the nearest garden is shared with half the city. That might be an issue.

By: prety.hualian

prety.hualian — Fri, 30 Nov 2001 00:00:00 +0000

Ha.ha! when i wake up,first think about Basil,because it is good smell and delicious,in our
taiwan medicine science,,good cure for females. And in Mr.Nacken’s hompage a lot of
special knowledge really good work for Basil. 1 But ! the material of pot ! Pottery is good,it can
countrol the moisture and heat, 2 Mr Dave,if you could show up the Basil picture more clear.
and we may easy read the leaves condition,and the soil.3 hope you was gathered the old
leaves,( kare so no haba o to ru ),4 change good soils for it.
wish can hear good news very soon!!
yes!! say hello to Basil,don’t forget! they have feeling too!

By: prety.hualian

prety.hualian — Tue, 30 Nov 2004 00:00:00 +0000

I am from Taiwain,Basil grow up around every where! think about the weather,almost over
30℃, very hot. 1: the pot too small. 2 it like organic fertilizer..3 don’t need so much water
just likly. (tekitou) 4:this is important,,for Basil’s habit,you need to Gather the old leaves.
make it be strong, ( the leaves good for spageti ) 5: why don’t you plant Basil in the garden?
It like sun ,wind,not so wet. and nature! and you say hello to it every day..trust me,will
going to better!

By: Saffronsaris

Saffronsaris — Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

I think the best place for the Basil plants, if they’re not coping with the pots, is in the warm and cuddly linings of my gastrointestinal tract, nestling among the millions and millions of villi….

By: dr Dave

dr Dave — Sat, 30 Nov 2002 00:00:00 +0000

Indeed, overwatering it would seem… Yet even after I stopped watering it (2 days ago now), it didn’t recover the slightest (I think the ground is pretty drained by now)… Who knew plants were just so fragile… I think I’ll stick with cats: they’re much harder to kill (been trying with mine for a while, to no avail).

Fertilizer? Dear: we are way beyond fertilizer now… or perhaps some sort of steroid-based fertilizer… At any rate, I’m afraid there’s little to be done now. Save for getting a new one and trying better this time…

By: AY

AY — Sat, 30 Nov 2002 00:00:00 +0000

The pot should have good drainage holes. But it needs to be watered daily, if kept outside. They don’t mind the sun. They do quite well when very cold, too. How about some fertilisers?

By: nacken

nacken — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

ok .. after some googling I keep reading that overwatering is a very common problem with basil

e.g.

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/gardengary/basil.html

By: nacken

nacken — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

i would give the patients a new home inside a good pesto or on a pizza …

sorry to hear … i was never able to keep any plant alive for more than 3 days …