Basil growth can be boosted by using simple household leftover

Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow at home – and with the right tips and tricks you’ll have a flourishing basil plant in a matter of weeks, with a common household item, usually thrown away after one use, able to boost its growth

Basil, a staple in many kitchens, can flourish with a little help from an unexpected source – used teabags. This easy-to-grow herb – which can also boost the growth of tomatoes – can be cultivated in abundance at home with minimal effort.

With the right tips and tricks, you’ll have a bountiful basil harvest in just a few weeks – with another expert providing a tip to “double” your basil crop – perfect for adding fresh flavor to salads, pasta, and pizzas. And there’s one hack that some greenthumbs swear by.

Many home gardeners who grow basil have found success by incorporating used teabags into their planting soil. It might seem odd, but there’s a method to the madness.

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As a nation of tea lovers, most households toss out used teabags daily. However, these discarded items can serve a second purpose.

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

As they decompose in the soil, used teabags release beneficial nutrients that can act as a natural fertilizer for basil plants. There are several ways to utilize teabags to benefit your plants, particularly basil.

One method is to simply let the teabag sit in the soil, allowing its nutrients to seep into the ground and nourish the plant. But according to Amy Grant from Gardening Know How, you can also use teabags to water your plants.

She suggests that you can steep the bags in hot water, let the liquid cool, and then use it as a mild liquid fertilizer. It’s best to keep this mixture weak, as basil flourishes in slightly acidic to neutral soil.

You can make this mixture stronger if you’re using it for more acid-loving plants like blueberries.

Greg, the app that assists users in keeping their plants alive by identifying deficiencies through smartphone technology, says a moderate amount of tea is beneficial for a basil plant, along with mineral water and coffee grounds.

According to gardeners on Quora, potted plants such as basil enjoy fertilizer in the form of tea because it provides them with small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, it’s crucial not to overload your plants with these elements.

Meanwhile, Homes and Gardens lists a variety of other plants that benefit from tea leaves. The list includes begonias, daffodils, heather, ferns and roses, among others, as well as select herbs such as basil.