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Bringing basil indoors is a simple and rewarding way to keep your favorite herb thriving all year long.
Whether you’re trying to rescue a plant before the first frost or you just want fresh leaves for your pasta in January, learning how to bring basil indoors is easier than you might think.
Basil is surprisingly adaptable, and with a few key steps, you can successfully transition it from your outdoor garden to a cozy spot on your kitchen windowsill.
In this post, we’ll cover the best methods for bringing basil indoors, how to help it adjust, and what to do to keep it growing strong through the colder months.
Let’s dig in.
Why You Should Bring Basil Indoors
The main reason people decide to bring basil indoors is to extend the harvest season and have fresh herbs available whenever they need them.
When you bring basil indoors, you protect the plant from cold temperatures that would otherwise kill it and stunt its growth.
This move also saves you money, since you won’t have to buy expensive supermarket herbs that often go bad within a few days.
Plus, the flavor of homegrown basil is undeniably superior, so it’s worth the effort to keep your plant alive.
Here are a few more reasons why bringing basil indoors is a smart idea.
1. You Get Continuous Fresh Leaves
When you bring basil indoors, you can snip off fresh leaves for your recipes all winter long.
This means your pesto, salads, and soups will always have that vibrant, peppery flavor that dried herbs just can’t match.
It’s incredibly convenient to just walk over to your windowsill and harvest what you need right before cooking.
2. It’s Cheaper Than Buying Fresh Herbs
Store-bought basil is expensive, and it often wilts in the fridge before you even get a chance to use it.
By bringing basil indoors, you eliminate the need to constantly repurchase those plastic clamshells of herbs.
With a little care, you’ll have an endless supply that costs you nothing but a bit of water and sunlight.
3. You Preserve a Plant You Already Love
If you’ve spent the summer nurturing a beautiful basil plant, it feels like a waste to let it die when the weather turns cold.
When you bring basil indoors, you’re giving that plant a second life and extending the joy of growing your own food.
It’s a satisfying feeling to watch the same plant keep producing leaves even while snow is falling outside.
Best Ways to Bring Basil Indoors
How do you actually bring basil indoors without shocking the plant and causing it to drop all its leaves?
The key is to do it gradually and give the plant time to acclimate to its new environment.
There are two main methods you can use, and both work well depending on your situation.
1. Digging Up Your Garden Basil
The first method to bring basil indoors is to dig up an entire plant from your garden bed.
Use a small shovel to gently lift the roots, keeping as much soil around them as possible.
Then, place the plant into a clean pot that has drainage holes, and fill in any gaps with fresh potting mix.
Water it thoroughly and move it to a shaded spot for a few days before bringing it inside.
2. Taking Cuttings to Root in Water
Another great way to bring basil indoors is by taking cuttings from your outdoor plants.
Snip off a few healthy stems that are about 4-6 inches long, just below a leaf node.
Strip the lower leaves off the stems and place them in a glass of fresh water.
Within a week or two, you’ll see roots forming, and then you can transplant the new plants into pots with soil.
How to Help Your Basil Adjust to Indoor Life
Once you’ve decided to bring basil indoors, you need to focus on helping it adjust to the lower light and drier air inside your home.
The transition can be a shock to the plant, but there are a few things you can do to make it smoother.
When you bring basil indoors, the most common issue is a lack of adequate sunlight.
Here’s how to ensure your basil thrives.
1. Provide Plenty of Bright Light
Basil is a sun-loving plant that needs at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
When you bring basil indoors, place it on a south-facing windowsill where it will get the most light possible.
If you don’t have a sunny enough window, you can use a grow light to supplement the natural light.
Without enough light, your basil will become leggy and lose its vibrant flavor, so this step is crucial.
2. Water Consistently But Not Too Much
When you bring basil indoors, you’ll need to adjust your watering routine since indoor conditions are different from the garden.
Check the top inch of soil with your finger, and water only when it feels dry to the touch.
Make sure the pot has good drainage so the roots don’t sit in water, which can cause root rot.
Always water at the base of the plant to keep the leaves dry and prevent fungal issues.
3. Pinch Off Flowers to Encourage Leaf Growth
If your basil starts to flower when you bring basil indoors, pinch the flower buds off immediately.
Flowering signals the plant to stop producing leaves and focus on making seeds instead.
By regularly pinching off any flowers, you encourage the plant to stay in a vegetative state.
This means you’ll get a bushier plant with more leaves for your kitchen.
4. Keep an Eye Out for Pests
Before you bring basil indoors, inspect the plant thoroughly for any hitchhiking bugs.
Aphids and spider mites love to hide on the undersides of leaves.
When you bring basil indoors, you might inadvertently bring these pests into your home.
If you spot any, treat the plant with a gentle insecticidal soap spray before moving it inside.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Bringing Basil Indoors
People often make a few simple errors when they decide to bring basil indoors, which can lead to disappointment.
Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them so your transition is successful.
1. Moving the Plant Inside Too Quickly
If you take a plant from the hot sun and immediately place it in a dim, dry room, it will likely go into shock.
To bring basil indoors successfully, you need to harden it off first.
Start by bringing it inside for a few hours a day, then gradually increase the time over the course of a week.
This gradual process helps the plant adjust to the lower humidity and light levels.
2. Overwatering the Plant
One of the biggest reasons basil dies indoors is because people give it too much water.
When you bring basil indoors, the soil doesn’t dry out as fast as it does outside.
So, you have to be more conservative with your watering schedule.
Always let the top of the soil dry out completely between waterings to keep the roots healthy.
3. Not Giving It Enough Space
If you try to bring basil indoors and place it in a dark corner, it won’t thrive.
Give your basil a prime spot right in the brightest window you have.
Also, make sure the plant has enough space between it and other plants for good air circulation.
This will help prevent mold and mildew from developing.
So, How Do You Bring Basil Indoors?
Bringing basil indoors is a straightforward process that requires a little patience and the right conditions.
The first step to bring basil indoors is to select a healthy plant or take some cuttings from your garden.
Then, gradually acclimate it to indoor life by providing plenty of bright, direct sunlight.
Water it carefully, only when the soil feels dry, and pinch off any flowers that appear.
You can successfully bring basil indoors and enjoy fresh, aromatic leaves throughout the fall and winter.
By following these simple tips, you’ll have a thriving indoor herb garden that keeps your favorite recipes tasting amazing all year long.