Dentate

I have never had an aphid on one of my indoor plants, but just noticed several parasitizing my newly acquired Colocasia gigantea and Siam Ruby. Bastards! I have wiped the kids down with soapy water and plan on spraying them for a few days with 3 tbs Dawn diluted in my 25 oz misting bottle.

Sound reasonable? Any other suggestions?

Robin

raggedyredhead

Hi, I use Bonide systemic granuals, works great. You can also use as a preventative.

Nicolas Naranja

If you want to avoid chemicals that is pretty much your only option. You could get some ladybugs, but I imagine you don't want any more insects indoors. The soap should suffocate the aphids. As a side note, aphids are viviparous and parthenogenetic. Do your Aphids have wings?

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Dentate

Thank you, Raggdey. That certainly sounds like a convenient option. I'm not vehemently opposed to the use of chemicals, so will give it a shot should the soap not suffice.

Nicolas, yes, I love lady bugs and would love to have them coexist with my plants, but alas their tendency to roam would likely cause problems. Most of the critters were wingless, but there was a single larger winged specimen. Thanks for your help!

Robin

nannerfunboi

never had aphids on any plants inside..but my roses always get a hit
by them late spring/early summer..
i use a mix of worm casting tea..mixed with dish soap..and spray them
has worked for 2 yrs now.. i dont know of the actual benifit of the worm tea..ive read some on it..but the soapy water..as mentioned earlier..suffocated the aphids..
my roses have done great now..
i also use same spray on my dahlias,glads..
good luck to ya

Dentate

Thanks, Nanner.

The Dawn dish soap solution has caused nontrivial damage to the leaves. Interestingly, the new leaves are minimally affected, thus far. I probably made the solution too strong (inadvertently added 5 tbs in 30oz, but figured it would be okay), or Dawn Advanced Power is bad news. They have received a water spray down and lengthy shower. Hopefully the kids will recover from my mistreatment!

Bob3

Home Brew Inscetiscide from Tobacco

The stuff works great on aphids, just blasted a bunch of the little critters the other day.

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Nicolas Naranja

Just as a note, you have to be careful with that stuff. There have been numerous cases of nicotine poisonings related to tobacco insecticides.

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proletariatcsp

I am curious to learn if homogenization of the "soup" has any effect on removing Tobacco mosaic virus?

I don't recall bananas being susceptable, but this could be big trouble for people who get tobacco juice around vegetables like peppers and herbs. I have lost every pepper year after year to mosaic diseases, either from infectous pests or accidental contamination from forgetting to wash my hands after smoking cigarettes.

Aphids are a real nightmare, and the spider mites on my other plants are driving me nuts.

jack hagenaars

a praying mantess would work..but I do it the old fashion way...squish between my fingers....

Yug

Bayer makes an insecticide in a blue container containing imidicloprid (sp?) which is a nocotine derivitive. Maybe that would be better.

Dentate

Thanks all. I considered purchasing lady bugs, but figured having the cute little critters rummaging around the house wouldn't work all that well. The aphids are getting under control, slowly but surely, with frequent spraying with water and manual destruction.

Of note, the two bananas are making a slow comeback after sustaining significant injury from the soap. Interestingly, the two elephant ears suffered only minimal damage.

sandy0225

Aphids are one of the easiest to control. Spider mites are one of the hardest. So if all you have is aphids, you're doing well! lol...
Next time you have to mix up that soap spray, use 1T suave shampoo and 1T of cooking oil in 1 gallon of warer and you won't have so much leaf damage. Use it during the early morning, or on a cloudy day, and you'll have none. Never apply sprays during the hot sunny time of the day.
You can also use baby shampoo. I don't recommend Dawn at all. It's pretty strong as you found out.
If you want to use a nicotine spray, grow your own tobacco. That way you can see if it has any issues, and then of course you don't use those plants for spray. I sell tobacco plants on our website too. I haven't had to use tobacco spray in a couple of years, but I know I have "clean" tobacco to use if I need to. Plus the plants are really pretty anyway and look tropical all summer.
Good luck!

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

Patty in Wisc

I keep 8 brugmansias at my fiance' & every yr, I dig them up, put in 5 gal buckets & in a basement rm... of course after hosing them down. Within couple weeks the leaves are covered w/ aphids.... so gross. I sprayed with soap/oil/water till I don't see them anymore & they are back a week later. This past winter I sprayed w/ a fruit tree spray (can't think of name) s'posed to rid aphids & other pests.... & it stinks. They were back every week. Outside now they are fine.
At my house I have 8 brugs kept in sunroom for winter. They get spider mites & the soap/oil/water works on them. I sure hate those aphids!!!

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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

jeffreyp

I think "concern" soap spray is the best for mites and aphids.

Dentate

Thanks Sandy, Patty, and Jeffrey. A few days ago I ordered Safer Soap concentrate just to give it a shot, although I have not seen an aphid in a couple of days. I'm sure additional pests will appear to plague my plants. I'll probably just treat preemptively for a few doses to ensure the critters have been eliminated.

Bob3

It works a whole lot better if the critters actually get doused with the spray rather than just walk on it.
If you have any Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap, that's effective & doesn't mess with the foliage unless waaay too strong.


Patty in Wisc: Last year I planted some N. rustica (wild tobacco) at my place in Algoma (due East of Green Bay) and it grew way better than I've ever had it grow in CA.
It's got the highest nicotine content of any of the tobaccos, and is the easiest to grow.
(give it a shot!)
.
.

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Patty in Wisc

Hey, thanks neighbor Bob3! How's bout I drive to Algoma & dig some of yours up?! Maybe I can save $$$ & roll my own & kill aphids LOL.
Soon will be the time to go to Door County to pick & buy cherries.

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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Bob3

If you're going to try smoking it, be sure to put some Depends on first & have a soft place to land!

I don't know if the stuff made it to seed last year, I bailed before the frost started getting nasty! (the wimp that I am).
We can send ya a small packet of seed if you're interested, 1/4 gram gives enough to sprout a couple thousand plants.

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Patty in Wisc

Thanks Bob, maybe some other time. I have way too many plants now

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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.