A Complete Guide to Keep Hydroponic Basil Alive
Are you planning on growing hydroponic basil? Basil is one of the most commonly produced herb in the world of hydroponic farming and like any other horticulture it can be tricky. So here is a complete guide on how to keep hydroponic basil alive.
Can you grow herbs hydroponically?
All plants can grow using hydroponic methods. However, Basil is one of the best plants to grow for an indoor hydroponic garden.
It is a hardy and delicious plant to combine with other vegetables grown hydroponically like lettuce and kale.
I love to grow basil all year-round in my indoor hydroponic garden, and it has become a regular addition to our salad mix and meals.
Today you will learn everything you need to know about basil and how to grow it hydroponically. Let us jump right in.
Table of Contents
Which Variety of Basil Should You Grow?
There are up to 150 different varieties of basil, but most green basil breaks down into two categories.
Genovese Basil
This variety is also known as sweet basil and is the most common basil used in the culinary world. Pesto, tomato sauces, and soups use basil. It is also good for pizza and marinara sauce.
Italian Large Leaf basil:
This herb is fragrant and flavorful, growing extra-large leaves that are a staple ingredient of the culinary space. Growers like Italian Large Leaf type varieties because of their strong yields and durable leaves, although some people do not appreciate its sweeter flavor.
Each variety has its pros and cons, but basil is basil, so my suggestion is to just pick one and start growing!
What Hydroponic System is Best to keep Basil Alive?
Basil is a versatile plant and can thrive in all hydroponic systems.
However, basil plants will eventually go to flower in 4 to 6 months, and some hydroponic systems work better than others.
Kratky:
This system is the best for Basil. This passive method allows you to grow basil anywhere you have space. It can grow well on a balcony, kitchen window, or under grow lights in a hydroponic garden.
Pros:
- The Kratky method is also the most cost-efficient and best if you are a beginner who wants to dabble in hydroponics before going all in.
- Kratky Method is a passive style, meaning there are no pumps, air bubblers, or any mechanical or electrical input besides the grow light for the plant.
- It is simple and only requires a container and water. This makes this style of hydroponics flexible and versatile. It can go anywhere!
Cons:
- However, basil grows for 4-6 months, and the Kratky system is best designed for short term crops like lettuce, which only takes 40-50 days to harvest.
- If you use this method, make sure you are sanitizing the container and replacing the nutrient solution every month to prevent root rot and other diseases from festering in the water.
- It is also not scalable, and you would need to take care of each container separately, instead of one main reservoir.
For more information check out my Kratky blog
Deepwater Culture (DWC):
This is another good type of system for basil plants. It is like the Kratky method but there are several differences.
The roots submerge in the water, while in Kratky, some roots are air roots, and some sit in the water.
An air bubbler supplies the water with the dissolved gasses roots need to breathe with. The plants usually sit on a foam raft that lowers as the plants absorb the water to keep constant contact with the water.
Pros:
- Because of the air bubbler, bacteria like mold, fungus, algae, and root rot have a tough time incubating in the churning water. They like it warm, humid, and stagnant.
- It is easy to determine the level of the water by looking at the height of the raft in the water.
- Less adjusting of grow lights because as the plant grows up, the raft lowers down, keeping the desired distance from the light.
Cons:
- If power is lost, the air bubbler will stop working and your plants will use up all the dissolved gasses in the water and drown.
- I like to combine both methods by using an air bubbler in my Kratky system shown here.
The other 4 methods can grow basil as well, but they are complicated and expensive. For example, decent NTF systems usually start at 1000 dollars, or you would need to have decent carpentry skills to construct a DIY version.
Does Basil Need Direct Sunlight?
Basil is a full sun plant and needs between 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.
If you are growing under lights, keep them on between 12-18 hours depending on the setup you have.
I use Durolux full spectrum LED grow lights. This full spectrum grow light is lightweight, versatile, daisy-chainable up to 10, and is my number 1 recommended grow light for its cost.
For more information on grow lights, check out my blog about how to use grow lights indoors.
Hydroponic Basil Issues
This is an unhealthy Basil plant. you don’t want this, so keep an eye out for common basil issues.
Basil is prone to attacks of aphids and whiteflies. If you are an indoor hydronic grower, be careful when bringing live plants from outside to your indoor garden.
I typically Isolate a plant on a separate shelf for a few weeks to see if I brought in pests. Pests are a big deal when growing indoors because natural predators like ladybugs are not naturally present in the setup.
If you notice aphids or whiteflies, wipe down your leaves with a mild soap and water mixture 3-4 times a week for 2 weeks. That should prevent them from clinging to the leaves. If that does not work, you can use organic pesticides.
All hydroponic plants have the same common water-borne issues.
Root rot is the number one killer of hydroponic plants. This disease incubates in your nutrient solution until it coats the roots of your plants. This prevents them from getting the nutrients and oxygen that they need.
Root Rot
Hydroponic root rot looks like this. The roots are slimy, brown, and weak, while healthy roots are white and strong.
Healthy roots look like this. They are strong, white, and numerous.
To prevent root rot, ensure you replace your nutrient solution every month. While changing out your solution, sanitize your reservoir with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. This also eliminates other water-born issues like dampen-off, algae, fungus, and mold.
Adding an air bubbler to your reservoir also extends the life of your nutrient solution. It oxygenates and churns the water which helps plant roots and makes it harder for bacteria, mold, algae, and fungus to grow.
Hydroponic basil PH:
If the PH level of your nutrient solution is too high or low your plants will go into “nutrient lockout.” The plant will look like it has nutrient deficiencies like yellowing of the outside of the leaf or discoloring of the stem.
Plants can only absorb certain nutrients at a certain PH level.
Most plants work best at a neutral PH of 6-8.
PH in dirt changes slowly because soil acts as a buffer and absorbs pH changing substances.
Hydroponic nutrient solutions can change drastically and quickly, especially in circulating systems like Nutrient film technique or NFT.
Check your PH if you notice any issue with your plant’s foliage growth, after you make your nutrient solution, if necessary, every week to see if there are any changes.
How Fast Does Basil Grow Hydroponically?
With hydroponic methods, basil receives a 30% boost to all stages of growth.
Once planted, Basil will sprout within 7 days.
You can begin harvesting within 40-50 days of planting.
How to Harvest?
Use snips or scissors to prune your basil or you may overly damage the stem.
If you do pinch your basil, do it slowly and carefully, ensuring you do not tear the stem. Its best done with a pinch and twist method.
Once mature, prune basil often to encourage bushy growth instead of single stalk growth.
When clipping, cut basil ¼ inch above a leaf node and no less than 3 inches from the base of the plant.
You can be aggressive with pruning because basil is a rapidly growing plant. Just ensure there are several leaves for regrowth.
If you notice flower buds, remove at once to ensure the plant is giving all its energy towards leaf production.
How to Preserve Basil for Later Use?
Basil is best eaten fresh from clipping but if you have extra, there are several ways you can preserve them for later.
The simplest method is freezing the leaves. You will lose a lot of flavor and texture in this method, but it is better than throwing it away.
Another way is by drying the leaves. Put the oven on the lowest temperature and bake the basil on a baking sheet for 2-4 hours.
Finally, you can make basil or pesto cubes by grinding up the leaves into a paste, putting them into ice cube trays and freezing it.
Conclusion:
Basil is a powerful addition to any garden, especially in a hydroponic one! With the right knowledge and tools, basil can be one of the easiest herbs you can grow.
In the comments below, tell me which type of basil you want to grow and what hydroponic system you want to put them in.
