Basil grows better when you use one thing from the kitchen to help fertilize the soil

Basil is an easy herb to grow at home, and there are ways you can grow huge amounts of it without too much effort, with one common kitchen item – which is generally discarded after one use – able to boost its growth

Basil thrives when you use a common kitchen item to fertilize the soil. Basil is a simple herb to cultivate at home, and there are methods to grow it in abundance with minimal effort, with one expert claiming you can double its size by following a simple piece of advice.

With the right tips and tricks for nurturing top-notch basil, you’ll see fantastic results in just a few weeks, yielding plenty of fresh basil for salads, pasta, and pizzas, including one hack that ensures the plant grows back bushier. And there’s one hack that some gardeners swear by.

Many home basil growers place tea bags in the soil where the herb – which experts claim can boost the flavor of growing tomatoes if they are planted in close proximity to one another – is planted. This might seem odd, but there are several reasons behind it.

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Used teabags are something most American households discard daily, being a nation of enthusiastic tea drinkers. However, this is an excellent way to extend the life of your teabags.

Here’s everything you need to know about using teabags and tea leaves as fertilizer for your basil plants, reports the Express.

Used teabags can supply beneficial nutrients to basil plants as they decompose in the soil, making them an excellent natural fertilizer. There are several ways to use teabags to benefit your plants, such as basil.

As mentioned, one method is to let the teabag sit in the soil, allowing its nutrients to seep into the soil and thus helping the plant grow healthy and robust. However, Amy Grant from Gardening Know How suggests you can also use teabags to water your plants.

She suggests letting the bags steep in hot water, cooling the liquid, and then using it as a mild liquid fertilizer. It’s best to keep this mixture weak since basil flourishes in slightly acidic to neutral soil.

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You can strengthen this concoction if you’re using it for more acid-loving plants like blueberries.

Greg, the app that uses smartphone technology to identify plant deficiencies and help users keep their plants alive, states that a moderate amount of tea is beneficial for a basil plant, along with mineral water and coffee grounds.

Gardeners on Quora agree that potted plants such as basil appreciate fertilizer in the form of tea because it supplies them with small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, they caution against overloading your plants with these elements.

Meanwhile, Homes and Gardens provides a list of other plants that benefit from tea leaves. The roster includes begonias, daffodils, heather, ferns, and roses, among others, as well as certain herbs like basil.

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