Need help with indoor Basil

[Elfmaze]

SO when i look at the picture i guess its still not much to look at. I'm still having leaf curling issues too. Lol, worst basil grower EVER!

[img]https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Elfmaze/IMAG0200-1.jpg[/img]

[dustyrivergardens]

look real close for spider mites I had that problem and it looked a lot like that.

[greenleaf]

Very helpful

[klevelyn]

It looks like it could be an insect. Maybe its time to grow a new plant.

I have had success with my lights using 4 foot shop lights. Use one cool bulb and one warm bulb to get a full spectrum of light.

The label will tell you if its a warm bulb or cool bulb.

good luck!

[estorms]

I would throw out the plant, the pot, and the dirt. Start a bunch in the kitchen with Miracle Grow potting soil. By the time they are big enough it will be time to plant them outside. I plant one potted plant, then a package of seeds in a row next to it. I can use the leaves from the first one while the seeds are coming up and growing. Put the tag from the plant by the stem so you don't forget what it is.

[jpr54_]

I have had the most success with my aero garden-

I also have 2 basil plants outside that I bought in home depot-
and 2 pots of self seeded pots of basils with lime and lemon basils-
seeds from www.southernexposure.com

[Elfmaze]

Hey guys just wanted to update this.

When I switched to the 50/50 mix of cool white and "bathroom" warm bulbs the plants exploded with growth and color.

I am having a bit of problems with some form of parasite on a few leaves. I just cut them if i see it. The aphids that are attacking my mint do not seem to have a taste for basil.

I was having, I guess you could call it a "problem" with flowering on my basil and mint. Every few days i will cut off the flowers and they grow back in a day or so. So I switched to four BLUE, two RED bulbs today to try cooling off the flowering drive.

[img]https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Elfmaze/IMAG0243.jpg[/img]

[Elfmaze]

Here is an example of one of my "parasite" leaves. only a few to cut each week.

[img]https://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a116/Elfmaze/IMAG0244.jpg[/img]

I think spider mites may have taken out a cilantro plant. Webbing was everywhere and I could not save the plant. Not webbing on the basil And i have looked at culled leaved under the microscope and haven't seen any mites running around.

[dinajawad]

I bought a lettuce leaf basil plant in a small pot a week ago from Walmart. I’ve been watering it moderately (when the soil is dry). It is placed indoors beside my balcony for sunlight. I woke up today and saw the that the bottom side leafs have suddenly dropped/wilted. I felt the soil, it was completely dry even though I had just watered it the night before. There is also a small black spot on one stem.

Here’s a link to a photo of my plant for reference. You can see the bottom leaves wilt and a small black spot on the middle stem.

[img]https://i1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii498/dinajawad/2012-04-15132108.jpg[/img]

I'd would really love to freeze the basil leaves only if they are safe to eat at this point.

I am wondering, has my basil plant been infected with fusarium wilt? Are the leaves safe to eat?

[Elfmaze]

Disclaimer: No expert, But the pot size looks small. And the transplanting may have shocked the plant. It also may have just dried up that fast with the small root ball. My basil would not grow in the window sill without the light above it.

Give the leaves a good rinse and eat em. My stems did turn brown and woody as the plant aged, may or may not be what you have. But probably not going to kill you.

[hendi_alex]

Yep, I would have a plant that size placed in a 1 qt or 1.5 qt container. Also, would not have such a deep bottom tray as may lead to sour soil and rotting roots.

[dinajawad]

Thank you for your expertise!

I have just removed the majority of the plants, saved the leaves in my freezer. I will soon replant the few leftover plants into a larger, not so deep, wide pot to keep it alive.

Take care,

Dina

[Elfmaze]

ID'd the bugs, Thripes!

[Susan W]

Voila! THRIPS! I could not figure what was 'bugging' my indoor basil, and some of the new starts, and couldn't get any suggestions. I had tried washing, spraying, pyrethrins etc. (just need to do lots more of same) I will carefully watch my outdoor ones, and come fall keep a beady eye on the inside plants.

They are frustrating as the damage is evident, but bugs too small to see. Then hard to treat if an unknown!