The basil plant has always been one of the most loved herbs by many, but if you notice that one or more of your plants is looking sickly and the leaves are turning brown, it could be due to various problems. This article will answer the question, ‘why is my basil plant dying?’
Why is my Basil Plant Dying?
Here are reasons why your basic plant might be dying and what to do about them.
Too much sunlight
The first reason your basil plant may be dying is that you may have too much sunlight in the area you are growing it. Basil needs some sunlight to grow and thrive, but they do not want to get too much sunlight since it can burn its leaves. To determine if you have too much sunlight for your basil plant, look at the leaves and stems for signs of burning or turning brown. If you see any signs of burning, you may have too much sunlight.
Too much water
Many people think that watering their basil plant every day is enough to grow healthy. However, this is not the case. To grow your basil plant in a healthy environment, you need to make sure that you get it enough water.
Overwatering can cause damage to your basil plants and lead to the early death of the basil plant. Pinch off a few leaves of your basil plants and place them in some cool water. If they do not turn light green within 24 hours, you can check out what else could be causing the problem if it is not too much sun or too little water.
Too much fertilizer
If your basil plant is dying, it could be because of too much fertilizer. If you are not changing out your compost and soil after every few months, then the nutrients in your soil could be wearing down.
When this happens, you will need to add more fertilizer to the plant to keep going strong. However, if you add too much fertilizer or if the plant is getting older, both of these things can lead to a quick death of the basil plant. If this is happening with your plants, then look at changing the soil and compost more often.
Further, your basil plant might be dying because of insufficient calcium carbonate in the soil. The plant can become chlorotic (with yellow leaves) or get aphids and spider mites. Calcium helps strengthen and support the basil leaf so that it does not come apart easily and requires less water.
Poor drainage
Poor drainage can lead to your basil plant dying quickly and easily. If there is not enough drainage in the soil of your basil plant, then it can cause the roots to rot. That will cause the entire basil plant to die off quickly.
Make sure that you are using a compost and soil mixture with plenty of drainage. If you are unsure if you have poor drainage or good drainage, look at your plant leaves and look for signs of browning or wilting. If leaves are wilting, you need more drainage; if leaves are browning, you have poor drainage.
Low humidity
Basil plants need plenty of humidity to grow healthy and strong. If you do not have a humidifier in your home or the humidity in your home is not at a healthy level, then it can cause your basil plants to slow down and die quickly.
Humidity is critical because it helps the leaves of the basil plants stay solid and thick. You should aim for around 40-50% humidity. If this is impractical, then it is time for you to get a humidifier into your home.
Insect infestation
If you notice that there are insects on and around your basil plant, it could be because of insect infestation. Basil plants are succulent plants, which means they can attract plenty of insects.
The common insects which might attack the basil plants include spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies. If you notice these insects around your basil plant, you need to get rid of them immediately before they kill your basil plant.
Diseases
Basil plants get diseases such as downy mildew or leaf scorch from fungal spores or bacteria. Symptoms include holes in the leaves of your basil plant and a grayish to a reddish discolored area at the base of the leaf. Signs of basil downy mildew include yellowing on the lower leaves of your basil plant and patches of white to brown leaf edges that look ragged.
Why is my Basil Plant Dying: Conclusion
Most people believe that basil plants are dying because of too much heat and water. However, the basil plants might also be dying due to pests, disease, age, and environmental conditions such as lack of light, nutrition, or water.
Basil plants are pretty healthy and can be revived even if they appear to be pretty far gone.
The long-term health of the basil plant depends on many things, such as sunlight levels and the amount of nutrients present in the soil. Therefore, if you identify any of these signs or symptoms in your basil plants, take action immediately to avoid possible death and a dying plant.
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