What is going on with my basil? :(

About a week ago I planted some nursery grown spicy basil and it is not doing well... the top leaves have turned brown and crunchy, and now the seemingly healthy ones are falling off. I removed the brown leaves hoping to save the plant some energy, but to no avail...

At the same time, my Italian basil is also failing. The leaves are droopy and limp... I have no idea what is going on. Other basil in the same large pot as these two is doing just fine! Please help!

Did you plant them indoors or outdoors?, because I know they will not survive outdoors since the weather will be getting cold.

Brown and crunchy, also droopy and limp sound like not enough water.

Dont know what light the new plants have, are you watering them as the previous ones are stronger, they will be taking all the moisture. dont know IF you have an invasion of bugs, like green /white flies as they such out the moisture from the leaf causing leaf fall or brown dried bits THEN they fall off.

when you said the plants were Nursery grown, do you mean the plants that they sell in the grocery store for adding to your cooking, IF that's what they are, these are forced plants to ready them for sale, as they are grown for kitchen window INSTANT use, they don't last any length of time and were never meant to, though I know myself and some friends have managed to keep the plants going for a couple of weeks BUT, unless your prepared to grow them on as tender house plants, harden them off to meet your home environment, they are not really hardy enough like plants grown from seeds OR the small herb plants you can buy to grow for outdoor herb garden type of plants.
I would check your plants for water and bugs first of all.
Hope this helps you a little.
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Cool Thread because it could be all of the above and/or others, like root restriction. If they are Nursery purchased, like name brand's of Vigaro, Burpee or the like, the problem is likely lack of hydration (doesn't mean the nursery doesn't "water" them) or being root bound if they sit in the nursery too long... I have no qualms with walking up to the check out person or manager and showing them the condition (They are impressed if your wear gloves when you do this). Show them that the roots form a white container inside the container... I can usually get them from 35-75 cents on the dollar. Obviously damaged plants can be as low as 25 cents on the dollar to even free if severely damaged (look for these after the big parking lot sale).

But I do need to do some work to save them... like opening up the soil and root system, trimming compromised foliage and roots and excessive roots... Transplant to container at least twice the size... i.e., 4" pot original goes into an 8" pot or into the ground with lots of compost and aeration. Damaged plants can be saved with nutrition, severe pruning and or splinting and grafting. A little work but worth it, but there will be some losses. You aren't saving as much money as you are saving a plant as well as some corporate and reusable resources.

OH Almost forgot, Yellow or brown tipped leaves with proper irrigation are signs of root bound plants. These are plants that linger on their floor for a long period of time and aren't purchased. Eventually the vendor will take them back and charge the store a destruction fee and the plant goes into a compost pile at the vendors plant. So consider this Plant Rescue Wheh Hoo!. If they look really bad you might get it for free, but look out, you don't want to introduce a diseased plant to your garden.

As for the kitchen herb from the produce section of your grocery store... They aren't meant for propagation. they are meant for consumption. They are super grown (read that as fast) with super nutrients that burn them out. They lack the nutrition of their naturally grown brothers and sisters. So don't plant them, eat them. Then purchase seeds and grow your own. After that every time you pluck some for your culinary delight out of your own garden repeat this... that's 3.99, that's 3.99, that's 3.99. My wife gets a kick out of the fact that when I'm cooking and I go out to the garden I always say "This is my favorite part." and it is.

First, thank you all for your replies. My initial thought was not enough water, but figured since the other basil right next to it was doing fine that wasn't the case. It didn't occur to me that maybe the healthy plant was stealing all the water!

Unfortunately, since I posted this (and forgot to check back quickly...) the plant hasn't been doing all that well. One of it's pot-mates became infested with what I can only assume are aphids (super fat ones at that...), but I caught it relatively early and hand-washed each leaf to rid it of them. They don't appear to have spread. I ended up trimming off most of the dead stuff off my sad little basil shortly thereafter, hoping that the plant will put its energy into saving what's left of itself. IF this works, then I will definitely check the root status since that seems to be a general consensus. I would do it now, but the poor thing has been so traumatized I don't think that would be very kind.

Finally: I wouldn't say it was something that was grocery-level, pre-grown. Ironically, the basil that is doing well (and has been for about six months now) WAS one of those plants - I bought it at my co-op, planted it, and it's been doing quite well. This current one I got from an unnamed grower at the Union Square Market Place in Manhattan, NYC. I've realized that many of the plants I got from this guy are struggling, so maybe it has something to do with that? Also the aphids... I'm pretty sure he gave me aphids.

Thank you, everyone, for your help. I am struggling pretty hard with my (indoor) garden right now, so I will definitely be back for more assistance!

Aphids are one pest that is brought home when buying plants no matter where they are from.
I've learned the hard way this is the easiest way of getting those little bugs.
Now when purchasing ANY plants, indoor or outdoor types, I always isolate them for a week or even longer, but I water and care for them, this allows me time to learn IF they are bug free, healthy, NOT pot bound and after this period of time and a good careful search under leaves and flowers if any,
I am then more happy to plant them beside my other plants already growing in situ, IF they are outdoor plants, there is less chance of the Aphids being allowed to cause the death of the plants as I get lots of rain and the Aphids like hot warm conditions. my worse fear is the dreaded Red Spider mites inside or outdoors as these pests live UNDER side of the leaf and get shelter from the rain.
2 years on the trot I carted home Aphids from a well known garden centre and before I realised I had those bugs, they had spread right through my greenhouse devouring tomato's, cucumbers and peppers as they went. thought it could never happen again but after the second year I complained and got ALL my money back BUT was still very upset as some of my plants in the greenhouse are years old, anyway, I now isolate ANY and ALL store purchased plants and not had the problem, see a few bugs, treat ONE plant instead of dozens as the Aphids spread like lightning.
Good luck,. Hope all is well.
Kind Regards.
WeeNel.

Is it true that spraying a mild solution of soapy water on the underside of the leaves helps get rid of Basil mites?