Your comments and tips

30 Jan 13, mia (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Leesa, thsnks for the tips.

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30 Dec 12, Leesa (Australia - temperate climate)

Hope it's not too late but I had the same thing - mine was going wild then suddenly went in reverse and very fast deteriorated to seemingly hopeless. It's now back better than ever. Here's what I did. Maybe it'll work for you. It seems to like being very wet in the soil, but plenty of air and sun on the centre base of the plant. Self defeating almost. The more it grows dense, the heart starts going yellow, white mildewy and tiny black spots. I cut away any of the affected leaves at the base (tiny new leaves that immediately went bad) - this was a lot. Also any bigger top leaves and whole 'branches' that were shadowing the centre. There wasn't much left, but what did I have to lose. It started recovering, and as long as it was in that weird bowl shape it kept getting better. During this stage you need to keep the water and feeding up because the centre is drying out and losing water to the soil underneath. After a while I let it grow back in the middle, still pruning when it got too clustered in the centre or the middle was shadowed from above. Now it has found its new legs and grows evenly as long as I occasionally do some of this 'middle air' maintenance and keep the water up. Hope this helps. I use a lot of it for Thai cooking - it's a great substitute for lemongrass, so I need mine to be thriving. Now happily, it is once more.

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08 Nov 12, nik (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi, my lemon balm is dying fast, and is covered (underneeth the plant) with what appears to be white mites perhaps? Not sure if it is mites or mildew... What to do? Thanks! PS I have one small plant that seems unaffected next to it, should I rapidly move it?

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15 Dec 11, Sarah (Australia - arid climate)

Help! I was given a gorgeous lemon balm plant in a small pot for Xmas. It is now withering away & I see it's best suited to a winter planting. I'm in central Qld so it's really hot and sunny & the heavy rains have started. Not sure if it's worth planting in the garden or better off transplanting to a bigger pot.

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23 Sep 10, Jay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Lemon balm is the most amazing healing plant. I have used it as a herbal infusion (handful brewed in a teapot or even just a teacup) for tick bite, respiratory problems, inflamation, stress, fever and many others. Fantastic herb for the garden. I love it!

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