The Complete Sweet Basil Plant Care Guide: Water, Light & Beyond (2024)

Sweet Basil love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Sweet Basil does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Sweet Basil in your home 🏡.

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Sweet Basil after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Sweet Basil can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Sweet Basil →

Common Sweet Basil Problems →

Sweet Basil prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Sweet Basil Water Frequency →

Sweet Basil Root Rot →

Sweet Basil requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Sweet Basil Light Requirements →

Sweet Basil is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Sweet Basil doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Sweet Basil Humidity Needs →

Sweet Basil does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Sweet Basil →

When and How to Successfully Repot Sweet Basil →

Sweet Basil is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

Sweet Basil is native to Worldwide.

Yes, you may see your Sweet Basil bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Sweet Basil grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Sweet Basil →

USDA Hardiness Zone
Sweet Basil can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Sweet Basil Temperature Tolerance →

The seeds of Sweet Basil can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Sweet Basil, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

• Common Bugs Affecting Sweet Basil →
• Drooping Sweet Basil Leaves →
• Sweet Basil Dropping Leaves →
• Sweet Basil Mushy Leaves →
• Black Spots on Sweet Basil →
• Brown Spots on Sweet Basil →
• Sweet Basil Leaves Falling Over →
• Sweet Basil Leaves Curling →
• Sweet Basil Yellow Leaves →
• Sweet Basil Root Rot →