Hydroponic Basil Leaves Mishaped / Deformed

[Steve @ Celtic Farm]

It definitely sounds frustrating to see your basil acting up, especially after a good start. Since you've ruled out bugs with a thorough inspection, you're probably right to suspect a nutrient issue. Here's what you might consider:

Check Nutrient Solution Even though your EC is 1.2, which usually is fine for basil, it's possible that the plants are missing a specific nutrient. Double-check if your nutrient solution has the right mix for basil, which loves calcium and magnesium.

Adjust pH Basil usually prefers a slightly more acidic pH, around 5.5 to 6.0. Try adjusting your pH within this range to ensure nutrient uptake is optimized.

Irrigation Schedule Irrigating twice a day is generally good, but make sure the roots are not staying too wet. Overwatering can cause nutrient uptake issues and root damage.

Root Health Check Take a look at the roots. They should be white and healthy-looking. Brown or slimy roots can indicate root rot, which could cause the symptoms you're seeing.

Airflow and Temperature Ensure your system has good airflow and the temperature is steady. Stressed plants can sometimes show growth deformities.

Nutrient Burn Lastly, consider if there's a chance of nutrient burn. Even with an EC of 1.2, if the plants are small, they might be sensitive to the concentration.

Hope this helps, and keep us posted on how it goes!

 

[DirtMechanic]

@Steve @ Celtic Farm

I feel like this advice is a little too mild. If they get wet twice a day then high drainage, even cactus mix starts looking good.

"Irrigation Schedule Irrigating twice a day is generally good, but make sure the roots are not staying too wet. Overwatering can cause nutrient uptake issues and root damage."

I do pretty well with pine bark mulch and a little (20%) compost in pots. Of course they grow to the size the pot will allow but they like pots generally.