How to Revive a Wilted Herb Plant

Last Updated: August 7, 2020

So you bought an herb plant thinking you could save money and gain a constant supply of fresh herbs just to find that glorious herb wilted later that day (or the next). Never fear, you can revive the plant no matter what color your thumbs are!

Steps

1
Obtain a clear, intact plastic bag large enough to contain your plant. It is important for it to have a zipper (like a storage bag) or for you to be able to close it to make a seal, so it should not have any holes/leaks.^{[1]
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2
Fill bag with water enough to submerge the pot part of the plant.

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3
Place your plant inside of the bag. Keep your plant inside of its pot (but remove any other plastic wraps or containers surrounding the pot) and place the whole container inside of the bag.
4
Let it sit for up to 30 minutes. The reason why it's wilted is because the roots are dehydrated. This lets the roots rehydrate quickly.^{[2]
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5
Take the plant out and remove the water. Once you are sure your plant is hydrated, carefully remove your plant so you do not wash away your soil, and then pour the water out of the bag.^{[3]
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6
Return the plant to the bag and seal. By sealing the bag, you are creating a humid environment, letting your plant hydrate the rest of the way without drowning the roots.^{[4]
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7
Place plant in a shaded area. You still want it to receive light but you don't want to cook the plant in the bag. It should take as little as a few hours up to several days for your plant to revive.^{[5]
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8
Remove plant from bag and place it in its appropriately sunny area. Some herbs need lots of light, some are more shade tolerant. Be sure to place your herb in the appropriate light and water from the bottom so the roots can stay hydrated.

Community Q&A

Question

I have white stuff on my rue plant, what can I use to protect the rue as it dies off?

Ninox

Top Answerer

It is probably due to whiteflies. The first thing to do is to isolate the plant from the others. Then, there are other ways to solve the problem: glue traps, insecticides and predator insects.