How to Get Basil to Grow Roots

Fill the planting container to the top with soil or vermiculite. Spray the medium generously with water from the spray bottle.

Cut a 6-inch-long shoot from an actively growing basil plant. Sever the shoot at a leaf node, making sure the entire stem appears green, not brown or woody. A woody stem will not root as readily as a newer stem.

Trim off any leaves from the bottom half of the stem. Clip off any blossom from the top of the stem.

Insert the basil stem into the center of the container, pushing it about 3 inches into the soil. Firm the soil gently around the stem.

Place a plastic bag onto the top of the container, with the top of the bag around the rim of the container. Secure the bag to the container with a rubber band. Place the container in a warm location, about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, out of direct sunlight.

Remove the bag every day, and spray the potting soil or vermiculite with water to keep it moist. Replace the bag each time.

Monitor the basil cutting for indications that it is growing roots beneath the surface of the soil. When you notice new growth on the stem, roots are beginning to form. Remove the plastic bag when you know roots are forming.

Continue to keep the soil moist while the basil cutting grows into a larger plant. Place the plant in a sunny window or under a grow light. Transplant the basil to a larger container after one or two months.