Water
- The ideal time to water Tulasī Devī is in the early morning.
- Water her gently without upsetting her soil. Otherwise, root disease and soil aeration problems could arise.
- To avoid city-water chemicals, use purified or distilled (bottled) water.
- If this is not possible, allow your city water to stand overnight in a non-corrosive container. This will permit the chlorine and possibly other chemicals to disperse.
- Pour the water from one container to another, aerating it.
- Do not use “hard” water to which chemicals have been added to make it “soft.”
- No less than once each week water Tulasī Devī completely. Some of the water should flow out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot.
- Whenever her topsoil feels dry, she should again be watered, with enough to keep her moist all day but not drenched.
- She should never be so wet that when more water is added, it immediately flows out of the bottom of the pot.
- Waterlogging can cause fungal disease and death of the roots. In turn, the leaves will be affected, turning pale or brownish before dropping.
- Soil that is constantly too dry will also harm the roots. This may cause Tulasī’s leaves to become faintly greyish or bronzed or pale green, slowing down her growth;
- It may also cause the soil to pull away from the sides of the pot, resulting in the water not pervading the soil. If this happens:
- a. Plunge the pot in a bucket of water so that the soil may absorb the water; or
- b. Add small quantities of water to the soil surface; let it soak in; then slowly add more till the soil reaches its necessary moisture level.
- c. Should Tulasī begin wilting from inadequate soil moisture, withdraw her from the sun and heat and administer water to her. However, this shock could cause her to drop her lower leaves.
- d. Another way you can determine if Tulasī’s soil is too dry is by lifting her pot. If it feels especially “light,” then she may very well need water.
