Question
QUESTION: Hi David,

I am a total armature when it comes to gardening and this is the first year that I decide to start so many plants in doors. I have in the past but this year I decide to grow a lot more.

Months ago I noticed small red bugs on the Thunbergia Vines I started. Now more and more of the different variety of plants I have started seem to be having other different problems like white, black spots on the leaves, curling, parts of the leaves drying up, and some of the other plants also have these red bugs.

I have uploaded a bunch of photos and divided them into 3 pages with a few notes. Sorry if I took too many photos. I tried to be thorough. :)

http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/plants.html
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/plants2.html
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/plants3.html

I think there are a few reasons for my problems. Overcrowded plants, too humid in the room, over watering, fertilizer burns but I have no idea if any of those are the cause. I only fertilized the plants twice (once with general purpose fertilizer and once with rooting fertilizer) and tried to be really careful with watering them always feeling the soil. The weather is crappy and I cannot put the overcrowded plants outside. I think I started them too early. Some plants are even blocking the lights with their leaves?On the bright side I haven抰 had a plant death yet. :)

Got any ideas on the cause of my problems? I have a bad feeling that everything is just getting worse and worse and I will end up with no plants.

Thank You
Have a good day.


ANSWER: All of your plants are infested with thrips insects.  They are cigar shaped and yellow in color.  They feed on the undersides of leaves and then leave the black and white spotted areas on the upper side of the leaves.  Thrips will feed on everything you have. There may also be some spider mites on the plants as well, as eveidenced by the webbing you see and the drying up of leaves. The plants need to be treated with an insecticide.  Malathion will work fairly well.  More than one application will be necessary to break their life cycle.  I would spray them at least 2-3 times about 5-7 days apart.  This should kill the little plant sucking bugs.  Spread the plants out to make some space in between them.  The bugs are just moving from one plant to the next and will continue to do so if not stopped. Good Luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks a lot for your helpful advice. I would just like to clarify a few things I see on some of the plants.

The basil plants have white spots on the tops of the leaves. But I don抰 see any bugs or eggs anywhere and it looks different then the watermelon pictures I showed you. Some basil plant leaves also look splotchy and are curling but I also don抰 see bugs. I also checked the underside of the leaves. (see pic #4).

http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/20.jpg
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/18.jpg
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/19.jpg
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/21.jpg

The Sage and Thyme have black spots that don抰 look the same as the black spots on some of the other plants. Is this some sort of fungus? I also see some grayish stuff on the Thyme.

http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/23.jpg
http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/24.jpg


How did I get this infestation to begin with? Was there some sort of common practice I did not follow?

Thanks again.


ANSWER: Thrips are very small insects and may not be visible upon first attempt.  Take a white paper towell and put under some of the plants.  Then shake or brush the tops of the plants with your hand and see if you can knock some of them off onto the paper towell.  They will be active and crawling fast.  They can come in from outside.  They do have wings but are poor fliers, and they are mostly moved around in the wind.  They could have come in from a weed somewhere on the outside of your house.  The damage you describe and the pictures you sent have typical thrips injury on them.  The black and splotchy areas are where the thrips have feed and left their frass (or poop) on the leaf surface.  I would still treat for them.  Good Luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Your right, I did some closer inspection on all my plants and found bugs crawling on them. I think I got a White Flies too and more then one type of spider mite and the thrips.

I抦 sorry if I抦 pestering you (pun intended) ;) with questions but I think I have a pretty serious problem with my peppers. Someone on a forum said they might have a type of mosaic virus. I did a little research and it seems pretty serious and contagious to my entire garden and is spread by insects such as mites?

I have 5 varieties of peppers and the symptoms seem pretty random. Some leaves look fine, some are entirely yellow and look normal other wise, some are bumpy and curly and some have yellow splotches etc.

Click link for images:

http://www.inspiredvisuals.com/Cgtalk/Plants/Peppers.html

Thanks. I appreciate the time and the help.
Have a good weekend.


Answer
Treat for the bugs today.  Malathion will do a good job.  Do not mix it too hot or it will burn your plants.  Set them outside even if it is 40 degrees at night.  You would be surprised what they can take and the bugs cannot.  As far as a mosaic virus, only if the peppers are old varieties would tobacco mosaic be a problem.  New peppers get a virus called tomato spotted wilt virus and can cause the browning and bronzing in leaves as well as stunting.  The TSWV is moved by the thrips, thats why controlling them is so important. The bumps or crimpling in the leaves look like insect feeding to me. Try to separate the plants and give them some space.  Where are you anyway?  Plants should be transplanted in most parts of the country by now.  Get them set out ASAP.  I dont mean to sound short with you, but you can lose everything you have worked for if this problem is not fixed ASAP.  Please respond back and let me know what is going on.  I am an avid gardener and hate to lose plants.  I am truly concerned about your situation and want to help if I can.  So pester me some more before this over with.  Thanks.