What to do when you first buy basil to make it last for months | July 9, 2025

Basil is one of the most used aromatic plants in the kitchen. Basil is easy to grow, however when we buy a plant at the supermarket, it almost always dies after a few weeks, sometimes after a few days.

Basil plants require about 8 hours of sunlight a day, well-drained soil and enough space to allow air circulation. However, this basic care may not be enough for a plant purchased at the supermarket.

The main reason why this type of plant dies shortly after bringing it home is due to sudden environmental and thermal shock. In the supermarket, plants are exposed to little artificial light and a controlled temperature. At home, however, it is exposed to natural light.

There can actually be more than one cause and below we list them all, along with solutions to make your basil plant last as long as possible.

Fusariosis of plants

This type of fungal disease that affects basil plants causes stunted growth, yellowing and falling leaves. The first symptoms of the problem are a slowdown in growth and hollow-looking leaves.

Unfortunately, finding a solution to fusarium wilt is almost impossible and it is always best to start from scratch, with a new plant, disinfecting both the pot and the entire place where the plant was placed.

The best weapon against fusarium wilt is prevention. Avoid water stagnation and water the soil without wetting the leaves.

 

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