STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Attn Gardeners!! I need Help

fairywings · Dooney & Bourke

I can't help you with the cactus problem, but as for the basil, there is definitely something wrong. I wouldn't eat it or use it in any cooking because basil should not have holes in the leaves. Personally, I grow my spices outside (I have a screenroom) and wash them when I want to cook with them. Everytime I try to grow them inside, they die. Mine need a lot of sunshine. It's possible some bug or pet is eating it (it smells great to pets...just ask my cat) and in that case, I would go ahead and buy a new one because once a bug starts eating it, it's really hard to keep alive. Hope that helped.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Thanks Fairywings. I was hoping to grow them inside because it gets too hot here during the summer and I won't be able to shade them while at work. I don't think anything would be eating them because I don't have pets but I have an ant problem so who knows. I think I'm going to home depot today and I'll see what kind of plant food and other things that might be helpful. My rosemary is doing really well so maybe the basil had issues at the store when i bought it.

lilyann · Dooney & Bourke

The problem with the Xmas cactus sounds like stress. A stress caused by a temperature fluctuation in particular. Where is it being kept? Is it near a doorway where it is exposed to chill, or outside where it dips below 50 degrees? Did you move it from one spot to another when it started to bloom? On another note- these do take very little water...dont water too frequently, because as you can tell by the leaves; they are fleshy, and similar in water requirements to a succulent- storing water in the leaves. Should only water, deeply twice a month.

Your ant problem? Do you see them around the basil? It is interesting because ants will "put to work" aphids, or sucking type pests. They will bring the ahphids to a plant, and later feed from the sap that the pest secretes from the plant. A symbiotic relationship. You will also have an indication of this by a stickiness you can feel on the plants leaves, mainly underneath. Aphids can be eradicated with simple soap sprays, or thru other organic sprays you can find at a higher end garden center.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Thank you lilyann for the suggestions. I think I'm going to cut back on how much I water the cactus. I haven't moved it since getting it. I keep it in the window of my dining room so it can get light. It hasn't been really cold around here lately so I'm thinking its just my excessive watering of it because I water it as much as I water the lucky bamboo I have which is almost every 2 days!

Now the basil plant and ants are another whole story. The ants are all through my apartment but not in one place and I can't find where they come in. I am starting to request weekly bug spray in and around my apt from the office starting this week. I just can't find where they are! but I do notice they don't make it very far before they die (like just a few inches up the wall from the floor) before they die right there. A few are lucky and make it to the window sill but that isn't often. It just frustrates me so badly. I keep a clean apartment!! I don't need ants.

Ok back to the basil. By sunday there wasn't anything but a stem left on the darn plant. It had dropped all these little black balls all over the window sill (i'm assuming those were seeds or spores like a fern has). I also noticed that it had some type of mold looking fuzz growing in the dirt which makes me think that plant was sick/something was wrong with it. So I just tossed it and bought all new herb plants from wholefoods and planted them outside in 2 window boxes. I'm hoping this will work.

Do I need to protect them in anyway outside? Do I need to use a spray to protect them? How often would I spray it on them? Can you recommend one? I don't want to get the wrong thing and eat poison

lilyann · Dooney & Bourke

Oh, yes, I do think the cactus was a little overwatered and quite stressed because of it!! He... He...A little too much love from you. The basil. It does sound like a fungal infection( white mold) at the soil level. This happens alot with plants that are grown in areas where there is very little air circulation( both indoors and out) and too much moisture. Once these soils are infected with this fungus, it is near impossible to get rid of. It can also be highly contangeous to other plants nearby-it was best to start over. Outside growing is fine as long as temperatures are not too cold. Im not sure what the minimums are for basil- I havent gtrown it- someone else could probably comment on that. There is a product I have used on my vegetables for aphids, whitefly etc... It is called Safer Soap. It works well.I think it is available at most garden centers.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Ok i'll have to check around for that safer soap. I only know where home depots and lowe's are in houston so i may have to check when i go home next weekend where i know nurserys are.