Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've planted a few basil seedlings in my system. They've been in the system about 3 weeks and have grown a little, but there's is hardly any new leaf, the once that were just got bigger. They haven't grown any taller.

What's best to do for optimal growth?

Pick off some of the big leafs to let new one's grow or just leave it?

I'd probably just leave it, its hard to photosynthesize with no leaves

Yes, I've heard that can be difficult...

Thanks for the quick response. I'll just leave them alone then.

Basil really likes warmth. If you water temp is down around 60 F (15 to 16 C) you'll probably have troubles keeping it growing. Thai Basil might do slightly better with the lower temp.

Thanks, Scotty. But I have my system inside and have a room temperature of about 24C, and water temp at about 22C.
Outside here in Sweden it's between 3-6 degrees Celsius and raining, expecting frost any day now.

Glad to hear the temp isn't the issue.

Are they getting enough light? Basil tends to do best in full sunlight.

I got some grow-LED-lights as extra lighting and have ordered a proper hydroponic growlight to use during the winter.

But light wasn't the question, I just wanted to know if I should pick some of the leafs to make the plant grow faster.

Oh, I thought was a question too!

Removing healthy leaves will probably slow them down even more.

Nope, pruning removes solar panels from a solar-powered growth machine. Warmth and light and even moisture.

Sent from my newfangled doodad using TapaTalk.

Thanks guys! I've actually heard the opposite as "old folks wisdom" to remove the bigger leaves to make room for the small ones but it makes perfect sense to just leave the plant alone.

Gunagulla: I do apologize for the bad grammar and vague questioning. It's a second language, and I mostly just read the stuff..

It's