Basil is one of the most beneficial herbs that should be made a part of every household. People usually have it in their homes and they tend to use it frequently in multiple dishes, salads, and sauces. However, if you do not take proper care of the basil plant then chances are that it may start to lose its vibrant color and turn into a yellow plant or maybe white or red depending upon the issue. If you are a basil lover and are worried about its changing colors then this article is for you. So, I will explore some of the major causes due to which basil changes its color along with their solutions.
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Basil Plant Turning Yellow, White, Red, Brown
If you are tired of the different colors of the basil plant and just want it to be healthy and suitable to eat then stay here. I am going to talk about some of the root causes that result in yellow-colored basil plants. The solutions are also enlisted below. With all the solutions given below, you can actually rescue your basil plant and avail all its benefits:
1. Lack of Water Supply
Insufficient water supply is one of the biggest reasons for the change in color. Like all other plants, basil also requires a proper water supply on a daily basis because water and sunlight are the food for plants. However, you also need to make sure that the water is not excessive because too much water also damages the basil plant. You need to see if the top one or two inches of the sild are dry, only then you need to provide the water supply. So, a balance is required and you have to maintain that balance for the healthy growth of the basil plant.
2. Diseases and Solutions
Fungal diseases also turn the plants yellow which looks very gross and toxic. If the basil plant seems infected then you cannot eat that because it is really unhealthy and can cause some serious side effects. In order to protect the basil plant from the spread of the fungus, you can simply cut the damaged areas. That is how it does not spread to the unaffected areas. In this case, the leaves not only turn yellow but also sometimes brown or gray. So whenever you see such colored leaves on the basil plant, just know that it cannot be eaten.
3. Insufficient Nutrients
Another major reason for the changing colors of the leaves can be the lack of nutrients supply. The problem can be with the soil or with the fertilizer. Either you are not providing sufficient fertilizer to the plant or the fertilizer that you are using is not organic. Apart from that, nutrients also come from sunlight and water supply.
So, it might be the case that the basil plant is not exposed to proper sunlight due to which its color is changing. A combination of balanced water supply, good quality fertilizer, and proper sunlight are the key to a healthy basil plant. If provided with all these, it will not turn yellow, white, or red.
4. Pests and Solutions
Pests may eat away the entire plant. You need to protect the basil plant from pests and insects. Mealybugs are one of the very common types of pests that are usually seen on the basil plant. They are somewhat white in color or may have a slightly different shade of white. If you notice the changing color of basil then you should know that one reason can be the pests attacking it. You can even see them if you turn the leaves because they would be stuck at the back of the leaves. One thing you can do to protect the basil plant from pests is by spraying the mixture of water and soap.
