If you have a plant that starts to grow rapidly, blooms profusely and then just stops growing after a while, you might be wondering, “Why is my basil plant growing at an accelerated rate?” It could be a sign of some type of disease. Most diseases have early symptoms, such as an increase in the number of leaves, leaf shape or color, leaf discoloration, or wilting of the plant. To prevent an outbreak of an disease, do not fertilize or water your basil until the symptoms go away.
If the growth pattern of your plant is irregular, you may want to take a closer look at it. The plants could be growing in different configurations, such as short growing, slow growing, etc. You need to determine why your basil is growing in one configuration and not in another. A quick way to determine if your plant is suffering from a disease or fungus is to touch it. If it feels like it’s compacted or bunched up, then it probably has an existing disease.
When a plant is growing fast, it typically has fewer leaves and grows higher up. The roots of a fast growing plant can often get so close to the surface they are visible. If you notice that your basil is growing near the surface, then you most likely have a sapling or flowering plant with roots that are too long for the surface. Sometimes the roots extend well past the top of the plant, interfering with the flowers and growing direction.
If your basil plant is growing horizontally in a pot, the roots may be touching the rim of the pot, causing the plant to hang downwards. This will cause the blooms to pop out. You can pinch off the roots and repot the plant. However, be sure to do this before the flowers start to bloom.
If your basil is growing vertically in a pot or container, you might have an over-feeding plant. A plant’s leaves will grow wider than their roots. Over-feeding causes the plant to grow more foliage on the upper part of the branches, which makes the plant harder to control. It will also attract insects to the leafy portions.
If your plant’s roots are overcrowded, you may find that the plant’s blooming is stunted. To avoid over-feeding, you should divide your plants into two separate pots. Keep the plants separate until they’ve had time to develop fully. Then you can feed one plant per pot. Be sure you use a balanced fertilizer. Do not overload the plant by putting too much fertilizer in one treatment.
The final reason your plant is growing too fast is poor drainage. The roots of many flowering plants drain well. A root system that is not well drained results in the roots rotting and drying out. The result can be that the plant blooms and dies. It’s important to keep the drainage at least fair, if not ideal.
When you’re asking yourself, “Why is my basil growing at an accelerated rate?” there are several possibilities for the reasons why your plant is growing so quickly. It may just be growing to be a bit larger than you were planning. It may also be getting more foliage than it needs. If you’re wondering why your plant grows at a faster rate than it should, don’t panic. There are some simple steps you can take to slow the growth of your herb garden.
Most plants have roots that must be watered often. Basil plants are no exception. The problem occurs when the roots are over-watered. Like all plants, they will grow faster if they get more water than they need.
The soil you select for your garden is important. Most plants prefer a slightly moist soil. In addition, herbs like the sunlight and warmth, so they require more sunlight than shade-loving plants. It’s important to make sure you use the correct type of fertilizer for your plant. Usually there is a fertilizer that is specifically designed for herbs.
One final question you might have is, “Why is my basil plant growing at an accelerated rate? I have just about every herb I could possibly grow in my garden. Why is this happening?” If you’re like most gardeners, it is because you chose the right type of plants and started your garden.
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