Ever notice how that lush basil plant you grab at the grocery store starts looking sad and wilted just a few days after you get it home? It’s a total bummer, but don’t worry—it’s usually because those pots are way too crowded. Giving your basil a little breathing room by repotting it can work wonders for its growth. Here’s the scoop on how to save your store-bought herbs.
Why does store-bought basil always seem to flop?
When you bring a new basil plant home, it’s going through a bit of “location shock.” To help it adjust, try not to rip off that plastic sleeve immediately. Instead, slide it down a little bit each day. This lets the plant get used to the humidity and airflow in your kitchen gradually.
The bigger issue, though, is that growers pack dozens of tiny seedlings into one tiny pot to make it look full and bushy. It looks great on the shelf, but those little guys are fighting for nutrients and light. The best fix? Repotting and dividing the plants so they actually have space to thrive.
How to repot your basil
Most grocery store basil comes in a 4- or 5-inch pot. You’ve got two main ways to give your plant a better home. The first is simply moving the whole thing into a bigger container:
- Gently remove the basil from its original pot.
- Pick a new pot that’s about 2 to 3 inches wider than the old one.
- Fill about a third of the new pot with high-quality, nutrient-rich potting soil.
- Place your basil inside.
- Fill the gaps with more soil and press down gently to tuck it in.
- Place the pot on a saucer and give it a good soak.
The second (and often better) option is to divide the root ball. Take the plant out of the pot and carefully pull the roots apart with your hands to create two or three separate clumps. Grab a few 4-inch pots, fill them with soil, and plant each clump individually.
Once you’re done, find a bright, sunny spot that’s protected from drafts. You don’t need to worry about fertilizer right away—fresh potting soil usually has enough nutrients to last for the first few weeks. To keep your basil from flowering (which makes the leaves taste bitter), make sure to harvest the tops regularly. Just remember: basil loves water, but it hates “wet feet,” so make sure your pot drains well!
What about basil grown from seed?
If you were ambitious enough to sow your own basil from scratch, you usually won’t need to repot. If too many seeds sprouted at once, you can just thin them out or transplant individual seedlings into their own pots.
The only time you really need to repot homegrown basil is if you’re growing a perennial variety, like Greek Columnar or Bush Basil. Since these can live for a long time and even overwinter indoors, you’ll want to give them fresh soil and a bigger pot every 4 to 6 months.
Pro Tip: You can also grow brand-new plants from cuttings ! Just snip off a 3-inch stem, strip the bottom leaves, and pop it in a glass of water. You’ll see roots appearing in just a few days. After about two weeks, they’ll be ready to move into their very own pot of soil.