How To Save Tulsi Plant From Dying

Tulsi holds a significant place in Indian Households, but do you know How To Save Tulsi Plant From Dying? Read on to learn!

Tulsi (Holy Basil) is native to the Indian subcontinent and is closely related to culinary basil. These plants suffer a dieback of stems in the harsh winters and if you don’t know what to do, it can die. But don’t worry. We’ll help you learn How To Save Tulsi Plant From Dying!

Botanical Name: Ocimum tenuiflorum

Common Name: Queen of Herbs, Holy Basil, Tulasi, Kapai, Kemangi

How To Grow Tulsi Plant

Tulsi is a perennial herb and is very easy to grow. You can grow it from both seeds and cuttings in pots as well as in the garden. Moreover, it can grow in almost any kind of well-draining soil (It loves sandy loam soil, though). Just collect the seeds or cuttings directly from the plant and replant it as desired. If you don’t have a plant, you can easily find it in a nursery or even your neighbor’s house.

Once you have a good 4-6 inch cutting, put it in a glass of water. Change the water every 2-3 days. In a week, you’ll see tiny roots sprouting. That’s your cue to transfer it to a pot and grow your Tulsi plant. It may require a little bit of care in the beginning; otherwise, it is quite a hardy plant.

Growing Big Tulsi Plant Tips and Tricks

Fun Fact: Did you know? It holds significant importance in India, especially in the Hindu culture, as it is thought of as an avatar of Goddess Laxmi and, therefore, is considered sacred. You must have seen this plant and even tasted its leaves without knowing.

Types of Tulsi Plant

There are four main types of Tulsi plants found in India, these are:

• Vana Tulsi: This variety of Tulsi usually grows in gardens, as it can get tall and bushy and is quite hardy. Leaves of Vana Tulsi have a velvety texture and a distinct aroma and are used in making teas.
• Ram Tulsi: The leaves of this variety are light green in color and a little asymmetric. This variety grows well in pots and is usually cultivated for medicinal and religious purposes.
• Shyam/Krishna Tulsi: Shyam/Krishna variety has more medicinal uses than Rama Tulsi.  The leaves and stems are purple and carry a pungent aroma.
• Kapoor Tulsi: Common to Indian households, this variety also does well in containers. Moreover, it is easy and quick to grow.

5 Important Tulsi Care Tips According to an Experienced Maali

Tulsi Plant Care

If you’re wondering how to save the Tulsi plant from dying. Here are some ideas on how to care for this plant.

Light

Where to keep the Tulsi plant so it gets ample sun? You should know these plants love the sun and require 6-8 hours of light to grow well. Nevertheless, make sure to keep the plant under shade in winter, as the falling temperatures may rot the plant.

Water

Have no idea how to water the Tulsi plant? If you wish to boost the life span of your Tulsi, don’t overwater it. In fact, let the soil dry before watering it again. Also, water is less in the rainy season.

Repotting

In case you are growing it from the cuttings or repotting an old tulsi plant, you should take care of the roots while removing the plant from the previous pot; otherwise, the plant may not even grow at all.

Pesticide

One more thing that can harm your plant is pests. You can keep pests off your Tulsi plant by merely applying a mixture of water with a few drops of dish soap in it. This natural pesticide is best for Tulsi.

Here are some helpful tulsi plant homemade pesticide recipes.

Pruning

Prune the plant with all the dried leaves and seeds whenever you can. Pruning your Tulsi plant may also help you in reviving it.

Fertilizing

Providing the dying Tulsi plant with some fertilizer can also help resurrect the plant. You can use homemade fertilizers like used tea leaves and rotten cow dung manure. A handful of cow dung every 2-3 months is enough (Diluted to 1/2 strength).

How to Revive a Dead Tulsi Plant

In case, even after taking so much care, your Tulsi plant dies, here is what to do with the dry Tulsi. The first thing you do is to make sure it is dead by scratching the stem with something pointed. There are still some chances of reviving the plant if the insides are green.

Secondly, you can reuse the dried seeds, if any, from the plant to regrow another Tulsi plant from it. Lastly, if you find no hope of saving the plant, get rid of it and find a new Tulsi plant for your garden.

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