Any green-thumbs here?

"Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD" (300korbust) 01/30/2015 at 18:22 • Filed to: None

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Hey Opponauts!

I have a question. My chocolate mint and sweet basil plants got attacked by spider mites (I noticed it early! Thank God!) and I sprayed them with an horticultural oil. While spraying, I coated both bottoms and tops of the leaves. I hope it does the job but I want to know if anyone here, who does grow plants, has experience with dealing with mites on mints or herbs. Does horticultural oil work well? I tried researching it and gardeners lean more towards neem oil so I didn't get too good of results regarding horticultural oil.

Cajun Ginger > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:25

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you want this xposted to a gardening sub blog?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:31

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Maybe a 5W-30...

Leadbull > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:32

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*Checks thumbs*

Nah, they're flesh colored.

jkm7680 > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:39

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You should probably see a doctor if your thumbs turn green.

Klaus Schmoll > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:41

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I sorta have some experience with growing "herbs" but those practically grew on their own. All they needed was a ton of sunlight.

#nothelpingatall

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Cajun Ginger 01/30/2015 at 18:51

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I thought it would be cool to find other people who like cars that also like plants.

EDIT: yeah, not sure why I can't find a garden forum with an easy layout to follow.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > jkm7680 01/30/2015 at 18:51

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HAHA I'll go soon!

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Leadbull 01/30/2015 at 18:52

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Fleshy flesh? Or just flesh?

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/30/2015 at 18:52

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HAHAHAHA you all are really funny! Okay, bad place to post this. Should I delete it?

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Klaus Schmoll 01/30/2015 at 18:56

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#sortofhelping

Well, they are both getting a ton of sunlight and plenty of water meaning they are super healthy. It also means spider mites freaking love it.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:57

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I have an interest in bonsai but I don't really know anything about problems like that. I do hope that Oppo can help me with any problems so you might get lucky. But somehow its seems like a long shot here haha!

nafsucof > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 18:58

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i've had good luck with Einstein oil. The biggest problem though is where did the spider mites come from you need to kill the source. You can put the plants into a trashcan and fill up the trashcan with CO2 that will kill them also

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/30/2015 at 18:58

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True. And I also fulfilled one of target purposes for this post: finding an Opponaut who likes plants! How is your Bonsai doing?

Cajun Ginger > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 19:00

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do you want me to cross post it?

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > nafsucof 01/30/2015 at 19:00

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Please take my upvote! I knew I'd find an Opponaut who likes plants! I think I should pick up a bottle of Einstein oil since gardeners seem to recommend the neem oil in it and that it is more for mites. I'll give this oil a shot now and wait for results. Also, I'm not sure where the spider mites came from so I'll research on what to do for that.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 19:01

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Well it seems ok, haha. I trim it. I talk to an expert on youtube if I need help, but so far fine. Someday I would like to start one and graft etc.. The youtube channel is good and actually shows all the tricks. Maybe when I'm older, after my Z I want to build a steam launch (boat). My mother is the expert with plants, she has fancy orchids etc...

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Cajun Ginger 01/30/2015 at 19:02

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Sure, that would be fine. Sorry if this was wrong for me to post here.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 01/30/2015 at 19:03

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I go down to this nursery/greenhouse for advice but I didn't feel like going today. Oh well, I'm getting some help here so I guess no big deal.

Cajun Ginger > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 19:06

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nope. No apologies necessary. This is technically an off topic blog for people who happen to like cars. :) just tryin to get you an answer.

Cajun Ginger > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 01/30/2015 at 19:13

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Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Cajun Ginger 01/31/2015 at 00:47

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Oh I see. Well, how polite, kind, and nice of you! Thank you!

rabidwire (Loveabull) > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/05/2015 at 02:34

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It looks like the horticultural oil kills the eggs, which is always a good thing. The infestation might last a little bit longer than if you used the neem, but it looks like it should do the trick.

Are the plants inside or outside? Can you introduce some beneficial insects like ladybugs or preying mantises? I love mantises.

orcim > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/09/2015 at 23:11

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Yeah, that sucks. You need to 1) look to the soil to figure out if there's something missing. Personally, without looking closely, I'd put in a rock dust (200 mesh minimum) amendment at 5 lbs/100 sq ft, and some 2-2-4 rich compost (or some organic compost) at at least a 1" depth, watered in.

For acute things, I've used Neem in the past - works good. I've used ag soap - washes off right away, but kills whatever is there and doesn't linger. Or I've used (for the tough, won't die, bugs) nicotine. (Take a handful of bulk tobacco, boil water, throw in, cook for a few mins and then cover and steep for 20. Strain.) You spray this on the plants, and nothing (except the plant) is alive at the end. Spider mites that won't die... they'll all get lung cancer and croak within minutes with that last thing.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > orcim 02/10/2015 at 04:11

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Thank you so much for an answer! I got rid of them using horticultural oil and the plant recovered well. My basil has brown spots on the leaves now but I'll still use the leaves.

orcim > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/10/2015 at 04:16

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Basil leaves looking good is the secondary effect of basil, basil tasting like basil is primary. Brown spots, who cares? Especially for pesto and other ground up applications.

Keeping the soil pumping keeps the bugs off.

Don't forget to pinch off any flowers that are starting to bud. It just encourages leaf production (which is what you want.) I make it morning ritual a few times a week to just walk through, and pinch 'em off.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > orcim 02/10/2015 at 13:28

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And here I thought brown spots were bad. Also, for some strange reason, my basil doesn't start any flower buds. It's leaf production, however, is crazy good! I guess I'll just wait for a flower bud to pop up, if it ever does.

orcim > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/10/2015 at 20:38

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Maybe that's my hot clime that does it. If it does pop, then let it go and collect the seed for next year.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > orcim 02/10/2015 at 23:21

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It could very well be a hot and humid climate. I have mine indoors on a west window ledge in Colorado.

orcim > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/11/2015 at 00:09

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In my experience (which is !one! data point) more sun means more energy means more predilection towards seed production. Move plant person outside in a south exposure during late spring into the summer and I'm sure it'll bolt.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > orcim 02/11/2015 at 04:16

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My apartment has no southern window; otherwise, I would do it. I have a western window... will that work?

M

orcim > Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD 02/11/2015 at 04:42

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Could. Maybe put it up against a wall that traps heat, for a sun trap. (There's banana plants growing in Santa Cruz where there should be any, but the ones I saw are all against rock/concrete walls with max sun exposure. They don't fruit, but they stay alive. So.. maybe yours would. Or, get a grow light for inside?

But in the end, leaf production is why you grow it, so in my book, you're already winning.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > orcim 02/11/2015 at 13:02

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I'll definitely try a sun trap or grow light and when the weather here gets nicer, I'll open the windows for fresh air and sunlight.