Basil as a houseplant provides you with fresh leaves for cooking year-round.
Basil is one of theeasiest herbs to growindoors.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
Can You Grow Basil Inside?
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
The key to successfully growing basil indoors is light.
Alternatively, basil does exceptionally well under grow lights.
Basil is easy to grow.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
It requires little maintenance other than watering and fertilizing.
It is also relatively pest and disease-free.
It’s a compact plant that easily fits on a windowsill in even the smallest apartment space.
Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman
How to Grow Basil Indoors
Growing basil indoors is not much different fromgrowing it in your garden.
Be careful not to let the leaves touch the bulbs to prevent burning.
Watering
For best results, aim to keep your basil plants regularly moist.
Use a complete liquid fertilizer, diluted to half strength, once a month.
If the plant is not growing much, temporarily increase the fertilization to twice a month.
Pruning and Maintenance
Basil is a carefree plant that needs little maintenance.
As the plant is established and has branched out, regular harvesting of your basil doubles as pruning.
Always harvest leaves from the top down.
Cut off individual leaves from smaller plants, or snip stems a few inches down for larger ones.
A 4-inch pot is usually large enough for a basil starter plant.
Potting Soil and Drainage
Basil needs soil that is moist but well-draining.
For best results, amend high-quality potting mix with a few tablespoons of organic compost.
Select a pot with large drainage holes at its base so the soil doesn’t get soggy or waterlogged.
Usually, basil reaches the end of its annual life cycle before it needs repotting.
Basil is a cold-sensitive plantit does not take a frost to damage it.
Outdoors, your basil plant needs more frequent watering than inside.
Water it daily in the absence of rain.
Yes, it is possible togrow basil indoors from cuttings.
Dip the cut end in rooting hormone and follow the directions forgrowing plants from cuttings.
Once the plant grows a flower stalk and produces seeds, it has reached the end of its lifespan.
Basil plants start readily from seed, especially when placed under grow lights.
Lower temperatures will increase germination time.
Growing Basil in Home Gardens.
University of Minnesota Extension.
