Oregano issue 🤔
Hi everyone!
Does anyone knows what is happening to my oregano? I notice that all the bottom leaves have these dotted colour loss. What is it? And is it safe to eat then?
#Oregano #OutdoorGrowing #PestControl
Does anyone knows what is happening to my oregano? I notice that all the bottom leaves have these dotted colour loss. What is it? And is it safe to eat then?
#Oregano #OutdoorGrowing #PestControl
2
Best Answer
The distinct white, silvery speckling or "sandblasted" look across the leaves is classic stippling damage caused by tiny, sap-sucking pests.
1-The Likely Suspects
Thrips or Spider Mites: These tiny insects puncture individual plant cells and suck out the juices, leaving behind empty, silver-white pockets. If you look very closely at the leaves (especially the undersides) or shake a branch over a blank piece of white paper, you might see minuscule, elongated bugs crawling around. You might also notice tiny black specks of excrement left behind on the surface.
2-Leafhoppers (specifically the Sage Leafhopper): These are incredibly common on herbs in the mint family (like oregano, mint, and sage). Their feeding pattern creates identical, stark white spotting across the upper leaf surfaces.
Is it safe to eat?
3-Yes, the leaves are still technically safe to consume or dry, but the heavy stippling compromises the flavor, texture, and overall quality of the herb.
4-How to Manage It
1. Prune the Worst of It: Cut back the heavily damaged stems. This encourages fresh, healthy new growth and removes a large portion of the pest population.
2. Blast Them with Water: Since this looks like it's growing outdoors, give the plant a firm spray with a garden hose (especially the undersides of the leaves) to physically knock the pests off.
3. Organic Treatments: If the infestation persists on the new growth, you can spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Just remember to spray in the early evening so the sun doesn't scorch the wet leaves, and give the herbs a thorough wash before utilizing them in the kitchen!
1-The Likely Suspects
Thrips or Spider Mites: These tiny insects puncture individual plant cells and suck out the juices, leaving behind empty, silver-white pockets. If you look very closely at the leaves (especially the undersides) or shake a branch over a blank piece of white paper, you might see minuscule, elongated bugs crawling around. You might also notice tiny black specks of excrement left behind on the surface.
2-Leafhoppers (specifically the Sage Leafhopper): These are incredibly common on herbs in the mint family (like oregano, mint, and sage). Their feeding pattern creates identical, stark white spotting across the upper leaf surfaces.
Is it safe to eat?
3-Yes, the leaves are still technically safe to consume or dry, but the heavy stippling compromises the flavor, texture, and overall quality of the herb.
4-How to Manage It
1. Prune the Worst of It: Cut back the heavily damaged stems. This encourages fresh, healthy new growth and removes a large portion of the pest population.
2. Blast Them with Water: Since this looks like it's growing outdoors, give the plant a firm spray with a garden hose (especially the undersides of the leaves) to physically knock the pests off.
3. Organic Treatments: If the infestation persists on the new growth, you can spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Just remember to spray in the early evening so the sun doesn't scorch the wet leaves, and give the herbs a thorough wash before utilizing them in the kitchen!
@Shellyjam56 wow! Thank you for this in detail reply 🥰 it’s helping me a lot 🙏🏽
