what can I do about the bugs on my indoor herbs?

Question

I don't want to spray them since they are edible but my herbs (basil especially) have a lot of tiny little yellowish bugs on them. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Hi, if the yellow bugs look like the ones greatly magnified in the web page I've listed below, then you've got a spider mite infestation, which is a common infestation on indoor plants.

http://homeharvest.com/homeharvest2000pics/spidermitesfullsize.jpg

I had these very same spider mites on my indoor plants and since I hate using insecticides in the house I meticulously investigated what else I could use. I found that Howard Garrett, the Dirt Doctor, a local plant specialist in my area, had the solution that worked and didn't involve any insecticide. He is always for the natural approach, and discourages insecticides and chemical fertilizers. His suggestion was to use a solution of seaweed spray and spray directly onto the spider mites, repeating daily for a couple of weeks to get all of the subsequent generations of spider mites which will hatch and reinfest unless you keep up the treatment until they're gone. I got a bottle of Kelp Man, a particular brand of seaweed spray (but there's others available, they sell the concentrated seaweed spray as a fertilizer for sprouts, and plants, and a little goes a long way.) My one bottle will make 30 gallons of the stuff, way more than necessary.

The great thing about it is that not only did it work, but it's also a natural fertilizer and has brought back to life some of my house plants that were turning yellow. It's totally safe to use on food plants.

FYI, I've changed the web site I listed about an hour after I posted this answer because I figured out that the link I'd listed at first didn't work right.

Answer 2

You can mix a small amount of liquid soap with water and spray them with that. It won't penetrate into the herbs to affect the taste. Also good is mixing garlic powder and water and spraying that on the plant. Neither mixture hurts the plant and both do well removing insects. The garlic mixture may affect the taste I'm not sure.

Answer 3

You can make a spray of equal parts cooking oil, dishwashing detergent and water-the bugs will not be able to lay eggs on this and you can rinse herbs before use-or just wait a day or two.

Answer 4

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all it is interior me, bless his holy call! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget approximately no longer all his advantages, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your illnesses, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, he won't constantly chide, nor will he save his anger for ever. He does not handle us in accordance to our sins, nor requite us in accordance to our iniquities. For because of the fact the heavens are extreme above the earth, so great is his steadfast love in direction of people who concern him; as some distance because of the fact the east is from the west, so some distance does he get rid of our transgressions from us.

Answer 5

lightly coat the leaves of the plants with olive oil applied to a rag.

Answer 6

try squirting the bugs off with water every day. bugs can't hold onto wet leaves.

Answer 7

spray with a mild solution of soapy water

Answer 8

try watered down dish soap and spray it on the leaves.

Answer 9

Are they aphids?

Ladybugs eat aphids and you can buy them at the landscape store.