A few days ago I cut some basil to use for garnishing a pasta dish. We ended up having something else, and the basil sat on the windowsill in a glass of water. Yesterday I noticed both the cuttings were developing roots. I'll get them in a small pot of soil and I may have "windowsill basil" this winter! Sometimes plants just surprise us.
Well, that didn't work! I planted the rooted basil into a compost/garden mix, and after two weeks it died. Completely died--black leaves, black stems, and dead. But you never know until you try . . . .
Sjoerd, I think my mistake was letting the root system develop in water. There is still time--the basil is still going great guns, so I'll try rooting some in damp perlite. Fewer roots will result, but they will be stronger. Why do I want more basil?
You want more basil because it is a challenge, and I think you may be quite right about transplanting from water, as it tends to leave the perky new roots a bit vulnerable. Good luck, I hope it works.
Well Jane, I don’t know. I have rooted many houseplants that way and planted them in seeding soil which has some sand in it and I added perlite for good measure. My idea is that a plant that have been rooted in this way need desperately to be housed in a good-draining medium before being planted on to a pot with a more bulky soil. Chuckle—yeah, good question. Perhaps you got down into a basil-rooting rabbit-hole.
Using the rooting medium worked! I have three new basil plants on the windowsill, and my husband is worrying about winter meals filled with dishes made with basil. After the roots became well developed in the damp perlite, I put them into a compost/potting soil mix and they didn't even droop.
You’re a legend, Jane. I knew if anyone could do it, it’d be you. Chapeau. Super work there. Happy eating, and offering support to your man.
Rezan, I've found dill is very easy to start from seed, but almost impossible to transplant or grow from cuttings. Dill has a very deep root. Don't feel badly about the dill not living. Just plant a seed or two in a small pot with soil, keep it moist, and you'll be dilly!
