Basil leaf is a culinary herb. People use it in many ways. Some use it as a cooking essential, some use it as a salad. It can be used in both fresh and dried conditions.
Growing basil on the ground is pretty much usual but growing hydroponic basil is a little bit difficult. Hydroponic basil is cultivated in a soil-free system. Generally, it’s grown in a mason jar with some nutrient solution.
But here comes the crucial question: can you plant hydroponic basil in soil? Let’s find out the answer together.
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Can You Plant Hydroponic Basil on Soil?
You may have to buy hydroponic basil from the grocery store. How about replanting the basil on the soil you just brought from the market? Can you plant hydroponic plants on soil? Is it worth trying?
Well, with some proper guidance, yes you can.
Hydroponic basil is generally grown in a nutrient solution. That means their roots have been adopted for a soil-less environment. Growing hydroponic basil on soil takes more than simply removing the plant and setting it in soil.
You have to be careful enough to avoid the shock during the transition. You must also guarantee that the plant receives the nutrition it requires.
It will need physical assistance after being shifted. Again you have to be much more concerned about the hydroponic shock. Because it can kill your plant at the very beginning. Don’t be scared. We’re gonna show you the way to success. Stay with us.
Hydroponic Transplant Shock
When you remove basil from its hydroponic system and plant it on the soil it can feel the changes. As a result, the plant can get transplant shock and eventually die. Being shocked it starts showing signs like losing leaves, turning yellow, or becoming wilt.
Remember you are planting a nutrient-rich water-based plant on soil, so you have to make sure the plant gets enough nutrition and water properly.
When moving the plant, keep an eye out for the roots, they must not be disturbed. Keeping the root ball moist during the transplant is most important.
Growing mediums are necessary for this type of replanting but avoid it if possible. You have to ensure enough nutrient supplements. Lack of sunlight can also create transplant shock. Whatever the reason is you will always want to avoid this type of shock.
How to Replant Hydroponic Basil on Soil
Moving plants from water to soil is likely to be an impossible task as the plant can die from transplant shock. Besides lack of water, overflow of water, lack of nutrition, improper amount of sunlight, etc. can also hinder your progress at work.
But by following some steps and with proper care you can successfully plant basil on the soil. Let’s get into it.
1. Lower the water level in your hydroponic system
Hydroponic basil has a far more fragile root system than those grown in soil. Hydroponic basil generally creates thinner and comparatively shorter roots. But basil that naturally grows on soil has thicker and longer roots as it searches for nutrition and water.
So, to plant hydroponic basil on the soil, you should reduce the water level. The roots of your basil will now grow longer in search of water. This is necessary because the hydroponic basil will need longer roots for nutrition and water.
2. Removing the plant from the hydroponic system
You should do this step carefully because you don’t want to kill the plant. You should remove your basil from your hydro setup without breaking the roots.
Carefully remove any adjacent root if there are more than two basil plants. Don’t plant two adjacent basil plants in one place because they won’t get enough water and nutrition. After removing the plant carefully you need to plant it in a new pot.
3. Preparing the pot
You can’t plant your hydroponic basil on soil right after you remove it from your hydroponic system. So you have to plant it into a pot before doing so. You should choose a pot between 5-6 inches. This is the ideal size for your plant’s roots to grow around.
Fill the pot with some loose potting soil. The softness and lightness of this type of soil allow roots to grow and toughen without heavy soil rubbing on their sensitive membrane walls.
The soil must be prepared with some starter mix and water so that it becomes nutrient-rich and moistened. Then you should put three-fourth of the mix in the pot. Keep the rest of the mixture for further use.
4. Transplanting the basil into the pot
Make a hole in the center of the mixture of the pot to place the plant. Make enough room for the root ball. Now gently put down the root ball in the hole and start filling it with moist soil you kept.
Fill it in a way as if the soil covers the stem. Make sure the soil can hold the plant upright. Use a wooden stick if necessary because the plant needs to stand firmly.
5. Watering the plant
Now comes the most important work; keeping your basil plant alive. Though the soil you made is already moist you have to water the soil and mist it right after the transplant.
Your basil plant is used in a nutrient-rich water solution. So the plant needs extra care at this stage. You’ll need to ensure nutrition besides the water. So you can add some fertilizer to the water; that should cover up the basil nutrient requirements.
Watering the plant can be difficult in the first week. You have to water the basil plant regularly for the first week. If you somehow stop watering your plant it will die eventually. Again the excess amount of water can be harmful. Don’t panic if you see the leaves seem to be a little softer than usual. It’s still getting adjusted.
After a week, you can stop watering regularly. Now you should water the plant once or two a week or whenever you see the soil dry. Soil can dry both by the wind and by sunlight. So always check the soil condition.
6. Getting ready to plant the basil in your garden
From the second week, you can see your plant being hardened off. It will now need proper sunlight for making food. Start taking your basil plant to direct sunlight or a well-lit room. Or you can just keep the plant beside your window during the day.
If you see the leaves drooping immediately remove them from direct sunlight and make sure the soil is moist. Never keep the plant outside overnight for the first few days.
Keep it up until it seems that the plant has started to adjust with the high and low temperatures. When it seems the temperature is fifty degrees Fahrenheit or above during nighttime you can keep your basil plant outside overnight.
This is the last step of hardening off. The basil is now ready to plant into your garden soil or anywhere you want.
7. Finally plant it at your desired place
Your hydroponic basil is not a nutrient solution plant anymore. It depends on the soil, water, and sunlight for its survival. You can now take it to your garden and plant it, or you can plant it on a tray, or you can just leave it to be as it were in its pot.
Water the plant with some nutrient-rich water. Make sure it gets enough sunlight or direct heat. And there it is! You successfully planted your hydroponic basil on the soil.
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FAQs
Basil sun requirements
Basil plants require direct sunlight to grow. Generally, during transplant, you will need to bring the basil plant during the warmest hour. But after hardening off you need to keep the plant to direct sunlight for at least 7-8 hours.
How cold can basil survive?
As the basil plant loves warmth you’ll want to keep it in place as warm as possible. It can tolerate temperatures down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But this cold will damage your plant. So you’ll need to keep the temperatures between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
How often should you water indoor basil?
Watering your basil plant is most important. There’s no specific time limit when you should water the plant. Whenever you see the soil dry, water it. It may be 2 days a week or once a week.
Can you grow basil indoors all year round?
Yes, you can. But you need to be careful in the case of providing water, sunlight, and fertilizer. If you can ensure these items to your indoor basil plant it can survive all year long.
Conclusion
From hydroponic basil to soil-based basil. It was a charming journey. Isn’t it? To sum up, planting your hydroponic basil on soil is possible but you have to follow these above-mentioned steps thoroughly.
You can follow these same steps if you want to plant any other hydroponic plant other than basil. Here we leave you today, buddy. Adios!