Basil grows better when you use one thing from the kitchen to help fertilise the soil. Basil is an easy herb to grow at home, and there are ways you can grow huge amounts of it without too much effort. And with the best tips and tricks for growing the very best basil, you will have excellent results in a matter of weeks, granting yourself some delicious fresh basil to use in salads, pastas, and pizza. And there is one hack that some gardeners swear by. 

Many people who grow basil at home place teabags in the soil in which the herb has been planted. This might seem a bit random but there are a few reasons for this. Used teabags are something that most British households toss out every day, being a nation of avid tea drinkers. However, this is a great way to get more use out of your teabags. Here is everything you need to know about using teabags and tea leaves as fertiliser for your basil plants. 

Used teabags can provide beneficial nutrients for basil plants as they decompose in the soil, making them a great natural fertiliser. There are a number of ways to use teabags to benefit your plants, such as basil.

As we have mentioned, one is to allow the teabag to sit in the soil, allowing its nutrients to seep into the soil and, therefore, helping the plant grow healthy and strong. However, says Amy Grant from Gardening Know How, you can also use teabags to water your plants.

She explains that you can allow the bags to steep in hot water, cool the liquid, and then use it as a weak liquid fertilizer. It is best to make this mixture weak, as basil thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil. You can make this mixture stronger if you are using it for more acid-loving plants like blueberries.

Greg, the app that helps users to keep plants alive by identifying deficiencies using smartphone technology, says a moderate amount of tea is good for a basil plant, along wth mineral water and coffee grounds. 

According to gardeners on Quora, potted plants such as basil enjoy fertiliser in the form of tea because it provides them with small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, it is important not to overload your plants with these, either. 

Meanwhile, Homes and Gardens lists a range of other plants that benefit from tea leaves. The list includes begonias, daffodils, heather, ferns and roses, to name a few, as well as select herbs such as basil.