How to promote lateral growth and strengthen the stem

11 years ago

Hi,

Please check the attached picture. I have this Basil shrub which is showing good top growth, but the new growths are not holding up and getting strengthened, that's the reason, I have to provide support, which should ideally not be required.

- Don

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
First, basil is not a shrub :-) It is a frost tender true annual and does not typically develop any woody stems.

Your plant seems to be showing the signs of etoliation or a legginess due to reaching for light. Cut it back hard, move out into full sun and fertilize on a weekly basis with a liquid fert. When it appears to be forming flowers, pinch them out. And pinching back the growth from the tips of the stems to use for culinary purposes will encourage additional bushiness.

Since it is an annual, there is a defined limit to its longevity. In warm areas with an extended growing season, basil can live upto 9 months. In colder areas, 3-4 is a good life :-)

FWIW, the leaves don't look as basil-like as I'd expect.....I'd expect to see something more elliptical, less rounded and with charactertistic dimpling/puckering. But it may be the variety you are growing and the conditions that are altering the appearance.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
is there any reason it cant be outdoors.. getting ambient light from mother sun????

the potting media looks too damp also ...

classic signs of an outdoor plant.. struggling indoors ...

if you insist on growing them indoors.. any herb ... you should consider them very short lived.. and to be replaced once a year ... and that can be done.. with some ... simply by rooting some new pieces.. when mom gets too ugly ...

what your plant is lacking .. is vigor ... and that is because it is grandma ...

ken
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don.great
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your response gardengal48 an Ken.

The below link will give you the details of the plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocimum_tenuiflorum

Yes, the soil is damp and I am working on it. Also, the plant is in my balcony and it receives 5-6 hrs of sun everyday.

I will work on the idea of fertilizing it weekly and see the response. Thanks once again.
Embothrium
11 years ago
It looks to me like it needs more light.

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How to promote lateral growth and strengthen the stem

Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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How to promote lateral growth and strengthen the stem

Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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don.greatOriginal Author

Embothrium

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don.great
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