what's growing on my basil =/

[MLMIB]

I've been growing basil for 6 months or so and every so often I notice this stuff grows on my basil, and I can't figure out what it is. is there a fungus problem? am I overwatering? someone please help !

Sorry if it's a newbie question, I just haven't had luck finding it via google yet.

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[tn_veggie_gardner]

It actually looks like mite marks of some sort. Check the underside of your leaves. If you don't see them during the day, check it again at night. I may be wrong though.

[MLMIB]

so what do I do to save the basil? how to I keep mites away?

[tn_veggie_gardner]

Did you find/see any under the leaves?

[MLMIB]

I haven't seen them yet, below is a picture of the underside of a leaf as well as another ill-fated basil leaf.

If it helps any the basil is next to a mint plant and cilantro on a little planter in my window.

[url=https://img519.imageshack.us/I/photo2ew.jpg/][img]https://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8449/photo2ew.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://img683.imageshack.us/I/photo1yjy.jpg/][img]https://img683.imageshack.us/img683/211/photo1yjy.jpg[/img][/url]

[tn_veggie_gardner]

Either mites or airborne bacteria/fungus (I didn't see the black dots at first)...Spray a neem oil based miticide that's safe for foliar application on the plant (mainly under leaves, by new leaf nodes, by any flowers & on top of soil), Flush the soil (drench it with water thoroughly several times), place in direct sun.

[MLMIB]

So I went to home depot, they didn't have either, I went to the local flower shop, they didn't have anything in stock but both places said just to mix dishwashing detergent with water and coat the leaves and that it should solve the problem.

so far, eh, leaves are still dying it seems and I can't tell if it's just the damage already done. Any advice?

I can order the neem oil and sulfur if needed, but I can't find it locally.

[Binkalette]

Don't use detergent! Detergent will kill the plants. Use SOAP, I believe Ivory is made of soap, not detergent.

[cynthia_h]

What you want to find is an independently owned garden-supply store. They're often in the (good, old-fashioned) Yellow Pages under "Nurseries, Plant." (as opposed to "Nurseries, Children's").

*These* are the places where the staff are truly knowledgeable about local plants, organic/non-toxic (not necessarily the same!--sometimes you need to choose which way you want to go) methods of combating attacks on your plants, and diagnosing just what *is* attacking your plants.

Big Box stores staff their "garden centers" with a rotating staff of hapless clerks who sell the items by scanning the SKUs into the register and sending you home with them. No gardening expertise there.

Flower shops usually sell cut flowers flown in from foreign lands or--at least--climate zones, grown in greenhouses or other controlled conditions, and chemically protected from even the *thought* of an imperfect appearance. I'd be surprised (pleased, mind you, but surprised ) to find a flower-shop staff member who was also knowledgeable about insect control in an outdoor herb/vegetable garden.

Take a closer look at your local resources. The independent nurseries often look like a tiny hole in the wall but contain buried treasure.

Best wishes for success vs. the Basil Attacker(s).

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[MLMIB]

so I used the stuff by the sink to wash dishes with a sponge, is that detergent that kills plant or soap that saves plants?

[cynthia_h]

It all depends on what the label says. I use Dawn on my dishes when I hand-wash them. It's a detergent, for all that it's in liquid form.

When I want to kill insects, I either use Safer(tm) Insecticidal Soap or slivers of bar soap (Kirk's Castile Soap) that I've soaked in water. The very soapy water goes into the sprayer, 1 tsp. per 4 cups of water, for the anti-insect spray.

Detergents will burn the leaves of your plants. Soaps will dehydrate the bodies of soft-bodied insects (like aphids).

Cynthia

[MLMIB]

so the soap 'n water trick doesn't do anything to fungus or bacteria or does it hurt them as well?

[rainbowgardener]

I don't think the soapy water will do much if it is a bacterial or fungal condition, but spraying it with hydrogen peroxide would. Undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide like you get from the pharmacy, on top and bottom of leaves. Test it on a leaf first, some plants can be sensitive, but generally it is harmless to plants.