How to: keep herb plants alive
The basil plant from the supermarket looks sad after a few days: the leaves are limp and brown, and the stems are drooping. You don’t understand it at all. You do everything you can to keep the thing alive, but it fails every time. With these tips, your supermarket plant will survive next time.
First things first: supermarket herbs aren’t actually meant to stay alive for long. They’re grown (far too) quickly in warm greenhouses with lots of light. Once they’re big enough, they end up limp and exhausted in the store, and they only have a few days left to live. Did you buy a supermarket plant? Then leave that unappealing piece of foil around it. It gives the plant some support.
Tip for next time: buy your herb plant from a garden center. There, they’re grown with a little more patience.
Repotting
Treat your plant (even if it comes from the garden center) to fresh soil and a larger pot. The roots will then have more room and nutrients, allowing them to grow stronger.
Choosing a spot
Herbs love sunlight. It helps them grow quickly and also makes them smell more aromatic and taste more intense. However, plants are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. That’s why you should keep them in one place. They do perfectly well on the windowsill, in front of the window. Just make sure your plant doesn’t stay in direct sunlight for too long, because it will dry out. Herbs with sturdier leaves, such as rosemary, thyme and sage, can take more of a beating. They can also survive outdoors.
Watering
Herb plants want to soak up water themselves. So never pour water directly onto the plant. It’s better to place it on a deep plate with a layer of water, so the roots can absorb the water themselves. Check every day whether the plant needs fresh water by feeling whether the soil is wet or dry.
Harvesting
Need some herbs? Don’t pick them with your hands. They can sometimes carry bacteria that herbs don’t tolerate well. It’s better to use scissors and cut the herbs one or two centimeters above the soil. That way, they can start growing again.
Caring for the plant
Do you see limp leaves? Is your plant developing buds or flowers? Cut them off. This allows the plant to use all its energy for the leaves you need.
Also read:
