Your comments and tips

24 Mar 14, Col (Australia - temperate climate)

Bright green caterpillars. Put some white butchers paper under the plants and look for black poo

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06 Apr 14, Julie (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, I live in South Australia and my mint has been eaten by a bright green caterpillar, have also noticed the black poo on some leaves, how do I get rid of future caterpillars is there something natural I can do to stop them coming back. Please help as my mint was thriving last week but now is full of holes and the leaves have been stripped bare. :-(

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29 Nov 12, Kathy Mottley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi. I have small black bugs on my mint plant which are eating the leaves and also seem to be leaving a brown mark on the leaves. How can I get rid of them?

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28 Dec 12, Anne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Kathy, sounds like these could be aphids or mites (if so, they are sap suckers). First plan of attack I use is to hose them off with a strong jet of water. If they return, then the next day I do the same. If they return a third time, I use Eco-Oil to suffocate them. It's a certified organic oil based solution that you spray onto the leaves. The company I get it from is www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au and it's a great emergency product for organic gardeners for those stubborn problems. Other than that, I also address the health of the plant and soil. Pests generally only attack plants that are unhealthy so I add rock minerals, give the plant a fish/seaweed 'tonic' to boost them with trace elements, check soil moisture is adequate and mulch well. Hope this helps!

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22 Oct 12, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I am told that if a mint plant flowers, the taste becomes bitter. I have noticed that the flavour weakens. Question is - will the same mint plant recover in time to give a sweeter and full flavour? Can I do anything to to recover a flowered mint plant?

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15 Aug 12, Phil Green (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi all, My recently planted mint has leaves that look like they have been burnt. Any ideas what might have caused it? Cheers Phil

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21 Aug 12, Stevee (Australia - temperate climate)

Have you had frost lately Phil? Frost can make the leaves (particularly new ones) go black.

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28 Jan 12, z. watts (Australia - arid climate)

I spray with pyrethrum once a week. It's from a plant and non toxic to mammals.

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27 Dec 13, Matt from Canberra (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Pyrethrum IS toxic to mammals. It is a neurotoxin which is especially bad for pregnant ladies and unborn babies. Just because something is derived from a natural source does not mean it is necessarily safe. Arsenic, crude oil and anthrax are all natural, yet I would not be spraying them anywhere near my food!

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27 Jan 12, Angela (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi. I have a type of white bug/flies on my mint. Does any one know how to get rid of them naturally without spraying chemicals on them? Thanks!

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