Basil and Rosemary: Grow these spices in water to keep them handy whenever you need them

May 10, 2022

Hydroponic cultivation is one that does not involve the use of soil as which normally happens for the plants we keep at home or in the garden. Practising hydroponic cultivation requires discipline, but it is not difficult to learn how and has a series of advantages that should not be underestimated and include: less space is used in the home; plants grow very quickly; and in particular, for aromatic plants it is estimated that their leaves end up having up to 40% more of the aromatic oil in them - which means that your dishes or any preparation in which you use them, will be much more fragrant and tasteful.

Read further on to learn which aromatic herbs you can grow in water alone:

via thehydroponicsplanet.com

Basil

Basil is one of the most popular aromatic herbs used in the kitchen, and for those who engage in this type of cultivation, this type of cultivation is used because the flavor and aroma of the plant becomes more intense.

To start hydroponic growing with basil you can use both the seeds (which will be germinated) or you can use cuttings from a mature plant . The second method (cuttings) is faster and generally more successful: it usually takes a week for the roots to sprout in water.

It is important to remember to keep the temperature between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius (70 - 79 degrees F), since basil loves heat but not excessive heat. In the pots you can place the rock wool cubes, which are the preference for this type of cultivation. Otherwise, sphagnum, perlite, vermiculite or coconut fiber can also be used. All these will still need to be sterilized before being used. In addition, make sure that the substrate in which the plants are growing is always moist and not too wet, otherwise harmful fungi can develop.

It is possible to harvest basil when the plant is at least 20 cm (8 inches) high and always by only cutting a third (or maximum two thirds) of each branch. However, after you have cut each branch two or three times, it is advisable to restart the cultivation again using new cuttings.

Rosemary

Hydroponic cultivation of rosemary is slower: you have to wait at least 12 weeks before you can harvest a few sprigs, while if you start from the seeds, it takes even longer and the chances of harvesting anything is even lower.

Rosemary can also be attacked by fungi, powdery mildew and mites: for this reason, it is one of the plants for which hydroponics with the NFT system (Nutrient Film Tecnique) is recommended. NFT is a system wereby a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant growth is re-circulated past the bare roots of plants . Furthermore, take note of the following:

The pH of the water must remain between 5.5 and 7.0
The humidity level must not rise too much (45 - 55% is the recommended range)
At least 11 hours of sunlight must be ensured
Harvesting can take place all year round, but for each plant it is always best not to go beyond harvesting it more than two or three times.

Would you like to grow herbs this way? Have you ever done this before?