Millions of basil are bought in pots every year. As potted plants, they are also a decorative eye-catcher for every kitchen. It is a pity that in most cases the basil dies quickly. If the first brown leaves appear, it can be assumed that health problems are already in full swing. Here the cause must be found and remedied.
Table of Contents
maintenance
Regardless of whether the herb pot was bought cheaply in the discount store or more expensive and of higher quality from a gardener, in any case the right care is the be-all and end-all for a long life expectancy. If brown leaves form, this is often due to incorrect care. The cause can come from the following areas.
location
Basil reacts to the cold. They cannot tolerate cold drafts and ambient temperatures of twelve degrees Celsius or below. Brown-colored leaves can be an indication of a location that is too cold.
The lighting conditions can also be to blame for brown leaves. Many herb lovers are too fond of warmth and sunlight. Burns are not uncommon for the leaves to turn brown.
If you adhere to the following guidelines and choose a more optimal location for brown leaves, you will quickly master the situation and save the basil from dying:
- The minimum temperature on terraces and balconies is over twelve degrees Celsius
- optimal growth conditions are given at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius to around 30 degrees Celsius
- Winter temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius in a sunny location
- avoid direct hot midday sun in summer
- Light conditions: sunny, best on a south-facing window
Substrate
Basil is a heavily consuming plant that requires a lot of nutrients. Inferior substrate usually does not meet the requirements. Only high-quality substrate with the following properties belongs in the herb pot:
- Loose texture
- Nutrient-rich
- High water permeability
- Well heatable
- pH between 6.5 and 7.2
- May contain slightly sandy for improved water storage
humidity
Basil likes continuous soil moisture. However, the soil must not be too damp, as this increases the risk of gray mold and stem rot. Brown leaves are often the first sign of overhydration and one of the diseases.
The Ocimum basilicum does not tolerate drought either. The surface of the earth can dry out slightly, but never dry out completely, because then the leaves quickly turn brown and dry out. Be careful with the leaves too. If they are wetted during watering, unsightly brown spots usually form.
pot
Basil needs sufficient space or distance to the individual clusters / stems. Often the herb pots are planted too densely for the sale or too many stems are planted for the pot size. The nutrients are used up correspondingly faster and brown leaves are formed as a sign of an undersupply / deficiency symptom.
A pot should be at least 25 to 30 centimeters in diameter for five to six stems.
Diseases
Root and stem rot (Fusarium oxysorum)
If the basil is kept too moist and / or waterlogging has formed, the result is often root and stem rot. This is a so-called wilt fungus. The water transport into the leaves is disturbed by this, so that the plant wilts, which takes place via brown leaves. There is no fighting here. The basil and soil should be disposed of with household waste.
Pests
Aphids (Aphidoidea)
Aphids do not stop at an Ocimum basilicum. The tiny parasites with green, black, brownish or yellow corpus usually settle in colonies on the stems. They suck the juice out of the leaves. As a result, they turn brown. Clear signs can already be seen beforehand from the sticky film on leaves. In the case of light infestation, a powerful shower is sufficient to remove the pests.
Dock-bark owl (Acronicta rumicis)
The caterpillars of the dock-bark owl like to sit on basil. There they feed on the sap. The leaves dry off and turn brown. The approximately two to three centimeters long pests can be recognized by their brown body with white dots. They are easy to collect or can be shaken off.
Common meadow bugs (Lygus pratensis)
These pests are between 5.8 and 7.3 millimeters in size. Their body is slightly flattened and oval in shape. Depending on their gender, they have a light red-brown to dark red or green, brownish color. Folded wings can be seen on the rear. The juicy leaves of herbal plants serve as a source of nutrition. As with the other pests, the basil reacts with brown leaves that dry off and fall off. Before this, white sucking points and leaf curls are noticeable. When the damage is discovered, the bugs have often already migrated. If this is not the case, parasitic wasps can be used as natural predators.
Prevent brown leaves
Basil can always be found at bargain prices, especially in supermarkets. As a rule, the Ocimum basilicum is a lush green, straight grown and looks healthy. Unfortunately, especially in the case of cheap offers, it is often a matter of goods that are mass-produced and bred. Even the freshest-looking herb can, with a bit of bad luck, begin to turn brown right after buying it. There are many reasons.
Influencing natural growth
Since the demand for the culinary herb is very high, producers / breeders rely on mass production. The main aim is to be able to bring the plants to market as quickly as possible. Therefore, a significantly faster growth is often brought about. This is usually done through the targeted use of artificial light. In addition, the soil temperature is optimized as required for strong growth spurts. When they have reached the ideal size and a deep green, they go out on sale. Such manufacturing processes do not give them time to strengthen themselves or to allow the roots to firmly establish themselves. This is usually at the expense of the service life. Many of these specimens get their first brown leaves after a few days and can die within two weeks.
- forego particularly cheap bargain offers
- Check the firmness of the roots by pulling gently on the herb
- rub on the leaves – intense scent aroma: strengthened plant – hardly any to little scent aroma: quick production
- Don’t be fooled by its fresh appearance from lush green leaves
Substrate tip
At bargain prices, you shouldn’t count on a high-quality substrate that guarantees a good supply of the basil in the long term. The Ocimum basilicum makes certain demands on a substrate. This is usually not taken into account because the cheapest option enables higher profits. Or a herbal soil is used across the board for all herbs, although it does not have enough nutrients for basil. If leaves appear brown within a few days, this is often due to the substrate. Therefore, this should always be exchanged for a high-quality substrate after purchase, as previously described under “Care – Substrate”.
Plastic foil tip
If the pots are wrapped in plastic film, a protected microclimate is created so that they can show themselves from their best side on the shelf for a few days. They provide support so that the weak plants do not tip over. But above all the air conditions that exist through the film can cause brown leaves as a result. This is often the case if the film is simply removed after purchase. A new climate, a different temperature and an unfamiliar environment cause problems for the herbs. Only a few degrees of temperature difference can cause the leaves to turn brown.
This can be prevented by pulling the film down only one to two centimeters each day. This allows the herb to get used to the new environment well enough.
Conclusion
If a basil gets brown leaves, the cause is either incorrect care, a disease or a pest infestation. Except for the wilt fungus, this is easy to get under control so that the herbal plant does not perish. Those who also take preventive measures have a good chance of preventing the formation of brown leaves.
