1) Preface

This page is intended to share experiences about the care and daily handling of a Tulasi plant (TULASI DEVI).

The Tulasi plant comes from a sunny and humid climate, which is ideal for HER growth.

The autor of this page lives in South-West of Germany, a region with changing climates. Summer temperatures are warm with usually plenty of sunny days, and sometimes rainy and humid periods in between. Winters are cold with less sunlight. German climate is not ideal for growing Tulasi, so the advice given here is for people who want to grow Tulasi in a climate that is not suitable to HER.

2) Basics: Sensitivity and Tenderness

Treat TULASI DEVI with lots of sensitivity, tenderness and love because SHE is a very tender, sensitive and pure being: SHE is a Goddess! She doesn’t like smoke (cigarettes, fire smoke) and doesn’t like too much incense smoke either. SHE feels comfortable in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

For me the best way to take care of the plant and to get to know HER is to directly get into contact with HER: talk to HER and feel with HER, preferably every day. In time this will help you to know intuitively what SHE likes, what is helpful to HER and what is not. Your relationship with HER will deepen in a very natural and innocent way.

Whatever you think and do in regards to TULASI DEVI, just try to stay very natural and normal.

3) Prerequisites

a. Pot/Repotting

At best the pot can be made out of thin unglazed potter’s clay. Tulasi doesn´t like slack water or "wet feet" at all. I recommend using rose pots. They are higher than wider and offer enough space for a good drainage and fresh potting soil. Mostly you can find a drainage hole in the middle of the pot. Generally, the size of the pot should be adjusted to the size of the plant. This means, that for a relatively small plant it’s not useful to use a huge pot and vice versa.

Replanting should be done when the plant is growing strongly and its roots need more space. This should be the case when you find the plant having grown higher and wider than its pot is. The new pot could be about two or three sizes bigger as the old one. The best time for repotting is late afternoon since sun light will be less intense at this time. Be careful and cautious when replanting, remembering you are dealing with a very delicate plant.

The inside of the pot should be created as follows:

1. Cover the drainage hole with a coarse meshed plastic grid
2. A good layer of round potter´s clay granules
3. Fresh potting soil
4. Tulasi plant
5. Fill up with fresh potting soil

b.) Potting Soil

Use a high quality dark and loose potting soil mixed with some silica sand.  I had good results with ‘’Compo Sana Kräutererde’’ made by Compo. This one is already enriched with sand and fertilizer and ideal for raising and repotting Tulasi.

You can also make your own potting soil out of one third of soil, silica sand and vegetarian compost each. 

c.) Water

The most important and difficult fact of good care is to give her enough and good water.

The best thing to do is to check the ground humidity with your fingers because this will also deepen your connection to the plant and strengthen your intuition about its needs. If the soil is dry then you can water her again. In winter Tulasi needs less water than in summer. Don´t water her so much in winter, so that the soil can stay dry for several days.

Of course you’ll need to only water every six or seven or more days if the soil contains more clay which will make it less permeable. In this case it is specially important to check the ground with your hands to avoid overwatering. Best is to repot the plant in good soil.

The quality of the water is very important to keep Tulasi healthy. You fill a watering can with water and leave it at least for one day. After that you throw the water into a bucket with a huge distance, so oxygen can enrich the water. You can do that several times. The best thing is to span a metal grid above the bucket, so more oxygen can enrich the water.

You give so much water to the pot until the soil is fully soaked with water and it begins to run out of the drainage hole.

Specially in the summer it is nice to spray Tulasi with water using a spray bottle to provide optimum humidity to its leaves.

My advice:
Fill the watering can or a spray bottle with water and ask the Divine Mother to bless the water with Her energy. This will improve the quality of the water tremendously. 

d.) Heat

Tulasi is very heat and cold sensitive. A room that has a constant warm temperature, a greenhouse or indoor greenhouse is best for HER. You can place HER on a window sill with a heater right under it, provided the heater is on at night too. If not you can set Tulasi on a heating mat, which, at best, is connected to a thermostat to keep temperature at a constant level  (find a list of resources in chapter 5). Especially in the winter it is very important to ensure SHE is kept in a constantly warm place. Optimum ground temperature is around 26° Celsius (78,8° Fahrenheit). Please pay attention to the cold through the window. So create a little space between the window and Tulasi Devi.

In the summer SHE likes being outside in the sunlight for a few hours. Put HER directly in the sunlight and take HER back inside as soon as the sun starts setting, temperature drops or it gets too windy.

e.) Lighting

Natural lighting:

The brightest place in your home is the best place to grow your Tulasi. To help finding out:

“The sun rises in the East, it’s in the South at midday, it sets in the West, and it is never found in the North.’’

The best direction is South. East and West would be acceptable. At a time of intense sun light, it may be needed to move Tulasi slightly off the window or shield it in some other way, since glass can act as a burning glass.

Artificial lighting:

At times of the year with little sunlight such as winter or in regions with less daylight it is necessary to set up a plant light for Tulasi. There are plant lamps for growing (white/blue light) and for the flowers (yellow/red light). It is advisable to have both to give her the hole visible spectrum. One can get them in nurseries or order it from the internet for relatively little money (refer to chapter 5).

4) Additional Care:

a.) Plucking

Especially with a young plant it is good to pluck each little stem after the growth of about three to four pairs of leaves counted from the origin of the stem.

Always pluck with your finger nails, don’t use scissors or other tools. Only if a stem has gotten very strong it is ok to use a tool to cut it.

After just a few days two new sprouts will have developed. The plucking procedure helps the plant to branch out, to get stronger and fuller.

When flowers start to build it is good to pluck those just where they start growing. This way the growth of the plant is encouraged and its energy used for the plant itself.

Of course you can leave a few flowers to blossom and build seeds. Just don’t leave all flowers to blossom

Once the plant is two or three years old, plucking can be reduced.

b.) Fertilization

Applying fertilizer is like feeding the plant. Even the best soil will get depleted of nutrients in time. During the strongest period of growth, which will be spring and summer, these fertilizers can be given:

- organic herb fertilizer
...is a liquid fertilizer with all necessary nutrients. It will be served with the normal water.

- Vibhuti
 ...is sacred ash, which can be given once a month directly on the ground or mixed into the water.

- dried cow dung
...is specially good to use when replanting. Cow dung contains important nutrients and in addition to that it supplies the plant with warmth which is created through the natural process of fermentation and decomposition. In the countryside you can find it on cow paddocks. Make sure to only use cow dung from organic farmers, since organic cow dung will be of much higher quality and not contaminated with pesticides. Mix the cow dung into the new potting soil and let it sit for more than 14 days before you actually use it.

Tulasi will appreciate this extra nutrition with more vitality, stronger growth and shining leaves.

c. Cleansing

Tulasi likes it when everything above grounded will be cleaned up at odd times. Particularly it is very advisable to prevent diseases. Take a natural soap without any artificial additives (for example Chandrika soap), create a relatively thin lukewarm soapy water mixture and fill it into a spray bottle. Sitting on a chair, one discovers his lap with a plastic tarp or a plastic bag and puts the pot on the side. Holding in one hand the entire above grounded plant so that She does snap in case of following water stress. Now sprinkle the trunk, branches and leaves some time with the water-soap mixture. Then you take a second spray bottle with pure water and spray HER once again. Wait a bit with putting HER up until most of the water has drained.

d. Worship / Affection

The more time you spend around Tulasi the more you’ll realize that SHE is the incarnation of a Goddess. She gives love, protection and a lot of knowledge. Here are some suggestions of how you can express your devotion to HER:

- Prostrate
- Thank HER for having come to be with you
- Walk around the plant three times while saying the pradakshina mantra
  (see below)
- Pick HER up and hold HER close to your heart
- Give your heart to HER
- Gently kiss HER leaves
- Chant HER 8 sacred names
- Chant HER 108 sacred names
- Chant Tulasi Mantras
- Sing Tulasi´s song
- Do a puja to TULASI DEVI

Beyond these suggestions feel free to choose any other form of expressing your affection to TULASI DEVI.

The Eight Sacred Names of TULASI DEVI

1. Vrindavani („She who first manifested in the Vrindavana forest“)

2. Vrinda („She who is the Goddess of all plants and trees“)

3. Visvapujita („She who is worshipped by the whole universe“)

4. Puspasara („She who is the essence of all flowers“)

5. Nandini („She who gives faith and bliss to all“)

6. Krishna-jivani („She who is the very life and soul of SRI KRISHNA“)

 7. Visva-pavani („She who purifies the whole world“)

8. Tulasi („She who has no comparison“)

The 108 Names of TULASI DEVI

Tulasī aṣṭottaraśata nāmāvaliḥ

To hear the pronunciation simply klick:

1.      Oṁ śrī tulasyai namaḥ

2.      Oṁ nandinyai namaḥ

3.      Oṁ devyai namaḥ

4.      Oṁ śikhinyai namaḥ

5.      Oṁ dhārinyai namaḥ

6.      Oṁ dhātryai namaḥ

7.      Oṁ sāvitryai namaḥ

8.      Oṁ satyasandhāyai namaḥ

9.      Oṁ kālahāriṇyai namaḥ

10.    Oṁ gauryai namaḥ

11.    Oṁ devagītāyai namaḥ

12.    Oṁ davīyasyai namaḥ

13.    Oṁ padminyai namaḥ

14.    Oṁ sitāyai namaḥ

15.    Oṁ rukmiṇyai namaḥ

16.    Oṁ priyabhuṣaṇāyai namaḥ

17.    Oṁ śreyasyai namaḥ

18.    Oṁ śrīmatyai namaḥ

19.    Oṁ mānyāyai namaḥ

20.    Oṁ gauryai namaḥ

21.    Oṁ gautamārcitāyai namaḥ

22.    Oṁ tretāyai namaḥ

23.    Oṁ tripathagāyai namaḥ

24.    Oṁ tripādāyai namaḥ

25.    Oṁ traimūrtyai namaḥ

26.    Oṁ jagattrayāyai namaḥ

27.    Oṁ trāsinyai namaḥ

28.    Oṁ gatrāyai namaḥ

29.    Oṁ gatriyāyai namaḥ

30.    Oṁ garbhavāriṇyai namaḥ

31.    Oṁ śobhanāyai namaḥ

32.    Oṁ samāyai namaḥ

33.    Oṁ dviradāyai namaḥ

34.    Oṁ ārādyai namaḥ

35.    Oṁ yajñavidyāyai namaḥ

36.    Oṁ mahāvidyāyai namaḥ

37.    Oṁ guhyavidyāyai namaḥ

38.    Oṁ kāmākṣyai namaḥ

39.    Oṁ kulāyai namaḥ

40.    Oṁ śrīyai namaḥ

41.    Oṁ bhūmyai namaḥ

42.    Oṁ bhavitryai namaḥ

43.    Oṁ sāvitryai namaḥ

44.    Oṁ sarva-veda-vidām-varāyai namaḥ

45.    Oṁ śamkhinyai namaḥ

46.    Oṁ cakriṇyai namaḥ

47.    Oṁ cārinyai namaḥ

48.    Oṁ capalekṣaṇāyai namaḥ

49.    Oṁ pitāmbarāyai namaḥ

50.    Oṁ prīta-somāyai namaḥ

51.    Oṁ saurasāyai namaḥ

52.    Oṁ akṣiṇyai namaḥ

53.    Oṁ ambāyai amaḥ

54.    Oṁ sarasvatyai namaḥ

55.    Oṁ samśrayāyai namaḥ

56.    Oṁ sarva-devatyai namaḥ

57.    Oṁ viṣvāśrayāyai namaḥ

58.    Oṁ sugandhinyai namaḥ

59.    Oṁ suvāsanāyai namaḥ

60.    Oṁ varadāyai namaḥ

61.    Oṁ suśroṇyai namaḥ

62.    Oṁ candra-bhāgāyai namaḥ

63.    Oṁ yamunāpriyāyai namaḥ

64.    Oṁ kāveryai namaḥ

65.    Oṁ maṇikarṇikāyai namaḥ

66.    Oṁ arcinyai namaḥ

67.    Oṁ sthāyinyai namaḥ

68.    Oṁ dāna-pradāyai namaḥ

69.    Oṁ dhanavatyai namaḥ

70.    Oṁ śocya-mānasāyai namaḥ

71.    Oṁ śucinyai namaḥ

72.    Oṁ śreyasyai namaḥ

73.    Oṁ prīti-cintekṣaṇāyai namaḥ

74.    Oṁ vibhūtyai namaḥ

75.    Oṁ ākṛtyai namaḥ

76.    Oṁ āvirbhūtyai namaḥ

77.    Oṁ prabhāvinyai namaḥ

78.    Oṁ gandhinyai namaḥ

79.    Oṁ svarginyai namaḥ

80.    Oṁ gadāyai namaḥ

81.    Oṁ vedyāyai namaḥ

82.    Oṁ prabhāyai namaḥ

83.    Oṁ sārasyai namaḥ

84.    Oṁ sarasi-vāsāyai namaḥ

85.    Oṁ sarasvatyai namaḥ

86.    Oṁ sāravatyai namaḥ

87.    Oṁ rasinyai namaḥ

88.    Oṁ kālinyai namaḥ

89.    Oṁ śreyovatyai namaḥ

90.    Oṁ yāmāyai namaḥ

91.    Oṁ brahma-priyāyai namaḥ

92.    Oṁ śyamā-sundarāyai namaḥ

93.    Oṁ ratna-rūpinyai namaḥ

94.    Oṁ śama-nidhinyai namaḥ

95.    Oṁ śatānandāyai namaḥ

96.    Oṁ śata-dyutāyai namaḥ

97.    Oṁ śiti-kaṇthāyai namaḥ

98.    Oṁ prayāyai namaḥ

99.    Oṁ dhātryai namaḥ

100. Oṁ śrī vrndāvanyai namaḥ

101. Oṁ kṛṣṇāyai namaḥ

102. Oṁ bhakta-vatsalāyai namaḥ

103. Oṁ gopikā-krīdāyai namaḥ

104. Oṁ harāyai namaḥ

105. Oṁ amṛta-rupiṇyai namaḥ

106. Oṁ bhūmyai namaḥ

107. Oṁ śrī krsṇa-kantāyai namaḥ

108. Oṁ śrī tulasyai namaḥ

Tulasi Pranamma Mantra

Vrindayai Tulasi-Devyai

Priyayai keshavasya cha

Vishnu-bhakti-prade devi

Satya-vatyai namo namah

Tulasi Pradakshina Mantra

Yani kani cha papani

Brahma-hatyadikani cha

Tani tani pranasyanti

Pradakshina pade pade

Tulasi song:

Namatulasi kalyani

Namo Vishnu priye shubhe

Namo moksha prade Devi

Namah sampad pradayini

5) Resources

6) Epilog

I want to express my deep gratitude and love to TULASI DEVI for being able to spend every day with HER. I bow to SRI MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI feeling grateful that SHE has opened me to the experience of TULASI DEVI. I also want to thank my dear friend Ranjini who translated this page.

I hope I managed to give useful and easy to understand information about TULASI DEVI and I pray that every being may experience the care and bliss given by TULASI DEVI.

With Love

Timo

P.S. Here all information is free. This is my service to the highest truth. None the less I would be happy if you would give a small donation. You find the donation accounts which I judge for especially sensible here. Of course you can also make a donation to an organisation known to you. Thank you very much ! ! !