GrowLog
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Kitchen Herb Garden Damaged by Household Cleaner

Grow log by Shawn · Original thread

5 visual updates5 photos35 replies
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CropBasil, cilantro, oregano
VarietyGenovese basil, Dwarf Greek basil, Napoletano basil, Santo cilantro, Calypso cilantro
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Harvest
Plants6
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA valuable mixed-result herb diary documenting normal harvest management and a rare accidental chemical-contamination failure.

Actions:2 Finished2 Pruning1 Harvest1 Planting
Useful practices
  • starting fresh after suspected reservoir residue
  • trimming and freezing herbs
  • raising the light during rapid growth
  • removing contaminated leaves
  • deep cleaning after chemical damage
Problems encountered
  • possible residue or overfeeding in the prior garden
  • rapid overgrowth
  • household cleaner sprayed on plants
  • loss of Greek basil and both cilantro plants

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 45
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

PruningTidied and pruned the herb garden.

S By Shawn

Before I cleaned the garden up some. and my kitchen smelled SOOO good after.
Conversation
S
serri588

Gorgeous!

M
MaryL

Beautiful. And tasty I’m sure.

S
Shawn

Well this garden was re-arranged some plants destroyed It is amazing, a month here and all of a sudden my kitchen garden herbs are looking a mes and not good. I took a closer look and cleaning fluid was sprayed all over them while cleaning the counter. DOES NO ONE KNOW HOW TO MOVE ANYTHING! I am fuming.So this morning I took all my 1/3 standing time (that cuts into my walking time I need as well. Oh well if the rain stays away I may push myself to walk 3 anyway. I will pay for it in pain later but I need to walk) to cut all the bad cilantro off and clean up the good. Had to totally remove the Greek basil as it was covered in black specks and holes. I cut all the bad leaves of Oregano off however was able to save that plant. The genovese and Napolitano leaves were cleaned and pruned out and the plants look ok.I love her but is it May 31st yet?

U
Unknown

Here you are trying to get better and having to 'deal' . Frustration to say the least! (and people wonder why I live alone!)

S
Shawn

Every day I ask myself if it is the 31st.I will say with this weather it is not easy and flairups are huge.

M
MaryL

Aaargh!!!!!

S
Shawn

I caught her last night with Lysol cleaning spray and yelled NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! She said what is wrong I am cleaning the countertops. I told her NEVER spray near my plants.

S
Shawn

Another one bites the dust, this time a Cilantro. I just do not know which one. So I still have the Genovese, Napolatano and a Cilantro.

K
Kate

Humans

M
MaryL

That’s like when I caught my Mom coughing by my herbs without covering her mouth. I was stunned. Especially as her consistent (and proper) admonishments to cover one’s mouth were ringing in my ears from all throughout my childhood. I was like, “Mom! I don’t wash my AG herbs!” That’s kind of one of the bennies of AG growing in my opinion! (Plus, washing after that probably wouldn’t have done any good. )

M
MaryL

LOL!!!!! Oh Kate, you always make me laugh!

S
Shawn

And another one bites the dust, and another one gone and another one gone, another one bites the dust .... That songs just plays in my head as my other cilantro bit the dust now. She HATES cilantro (taste and smell)... I need a days countdown counter here LOL....

K
Kate

I'm not big on cilantro either, but I wouldn't resort to spraying with Lysol or coughing all over it. Look at it this way, the Lysol will kill any cough germs...right? BTW, I don't rinse mine either. I live dangerously.

M
MaryL

Tote. 😂

S
Shawn

This garden has been terminated and the unit thoroughly cleaned. I will be planting a new one later on my next "Standing" time. (Side note: go to doctors later this week and HOPE he tells me I can do a little more)

K
Kate

Here's hoping you get the green light. Get it? Green light...heh.

Day 26
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

Actions taken

PruningClipped Genovese, trimmed Greek basil, and cut back all cilantro.
FinishedRemoved one of the two Greek basil plants.

S By Shawn

I clipped the Genovese and took out one of the two Greek Basil Plants as well as trimmed the Greek. I also trimmed down all the Cilantro. I figure by the time I am home I will be able to trim the cilantro again.
Conversation
K
Kate

Very tidy. I need to use some of my Thyme. It's starting to get pretty big. As much as I use Thyme, I haven't needed it the last couple of weeks.

M
MaryL

I wish my herb gardens looked like yours.

S
Shawn

I can only update on one more. I did not take pictures of this but all my herbs went berserk. I had to raise th hood or my herbs would have burned I have no idea how they did not to begin with. This too needed water as it had none. But I was able to cut and freeze, genovese, greek, napoletano and both cilantros. I could have cut the oregano but there was room.Well I did not do it all on my own as Mark helped me.Ok that is all I can do from the computer. I must go lay down, the pressure is killing me.I will update more late and please remember to post and give me stuff to read

K
Kate

I'm glad you're feeling well enough to post!

S
Shawn

Me too. Even with the meds lol. Just need the pain to stop.. But in time

Day 22
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

S By Shawn

I took a picture yesterday morning however when I got up this morning my plants were fuller. What a difference a night makes. I think they can feel the warming weather coming. Especially since it will hit 80 this week . I have found that in the winter my herbs grow slower and do not do as well as in the spring and summer. I guess the sense it. I know it is in my mind but I believe that LOL.Well here is yesterdays picture. I let my phone battery die out and I forgot to charge it, and it is charging now.
Conversation
K
Kate

They look great! I think you're right about plants sensing Spring. It's going to be in the 50's, and this is the time of year that the sun is now getting close to us here, so it's very warm feeling. I love this time of year, except the slop from such fast breakup, before the Earth can absorb it all. I think that explains the fast jump in size of my baby pepper plants.

M
MaryL

It was in the 90’s here 2 days ago. Hideous. It made me very worried about my plants, inside and out. I agree they can sense it, even indoors and protected. As an example, summer is difficult to grow lettuce even indoors. Your herbs look beautiful.

K
Kate

90's! I can't handle heat like that, anymore. It was rough when I was young. I'd melt into a puddle, now.

M
MaryL

Yeah, it’s getting more and more disgusting and intolerable.

K
Kate

In the 80's, I remember coming back to Sarasota from one of my trips, rather than flying into Tampa as I usually did, and the plane I was on had a staircase to the tarmac, rather than a causeway to the terminal. When they opened the doors and I stepped outside, I literally gasped the air was so thick. It felt like I was drowning. I'll never forget it.Nothing was ever really dry there if you opened the windows. Your clothes, sheets, everything always felt damp. In order to alleviate this, you literally went from one air conditioned environment to another, and showered at least twice a day. I hated it. I feel for you. My husband said he read that we are going to be very warm the next couple of months. That likely means that the moisture from breakup will be gone quickly and we will have a summer of forest fires. This happens every few years. Our rainy season is in the Fall. We are surrounded by dense forests. One long stretch of our favorite camping and fishing roads that is dotted with streams and ponds for miles, burned a few years ago. It was depressing, but thankfully last year it had mostly replenished with young trees and shrubs. Once again, I digress. Sorry!

Day 11
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

S By Shawn

Conversation
K
Kate

That was fast! I have a feeling that the "mint" in my sprout may be some kind of basil.

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

HarvestCollected usable herbs from the old garden before removal.
FinishedEnded the previous herb planting.
PlantingEstablished a new six-position kitchen herb planting.

S By Shawn

This morning I ended and harvested when I could from my old garden. I was not like the way the newer plants were growing. Maybe when I did the last dump and wash I did not rinse out enough or maybe too many nutes. I have no clue, maybe I am losing my touch LOL. Regardless I decided to start a fresh garden. Machine: HarvestNutes: AGSeeds: 3 per podSponge: Park SeedHere is my setup. I may have to move some plants to another unit IF they start to overcrowd. For now these should be fine as it is starting fresh.
Conversation
K
Kate

My family isn't big on cilantro unless I hide it in a dish, which is unfortunate. What app did you use to create the image representing your setup? You're so organized!

S
Shawn

We love it here. I used Photo Impact but I think any program like that would work

S
Shawn

All pods have life.The Genovese and Dwarf are well above the labels and the domes are off. The Napoletano is just below the label. The Santo Cilantro is standing tall with the dome off while the Calypso is still in the pod but green is there ready to pop thru. The Oregano is doing well still under the label but it takes time for that to grow up.

Enlarged photoClick outside the image to close