I just recently found this discussion due to my continued attempts to stop whatever has been eating my sunflower seedlings. I checked the plants thoroughly, and I haven’t seen anything that may be causing parts of the leaves to be eaten off. I figured it might be a chipmunk since I’ve seen one hanging around here, but the small black ants crawling up and down the stalks have begun to draw my attention. At first, several of the plants went more or less unaffected, but now all of them have at least a few bites out of their leaves. I‘m pretty sure the ants have something to do with it, since there were no bites on one until they arrived. I know that ants take care of aphids for their honeydew, so I specifically checked on the undersides of leaves (as well as the new growth) for aphids. The variety is Mammoth, if that helps at all. I’ve seen small flies land on them here and there as well, but I doubt they’d eat leaves. Also, pretty sure it’s unrelated (since it‘s only on one of the eight affected plants), but I just noticed a brown mass of one of the leaves with small worms crawling along inside it. Wondering what those could be?

I've the exact problem. Can Confirm, as secretmail021 has identified, it is a very very very small insect. White-green color, approximately as wide as 1-2 human hairs, about 1.5 mm in length... you won't see them on the leaf, Instead, pick a leaf and shake/tap it over a well-lit preferably dark surface.... if they fall off, you can see them crawl. Happened with indoor potted plant that was otherwise healthy for the last month. No idea for the solution, but act fast, because it spread from a few just a few leaves to a few plants over the course of half a week. RIP basil.

The wick thing is an interesting idea. But, I don't understand why you need to water daily. You can check plants daily (I'm lazier than you though), stick your finger in the soil upto the first knuckle atleast , if it is damp walk away. If it is significantly dry, add water thoroughly (hopefully the plant has drainage holes). I guess your in an arid region but unless the plant needs water (soil is dry) I don't water them. Herbs especially to be too wet. The only time I need to water daily is if it's really hot and usually when my plants are in too little containers. Get bigger containers, with drainage holes (I like terracotta pots), and use some sphagnum moss (cause it looks pretty-any mulch will do) to help retain the waer. Then they won't dry out as fast, you can still check daily but only water when necessary.

I love the salon that I've been going to since DH & I moved to the county we live in (over 20 yrs). The owner does my cuts, and I have had a few different stylists over the years that apply my color. I've found that the best thing you can do is to take pics of what you like, or want done to your hair (both color and/or haircut style). You can find lots of pics from all sorts of magazines, they don't have to be "hair style" magazines per se. You may see a cut or color that you like in any magazine. The internet is another good source for images or the internet to give your stylist(s) something to work from. My idea of what I want isn't always easy to explain. I have a couple of pages of copy paper with pics stapled to them that I keep at the salon. When I go in for an appointment, the gal at the front desk gets them out for me. When I want to change something with regard to my cut or color, I print a few pics to take with me. That way there is no way that what I "think" I want being lost in translation. Have to say this has been the single best thing I've done to improve getting what I want. There have been times when I've taken in a picture and my colorist or stylist will reel me in with the reality of changing to that particular style. They explain why they feel that the something I see that I want may not work for either my hair texture or shape of my face. Luckily, the people I work with at the salon have a pretty good idea of what I will or won't like, or will or won't be able to deal with on a daily basis:).