Soil For Tulasi Plants

There are five major factors that determine Tulasi’s health: light, water, soil, air, and devotion. Among these five factors, soil is one of the most important. By providing the proper soil Tulasi can grow very healthy and beautiful. Read below to learn what is the best soil for Tulasi plants.

Summary:

Do’s:
Use only organic soil
Keep track of when she needs water
Use a moisture meter

Donts:
Don’t use inorganic soil
Don’t use soil from the ground if putting her in a pot

Whats Soil To Use For Tulasi Plants?

Organic soil is always the way to go for Tulasi plants. We should try to avoid keeping Tulasi in inorganic soil unless there are no other options available. Cheap, inorganic soil is often filled with toxic pesticides, fertilizers derived from animal products, and “sludge” or a byproduct of sewage waste treatment. Organic soil is “living soil” and contains necessary fungi and bacteria that help support root growth and nutrients intake resulting in Tulasi being very healthy and vibrant. Check out our article Organic vs Inorganic for more information about why we should grow Tulasi organically. Happy Frog Organic Potting Soil is an easily accessible, affordable, and great soil that has been used by many for years with great results. If it’s not available in your area, check your local gardening shop for a different organic soil without human waste or animal products.

What Type of Soil Conditions Does Tulasi Like?

Tulasi likes dry and well draining soil. Buying a good quality well draining soil will be good enough, but if you want to get fancy, better drainage can be created by adding small rocks at the bottom of Tulasi’s pot and mixing some sand or perlite into the soil when planting her. You can also add additional mycorrhizae to the soil to build a very very healthy soil ecosystem.

How Do I Tell If There Is A Problem With The Soil?

When Tulasi’s soil is not providing the necessary conditions or nutrients, then she will show various symptoms. Common signs that her soil may be tired and needs to be revitalized with particular nutrients are: stunted growth, pale leaves, yellowing leaves and reddish discoloration of leaves.

There are a variety of methods to provide the necessary nutrients to Tulasi. Read our article on nutrients to learn more.

Signs that Tulasi’s soil may not be providing proper drainage, or that she is being over watered are: wilting, dropping of leaves, leaves turning brown starting from the tips, and pale leaf color. 

Some signs that Tulasi’s soil is too dry or that she is under watered are: wilting and pale leaf color. 

All soils will eventually get packed down from watering, which decreases air flow and drainage in the soil. To prevent the soil from getting too packed down it is a good practice to carefully “fluff” the top inch of her soil after every watering, use your fingers or a fork and be mindful of the roots. Read our articles How to Water the Tulasi Plant, and Over and Under watering to learn more.

Can I Grow Tulasi In The Ground?

If you live in a place with the proper climate, you can grow Tulasi outdoors in the ground. Using soil from the ground for growing her in a pot is not recommended because animals, insects, and other organisms living in that soil can spread disease and tear apart her root structure. But when these organisms are left in their natural environment they often help Tulasi grow. A perfect example are worms. When worms are left in a pot, if they have a proper food supply they will repopulate and practically fill the pot. However, when they are left in their natural environment they break down matter into nutrient-rich soil that’s great for plants.

Glories of Tulasi Soil

Here is a verse from our article The Transcendental Anatomy of Tulasi Devi describing the inconceivable glories of the soil that Tulasi Devi grows in.

Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (Skanda Purāṇa) 9.182-184

bhū-gatais tulasī-mūlair

mṛttikā sparśitā tu yātīrtha-koṭi-samā jñeyā dhāryā yatnena sā gṛheyasmin gṛhe dvija-śreṣṭha tulasī-mūla-mṛttikāsarvadā tiṣṭhate dehe devatā na sa mānusaḥtulasī-mṛttika-lipto yadi prāṇāt parityajet yamena nekṣituṁ śakto yuktaḥ pāpa-śatair api

Know for certain that the clay found where the roots of a tulasi plant have spread is as sanctified as millions of holy places of pilgrimage. One should very carefully keep that clay in his house. One whose body or house is adorned with clay that was taken from the root of a tulasi plant is not to be considered inferior to a demigod. One can escape the wrath of Yamarāja if at the time of death his body is smeared with the clay found at the root of a tulasi plant.

Check out our other foundational articles on watering, lighting, nutrients, bugs, temperature, and humidity 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.