Never water basil from above, otherwise there is a risk of fungus
Created: 06/25/2022, 15:00
By: Ines Alms
Yellow or brown spots on basil can indicate leaf spot disease.
The cause is a fungus that spreads if you water the wrong way.
Munich – The basil sometimes wilts if you forget to water it – or if you meant too well with the water.
However, if the leaves are irregularly yellow or brown, this can be an indication of leaf spot, a fungal disease.
The cause of this is probably incorrect watering from above.
Never water basil from above, otherwise there is a risk of fungus
Basil should never be watered from above, otherwise there is a risk of leaf spot disease.
(symbol image) © viennaslide/Imago
A fungus of the Septoria genus is usually responsible for leaf spot disease on herbs, but in rare cases it can also be viruses or bacteria.
You can often see a milk-colored "lawn" on the underside of the leaf.
When the fungus appeared, there was almost always too much moisture involved.
If only a few leaves are affected by the basil, quickly dispose of the affected leaves in the household waste so that the fungus does not spread.
Watering the basil correctly is almost an art: never let the basil dry out.
Always water the basil from below with room-warm water.
Special herb pots with self-watering are ideal - this means that the basil can always get just as much water from below as it needs.
Alternatively, a trivet works, here you should remove excess water, the herb does not tolerate waterlogging either.
Like many other plants, it is best to water basil in the morning so that the water can dry off during the day.
Spraying the leaves with water is also taboo, the same applies to the rain if the basil is outside in the pot.
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Basil shows yellow or brown leaves: Other causes
Here are a few more care tips on how basil can thrive in a splendid and healthy way:
Do not place the freshly bought plant in the sun, otherwise there is a risk of brown spots, i.e. sunburn.
If the plant is deeply rooted, it is best to repot it.
You can also easily divide the basil, i.e. increase it.
Whether in a pot or outdoors: Basil prefers to be outside in the fresh air with lots of sun, but without drafts.
Yellow leaves indicate too much sun, too little or too much water, or a nutrient deficiency.
With a long-term fertilizer you are well advised.
Just like for tomatoes, you can also use coffee grounds as a home remedy for basil.
By the way, when you harvest basil, you should not just pluck the leaves, but cut off the whole shoot tips with a clean knife or scissors.
Then the plant drives out again and becomes bushier.
