How to Grow Basil Indoors

Basil is a popular, fragrant herb with a variety of culinary uses. There are actually over 100 varieties of basil that all have slightly different tastes, from Italian sweet basil to Thai spicy basil. Most basil plants grow easily in outdoor gardens, and with a few minor alterations, you can grow basil indoors without much hassle, as well. Sufficient amounts of sun and water are the key ingredients in getting your basil to thrive no matter where you plant it.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Starting from Seed

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1
Purchase basil seeds from a reliable source. Visit your local nursery or garden store to pick out basil seeds you'd like to plant, or you can buy them online. You can often buy a packet containing over 100 seeds at a very low price.
- If you're buying the seeds online, do some research to find out which websites have the best seeds.
Basil needs nutrient-rich soil that can drain water easily to grow into a healthy plant. You can find well-draining potting soil at a garden store, as well as online.
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3
Fill ¾ of a container with the soil. The container should offer sufficient drainage and can be made of clay, plastic, stone, or concrete. Use a spray bottle filled with water to give the soil a little moisture before filling the container up with soil so that it’s not quite full.
- Look for drainage holes in the bottom regardless of the material. These are critical to ensure good drainage and a healthy plant. Be sure to use a tray underneath your pot to prevent water from coming out of the holes and leaking all over.
- A regular clay pot is a popular option or seedling trays made of plastic.
4
Scatter the seeds into the container of soil. If you’re using small seedling trays, try to place about 3 seeds in each tray. If you’re using a larger pot, scatter 5-7 seeds on top of the soil, placing them evenly apart from one another.
- It’s important to plant more than 1 seed in each tray in case some of them don’t end up sprouting.
- Aim for spreading the seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart from one another.
- You don’t need to press the seeds into the soil.
5
Cover the seeds with a sprinkling of dry soil. You don’t need to add a thick layer, just enough to cover the seeds you’ve just planted—a layer of roughly 0.25 inches (0.64 cm). This will be just thick enough to protect the seeds while also helping them grow.
- Avoid packing down the soil once it’s in the container.
6
Add additional moisture to the soil using a spray bottle. Use a spray bottle filled with water to spray the soil with a little bit more moisture—especially the added top layer. If you don’t have a spray bottle, run your hands under a faucet or dip them in a cup of water and sprinkle the water over the soil using your fingers.
- Place the pot or container on top of a tray to catch any water that leaks out.
- You can place a piece of plastic over the container or pot to lock in moisture.
7
Place the container in a sunny spot indoors. Basil thrives in full sun but needs at least 6 hours of sunlight each day to grow properly. The best spot to set up your basil plant would be near a well-lit, warm window.
- Be careful if you’re setting the basil directly onto the windowsill. The glass window can cause the basil plant to become too warm or too cold more quickly than usual.
- If you are in the northern hemisphere, a south-facing window typically works best. If you don't have a space in your house that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day, consider using a supplemental light source.^{[1]XResearch source}
The exact amount of time it takes for your seeds to sprout will depend on the amount of sunlight they get, the soil temperature, and the available moisture. Be patient and continue to keep the seeds moist and warm.^{[2]XResearch source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Caring for the Basil

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1
Water the basil from its base twice a week to keep it well-hydrated. Instead of pouring water directly onto the leaves and stem of the plant, pour water right at the soil line. This way, the roots are able to absorb water from the base, and you avoid dripping wet leaves.
- Test the dampness by sticking your finger into the soil about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. If the soil feels dry even at this depth, lightly water the plant.
2
Use an artificial light source to provide additional care. If you cannot provide enough natural sunlight for your basil, use fluorescent grow lights or specially designed high-intensity lights instead. Basil plants receiving no natural light should receive 10 to 12 hours of artificial light.
- Keep standard fluorescent lights roughly 2 inches (5.1 cm) away from the tops of your plants, and keep high output and compact fluorescent lamps 1 foot (30 cm) above the plants.
- High-intensity lights should be 2–4 feet (0.61–1.22 m) above plants.
3
Check the plant's pH levels once a month. A good pH level is usually between 6.0 and 7.5. You can maintain this pH by using organic fertilizer found at your local garden store, or online. Simply mix the organic fertilizer into the soil, and test the soil using pH strips.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Since basil is primarily used for culinary purposes, many non-organic fertilizers may pose a potential risk.
4
Simulate a natural habitat by running a fan. Direct an electric fan toward the plant, allowing it to rustle the leaves for at least 2 hours a day. Doing this prevents the air around the plant from getting too stagnant and works as an outdoor breeze would.
- Put the fan on the lowest setting.
5
Thin your plants out once the seedlings have 2 pairs of leaves. The plants should be 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) apart to ensure adequate room for growth. You can either thin them out by snipping the basil off at the soil level or by removing the basil by the root.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Use your fingers or a wooden popsicle stick or tongue depressor to carefully dig the soil away from the base of a seedling.
- Slide the tongue depressor under the developing roots or carefully "wiggle" the seedling, roots and all, out of the soil with your fingers after it is exposed.
- Replant the removed seedling in another pot or in the same pot 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) away from any other seedling, if desired.
6
Pinch off the tops once the seedlings reach 6 inches (15 cm) in height. Once your plant has 3 sets of leaves, it’s ready to be pruned. You can use sharp scissors to cut right above the set of leaves.
- Pinching the tops off will encourage better leaf growth and will prevent your basil from becoming "leggy."
- Prune the basil every couple of weeks. Focus on removing leaves that are weak, stunted, or otherwise damaged. Leaves you prune from your basil plant are still good to eat.
7
Water your basil plant if it starts to wilt. Wilting is usually a sign that your basil plant is thirsty, so water the soil and then let the water soak through before adding any more. It's also a good idea to move the plant out of any sunlight for a few hours while it recharges after wilting.^{[5]XResearch source}
- After watering and moving the plant out of the sun, you should see it start to look healthier after about 4 hours.
- Snip off any dead leaves with clean pruning shears, if necessary.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Harvesting the Leaves

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1
Harvest your basil before it flowers. This gives you the freshest, biggest leaves to work with. If your basil plant has started flowering, pinch off the flowers to help redirect the energy back to growing basil leaves.^{[6]XResearch source}
- The flowers will be visible, making it easy to spot when the plant has started flowering.
2
Pick off the leaves when you need small amounts of basil. You can use your fingers to pinch the leaves off, or you can use sharp scissors to cut them. Picking off a few leaves won’t harm the plant in any way.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Try not to remove more than a third of the leaves on the plant unless you plan to harvest all of it. This helps ensure your plant has enough energy to keep growing.
- Pinch off the newer leaves from the top of the plant to encourage new growth and keep your basil plant bushy and dense.^{[8]XExpert SourceArtemisia Nursery
  Plant Nursery & Garden ShopExpert Interview. 7 August 2020.}
3
Cut right above where 2 large leaves meet for larger amounts. This will give you a stem’s worth of basil leaves.^{[9]XExpert SourceArtemisia Nursery
Plant Nursery & Garden ShopExpert Interview. 7 August 2020.} Cutting above the leaves allows new growth to continue, which will preserve your basil plant for a longer stretch of time.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Cutting stems just below a pair of leaves may prevent the stem from growing further.

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How do I water the plants?
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Expert Answer
Use a gentle watering can or spray bottle to dampen the soil. Water until water comes out of the drainage holes.
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It has been a week since I planted my indoor basil seeds and I have not seen any growing. What can I do to check if they will grow? How much longer should I wait to see growing?
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Expert Answer
Consider placing your pots on a seedling heating mat. This will warm the soil and increase chances of germination. Sow another round if you think you planted your seeds too deep, as seeds planted too deep will not germinate. If your seeds haven’t germinated after two weeks they likely won’t.
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Can a seed be soaked before planting?
Donagan
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Yes, that's a good way to promote germination, especially if you keep the seed warm.
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Rotate the containers as the plants grow to keep them from leaning in one direction.
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If you put plastic over the soil right after planting, remove it once you see seedlings popping up through the soil.
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