A gardening expert has reassured customers that they’re not always responsible for killing their grocery store-bought basil plants—and revealed the easy way to save them.
Patrick Vernuccio, 38, who lives in Berlin, went viral earlier this week when he posted a video on his TikTok account educate viewers on how to avoid “basil trauma.”
Filming from his balcony garden, the social media star – who has 125,000 followers – said: ‘I bet you already bought [some] supermarket basil.
“It looks so healthy and fresh, but after a few days it dies.”
Patrick—who wrote the Frenchie Gardener book—called this cycle the “basil trauma,” adding, “You’ll think you don’t have a green thumb.”
Patrick Vernuccio, 38, who lives in Berlin, told followers how to avoid ‘basil trauma’ with his two simple steps
The expert assured followers that it is not their fault that their supermarket basil is dying prematurely
In an effort to reassure viewers, the expert emphasizes that the reason why supermarket basil has such a short lifespan actually has nothing to do with [them]’.
He explained, “There are just too many plants in this little pot.”
As a result, the basil plant does not have enough room to grow, causing it to wilt prematurely.
Patrick then offered his viewers two simple solutions to this problem.
First, he recommended removing the basil from the plastic pot and then dividing it into five smaller plants.
He then lined the bottom of a 1.5 liter pot with some clay granules and covered it with fresh soil.
After making a small hole in the center of the soil, Patrick placed one of the smaller plants in the pot and watered it well.
He added, “They now have more room to grow and more nutrients.”
The expert said supermarket basil can look “healthy and fresh” in stores, but the chains pack too many plants in one pot
Left: The expert advised cutting the plant into five smaller plants. Right: Patrick recommended lining a pot with clay balls and covering it with fresh soil before replanting the basil
Left: Alternatively, Patrick showed how to make a new plant by cutting the stem off this basil. Right: the stem had grown new roots after a few days in water
Alternatively, viewers without room for five pots can also create a new basil plant by cutting off one of the stems.
He explained, “You can also cut the stem just below a node, remove the lower leaves, take a little cup and add some water, put it in your basil stem and in a few days it will develop new roots.”
Instructing what to do next, Patrick added, “Take a pot of fresh soil and replant your basil stem.
“You just created a new free plant!”
Patrick’s video has been viewed over three million times and fans have been thankful for the guidance
Patrick’s video has been viewed more than three million times since it was uploaded earlier this week – and fans have been thankful for the guidance.
One replied, “Great tip! So I did the latter [tip] and from three stems I grew up, I’ve got a huge bunch of basil, lots and lots of pesto!’
Another added, “Oh my gosh, thank you so much – I didn’t understand what was going on!”
“Ohh, I’m trying this today,” said a third.
“Thank you very much,” wrote a fourth. “After years of being a basil killer, I’m going to try this now. Divided the basil into six parts today and now I have a plantation.’
Meanwhile, a fifth fan joked, “I’ll listen to what this guy has to say.”