2d • General discussion
Our sweet Basil Friend
How to Keep a Basil Plant Happy
(Without Sacrificing It to the Old Gods)
Basil is dramatic. Not cursed. Dramatic.
If your basil keeps dying, it’s not because you failed an herb initiation. It’s because basil has opinions and you ignored them.
Let’s fix that.
1. Basil Wants Light, Not Interrogation
Basil likes bright light, not surveillance.
Indoors: sunny window, 6–8 hours
Outdoors: sun, but not full desert punishment all day
If you stare at it every hour whispering “why are you like this,” it will wilt out of spite.
2. Water Like a Normal Person
Basil enjoys moist soil, not a swamp and not a drought ritual.
Water when the top inch of soil is dry
Drainage matters. Basil hates wet feet.
If the pot smells funky, you’ve gone too far.
Overwatering doesn’t make you caring. It makes you suspicious.
3. Pinch, Don’t Panic
This is where most people mess up.
Pinch basil above a leaf pair
Don’t rip random leaves like you’re foraging in a crisis
Regular pinching = bushy plant
No pinching = leggy, resentful basil reaching for freedom
You’re not hurting it. You’re giving it direction.
4. Basil Likes Warmth, Not Drama
Basil thrives in warmth and sulks in cold.
Indoors: keep it away from cold windows and vents
Outdoors: don’t plant it until nights are reliably warm
If frost hits, basil will simply give up on life. No warnings. No notes.
5. Feed Gently
Basil doesn’t need a full banquet.
Light fertilizer once in a while
Compost is fine
Don’t dump everything you own into the pot “just in case”
Basil wants support, not a chemical intervention.
6. Flowers Mean Midlife Crisis
If basil starts flowering, it’s basically saying: “I’m done growing leaves. I’m thinking about my legacy.”
Pinch off flowers to keep leaf production going
Or let it flower if you want seeds and vibes
Either way, it’s not dying. It’s just entering a new phase.
My final Basil Wisdom
What she really needs:
light
warmth
consistent water
occasional pinching
and to not be treated like a mystical hostage
Treat her like a respected plant, talk to her daily
And remember:
If your basil dies, it wasn’t the old gods.
It was probably the drainage.
Lori
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Our sweet Basil Friend
skool.com/herbalism-with-lori-4076
Pull up a chair. Let’s talk herbs.
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