**Simple Five-Second Trick Can Revive Ailing Basil Plants in Just 12 Hours, Say Experts**
For many aspiring cooks and novice gardeners, supermarket basil pots offer a convenient way to add fresh flavour to home cooking. Frequently lining the vegetable aisles and windowsills across the UK, these vibrant pots are often thought of as resilient and easy to maintain. However, all too often, these leafy herbs, so luscious at purchase, wilt and appear to die mere days after coming home.
This disappointing trend has left many consumers puzzled, but gardening enthusiasts suggest the problem lies not with the herb itself, but with how supermarket basil is grown and sold. Contrary to appearances, that bushy green pot is not a single robust plant, but rather more than 20 seedlings crammed together. In the quest for an appealing, full appearance in-store, these seedlings are forced into intense competition for water, nutrients, and light—factors which frequently spell an early demise for the plant when kept indoors.
Yet, hope is not lost. Social media and gardening forums are now alive with advice and success stories on how to breathe new life into seemingly dead basil. One solution in particular, presented by Joanne Molinaro on TikTok, has caught the attention of countless frustrated basil owners. Describing herself as someone who has “brought these plants back from the brink of death at least 10 times in the past three months,” Molinaro recently shared her rapid rescue method, which, according to her, can transform a withering basil plant within just twelve hours.
Her approach is disarmingly simple. In a short video clip, she urges viewers, “Don’t throw away that dead basil plant—do this instead.” Holding up what appears to be a lifeless basil, she demonstrates her method: remove the plant from its soil and transfer it into a clear glass jar filled with water. Placing the jar on a sunny windowsill, she lets natural light and hydration do their work. The process, Molinaro claims, takes no more than five seconds.
Sceptics might question whether such a straightforward method could truly revive a plant, but results appear promising. Within just half a day, Molinaro says, the basil’s leaves regain colour and structure, and after a full day, the plant is often completely revitalised. Her followers have expressed surprise at how quickly their own plants responded, transforming from wilted green to healthy, aromatic leaves ready for culinary use.
Gardening experts point out that the watering method is effective due to the way herbs like basil absorb moisture. When roots are starved of water—especially after fighting for limited resources in overcrowded pots—providing an immediate and ample supply allows the plant’s cells to rehydrate quickly. Incidentally, basil isn’t unique in this respect; other soft-stemmed herbs such as mint or coriander can often be revived in a similar way.
Longer-term health, however, does require more than just a single ‘water bath’. For ongoing growth, experts suggest thinning out the basil cluster, gently teasing apart the seedlings so each has its own space and replanting them in individual pots. Regular watering—about once or twice weekly, or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch—along with plenty of sunlight, will give these herbs the best chance of thriving.
It’s worth noting that while Molinaro’s hack has brought hope to many, it may not save every plant. Severely dried-out or rotted roots are often beyond rescue, and some supermarket pots may simply have passed the point of no return. Nonetheless, given how quickly the five-second trick can be attempted—and how often it seems to succeed—it’s a tip many are happy to try before discarding another drooping basil.
As spring and summer awaken the nation’s interest in home gardening, Molinaro’s advice serves as a reminder that even the most defeated-looking plant may just be a glass of water away from recovery. For anyone with a sad basil slumped on the windowsill, this swift revival method may be worth a go—offering a dash of hope and a fresh sprinkle of green to meals all season long.