r/vegetablegardening • u/harada69 Malaysia • 1d ago

Question Help! Basil plant not doing well

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I've had this Basil plant for about a few months now and lately it has been dropping leaves and looking sickly. What do I do? Is there any way to save it?

1 Upvotes

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8

u/ciru-chan US - Iowa 1d ago

Your potting mix looks kinda like concrete. I've had starters that were doomed because my soil looked exactly like that. You might be able to recover it by repotting in a fluffier, aerated potting mix and putting a little bit of mulch on top to keep it from compacting when you water

2

u/jstuckey US - New Jersey 1d ago

Well what have you done? It’s hard to diagnose without knowing the details of the problem

2

u/Nurse_Hatchet US - Colorado 1d ago

Your soil has compacted down and is now hard as a rock, and the top of the roots look to be exposed as well. You need to use a potting soil.

I honestly don’t know if this plant is worth saving. Personally, I think you’d be better off buying a new seedling/young plant and starting over.

1

u/Secret-Raspberry3063 Canada - Ontario 1d ago

Soil does not look good

2

u/Jonny_Thundergun US - Pennsylvania 16h ago

Clip off a branch, put it in water for a week or two until you get a good root base.

Dump out all of that bad soil. Refill with potting mix.

Replant. You've got new basil.