My Sweet Basil Is Growing Brown

Disease

• Diseases of the fungal, bacterial and viral variety affect basil plants. These diseases are spread through the soil, through pests and when infected plants grow near your healthy plants. Diseases that infect basil include fusarium or verticulum wilt, blight and leaf spot. Aside from brown discoloration, symptoms include wilting, leaf drop and rotting of the roots or stems. Treat basil disease by removing infected plants from healthy ones, applying an antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral treatment to the plants and removing any unhealthy looking leaves or stems.

Pests

• Pests inhabit gardens, preying on plants such as basil in order to find shelter and food. These pests often damage or kill basil plants by boring into the leaves and stems or feeding on foliage and sucking fluids from the plant. Pests that often infest basil include aphids, beetles, worms, thrips and mites. Besides brown discoloration, signs of pests include wilting, scorched leaves, ragged or damaged leaves and stems, and growths on the leaves or stems. Treat pests as soon as possible with insecticides or soap sprays to prevent further damage.

Water

• Basil prefers growing in hot, sunny weather but requires very moist soil and plenty of water to stay healthy. Both over-watering and under-watering basil cause problems for the plant and could result in brown leaves and stems. Signs of over-watering include yellow discoloration, leaf spotting, wilt and rotting plants. Signs of under-watering include shriveling plants, wilting, leaf drop and curled leaves. Water basil daily until the soil is moist, not soggy or damp. Insert your finger two inches into the soil. If it feels moist the basil has enough water, if the soil feels dry, the basil needs more water.

Fertilization

• Basil does not require much fertilizer, as fertilizer tends to lend the basil a bitter flavor. However, basil does require some nourishment as it grows. A lack of proper nourishment results in brown discoloration, curled leaves, dropped or drooping leaves and drooping plants. Work an organic fertilizer, such as peat moss, into the soil before planting basil, or mulch the soil with used coffee grounds. This provides the plant with nourishment as well as helping the soil to retain the much needed moisture basil requires.

Light

• Basil requires plenty of light to produce healthy foliage. Natural light, or sunlight, is best for any plant. Basil requires at least five hours of sunlight daily to remain healthy. If sunlight is not an option for your basil plant, try a grow light. Metal halide bulbs produce a blue-green spectrum light ideal for leafy basil growth. Basil requires 14 to16 hours of artificial light daily. Inadequate light produces problems such as brown discoloration, stunted growth and droopy basil plants.