I recently purchased a store-bought basil plant, which I've heard usually consists of multiple plants huddled together and should be repotted. I mainly bought it because it was cheaper than just getting the leaves, but I'm keen to keep it alive if possible. I already have some soil, but I'm out of pots. Can I just take a couple of the basil plants and put them in plastic cups with soil, making sure to poke a few holes in the bottom for drainage? Also, I'm new to gardening, so I'm unsure how to carefully remove just a couple of the plants without damaging them. Any advice?
3 Answers
You can definitely try pulling it out of the pot and checking the roots, but splitting them might be tricky. I've tried it many times and usually end up with root damage. But you could try gently pulling them apart and putting them into solo cups for now. Just remember to make drainage holes! I’ve had success with indoor hydroponic systems for basil, too. They can be a bit pricey, but worth the investment in the long run.
Those little pots with sleeves aren’t really designed for longevity. They’re one-off plants, and most likely won’t last long. You could visit your local garden store for a sturdier basil plant. Just a heads up: they usually don’t do well indoors unless they get plenty of sunlight.
You might want to try propagating the basil instead! Snip some healthy stems, strip most of the leaves off, and put them in water near a light source. Basil roots quickly, and this way you could end up with multiple stronger plants rather than keeping the one from the store.