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What is wrong with my basil?

Basil   

I purchased a basil plant from whole foods and growing it indoors in my sunny living room. It has been growing well, but has white specs on many of the leaves. There are more and more of these now and the plant looks sick. What is it and what can I do?


Posted by: Yiqun Bai (1 point) Yiqun Bai
Posted: July 13, 2015




Answers

1
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That damage actually looks like insect feeding damage, I'm thinking thrips. The black specks that are present in the damaged areas are likely insect frass (feces). Can you see anything on the plant - they might be very tiny so you will have to look very carefully, turn over all the leaves. You can prune any severely damaged leaves. If thrips are present then an application of an insecticidal soap may help.


Posted by: Lindsay McMenemy (4 points) Lindsay McMenemy
Posted: July 14, 2015


Charlie B. commented,
I agree with the thrips diagnosis.
over 8 years ago.



1
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This is definitely thrips. I deal with them frequently on greenhouse tomatoes, and I've inadvertently brought them into my apartment and had infestations on my herbs, including basil.

I treat them with insecticidal soap. Treat the plants multiple times over a couple weeks to ensure the thrips are all gone, and be sure to coat as much of the surfaces as possible, including the undersides of the leaves. Most insecticidal soaps are pretty benign to humans.


Posted by: Matt (9 points) Matt
Posted: July 15, 2015




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