How to Water The Tulasi Plant

There are five major factors that determine Tulasi’s health: light, water, soil, air, and devotion. Next to devotion, water is probably the most important. Learn how to water a Tulasi plant properly so she grows very healthy and beautiful.

Summary:

Dos:
Use filtered or rain water when possible
Use a moisture meter
Check the soil regularly
Water thoroughly
Water when she needs it
Use organic liquid fertilizer

Donts:
Don’t overwater (usually by watering when the soil is still wet)
Don’t use tap water if possible.

What Water To Use?

When watering Tulasi, using the proper water is really important. In many countries tap water is not good because it contains many substances like chlorine and calcium, both of which are bad for plant growth. Chlorine is toxic to all living beings and kills both good and bad bacteria. When it is used on plants it kills the good bacteria that live in the soil, gradually taking the life out of the soil. Calcium builds up over time and changes the pH level of the soil, it builds up gradually and makes it more and more difficult for plants to absorb nutrients.

If possible, instead of using tap water use filtered water or rain water. Rain water has a number of elements like nitrogen and extra oxygen which are needed by plants, making it the best water to use.

How to Tell When to Water

To keep things very simple and fail proof we recommend using a soil moisture meter. Simply stick the meter in her soil every few days and see how moist her soil is. Generally a good rule of thumb is to water Tulasi when the meter reading drops to 2. 

If you don’t have a moisture meter on hand then check the moisture by sticking your finger about ½ an inch into her soil. If her soil is dry then water her, if it’s moist then wait and check her soil another day. Those who have attentively been taking care of a particular Tulasi plant for a long time can tell when she needs water simply by looking at her, or picking up her pot. Try picking up Tulasi’s pot before you water her, and again after you water her. This way you can remember roughly how heavy her pot is when the soil is wet and when the soil is dry.

When Tulasi is not watered on time, her leaves will turn dull and soft, and she will begin to wilt. Her soil will also shrink and seperate from the side of the pot. When she is over watered, her leaves will turn pale and start to brown at the tips. Her roots could also rot and she will struggle to absorb nutrients or, in the worst case, she will leave. For more details check out our article about over and under watering.

How Much Water To Give

Determining how much water to give can be confusing. It is very common to not give enough water, thus resulting in dull or drying up plants. As a general guideline, give water equal to half the volume of the pot. For instance, if she has a 1 liter sized pot, you would give 1/2 liter of water.

How To Water Tulasi

Mix together your water and fertilizer, then slowly pour water around the inside edge of her pot until water comes out of the bottom of her pot into her tray. Let her sit in the tray of water for about 30 minutes to allow her to absorb as much water back into her pot as she needs. After about 30 minutes empty her tray. That’s all! Don’t water her again until her soil is dry. This method ensures that her soil has fully absorbed enough water.

For this watering method you’ll need a pot with a hole in the bottom, and a tray for the pot to sit in. 

How Often To Water?

The most common mistake when serving Tulasi Devi is that sometimes people water her a little bit everyday, or water her every 3 days, or every monday, and so on. Tulasi needs to be fully watered when she needs it, not when it is convenient for us. When she needs to be watered is not always regulated; there’s no fixed amount of time between waterings, she needs to be watered when she needs to be watered. Checking her regularly and watering her when she needs it helps ensure that she does not get over or under watered. For details on how to manage over or under watering check out this article.

How often she needs to be watered and how much water she needs depends on the temperature, humidity, size of the pot, and the size of the plant. Therefore we have to be attentive, check her often and water her based on her needs.

Other Things To Consider

Check out our article about nutrients and organic vs inorganic to see why we recommend using liquid fertilizers or homemade cow dung tea when watering Tulasi. It’s a good practice not to water Tulasi with a hard stream of water as this will pack down her soil, decreasing soil aeration, and may expose roots. Instead, water her lightly around the inside edges of the pot, and take some time to water her slowly. This will ensure that the soil conditions stay proper. Every once in a while fluff the top inch or so of her soil, being careful not to hurt any roots, to keep the soil from getting packed down from watering.

Check out our other foundational articles on lighting, nutrients, bugs, temperature, humidity and soil to learn how to take care of the Tulasi plant. If you don’t already have a plant, get some seeds here, and watch our video on how to grow them.

Look over this article to learn how to diagnose your Tulasi plant when she’s sick and feel free to contact us with any questions. If you want to deepen your knowledge about the Tulasi plant from ancient Vedic wisdom, check out this amazing book.