9 Reasons Your Basil Plants Are Wilting and Drooping
Basil is a must-have herb in my kitchen garden. There’s always a pot on the windowsill during the winter and several types in my outdoor herb garden in the summer months.
Regardless of the season and the type I’m growing, it’s inevitable that I’ll be faced with a droopy, wilting plant at some point.
If you’ve ever bought a potted basil plant from the grocery store produce section that started wilting within what seemed like minutes of bringing it home, then you know what I mean.
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There are a variety of reasons why your herbs might start looking sad.
Under- or overwatering are both common causes, but pests and diseases can also cause trouble that results in drooping and discoloration.
If you need a refresher on how to grow basil, check out our guide. In this article we’re going to go over the nine most common causes of wilt.
So if your basil is wilting or looking a bit droopy, these are the reasons why it might be happening:
9 Causes of Wilting Basil
Generally, the faster you determine the cause, the better the chances of fixing the problem and returning your basil to good health.
So let’s not waste one second more!
1. Aphids
You know them, you love them. Or maybe not.
Aphids are extremely common pests both indoors and out. They feed on basil using their sucking mouthparts, which draw out the sap, causing the foliage to wilt.
They also cause yellow stippling, stunting, and distorted growth. In addition, aphids can also spread disease, so you definitely don’t want them knocking at your door.
You’ll know it’s aphids causing the wilting as you’ll see the pests
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