How to Grow Basil in UV Light

Growing basil indoors under UV lights is cheap and easy. Because you are growing a herb, you only need purchase a standard fluorescent bulb. These bulbs produce blue and green light, ideal for growing leaves. Full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs produce red light, necessary for flower growth, and are more expensive. Purchase new bulbs every six months, their output lessens drastically after this time. Basil seeds need heat to germinate. After they have germinated, room temperature is fine to keep them growing well.

Pots
Commercial potting soil
Watering can
Heat mat or heat cable
Fluorescent light
Timer

Instructions

Instructions
- 1
  Fill pots with soil. Water them until excess water drips out of the bottom.
- 2
  Plant seeds, covering them with a scant 1/16 inch of soil. Use the plant mister to make sure they are soaked.
- 3
  Place pots on a heat mat or cable. After they germinate, remove the mat or cable.
- 4
  Plug the fluorescent light into a timer set to 12 hours of darkness followed by 12 hours of light.
- 5
  Lower the light so it is next to, but not touching, the basil plants. As the plants grow, gradually raise the light's level.
- 6
  Pinch out the new growth to encourage side shoots. Aim for a short bushy plant. (You can eat the leaves you pinch off.)
- 7
  Check daily for dryness, and rotate the plants every day, giving each seedling a turn under the middle of the light, where the light's intensity is greatest.

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