Unfortunately, basil plants from the supermarket won’t last forever if they’re not cared for properly. Within a few weeks of purchase, most basil plants wilt and die.
The first thing we should know when we buy a jar of basil in the supermarket is that we are not buying a single plant, but a bed in which many plants are piled up. As these plants grow, they have little space between them and nutrients become scarce, causing the plant to wilt and die soon.
Basil from the supermarket is like many seedlings for the price of one – the gardener’s secret!
So to ensure that your basil plant always provides plenty of leaves for months, you should divide the seedlings and transplant them separately into other pots. In order not to damage the root ball (i.e. the roots with the substrate), cut off the weakest plants at the base of the stem, closest to the ground, with scissors and use them in your cooking recipes. Ideally, you should keep a maximum of three or four plants, the strongest of the original plant. If you want, you can also transplant all the plants!
Once you’ve obtained the strongest seedlings from the original pot, you can transplant them separately into four pots of the same size or slightly larger with new soil or substrate. Water your new basil pots generously and place them in a sunny spot. It won’t take long for them to recover and grow. This way you can enjoy fresh basil leaves for months.
Many new basil plants are sold by stems in the supermarket, gardeners do that!
If you want dozens of basil plants without spending a fortune, you can also use the pre-cut bouquets or stems that are sold in bags or small containers in the refrigerated section of supermarkets. Of course, choose the variety with the freshest grapes in good condition. To make them root, simply fill a glass halfway with water (about five fingers will do) and place the basil stems inside.
If basil leaves come into contact with water, remove them so they don’t rot. Place the glass by a sunny window. You will see that in less than a week the first roots will appear and in fifteen days they will be strong enough to transplant them into pots.
You can also take more and more cuttings from your basil plants as they grow. Simply cut off a side branch (if you want the plant to grow longer) or a top (for a bushier plant).
Finally, remember that basil loves heat. Your potted basil will love growing in a warm, bright, and sheltered location. That’s why they look so good in the conservatory or in a sunny window in the kitchen or living room. However, you have to be careful not to give it too much water. Choose a substrate that drains well, and before watering the seedlings (preferably in the morning), check if it is dry and needs water.
With these little tips, you can enjoy your fresh basil leaves for months without spending a fortune. We leave you a video on how to transplant many basil plants bought in the supermarket into pots!
