Aphids?

[~Obsidian~]

I have bought a green pepper plant which was on discount (because it seemed to be wilting) I bought it to try and save it, but I keep seeing these tiny little white things with wings (possible aphids?) under the leaves. I wiped most of them off, and plan to spritz the leaves with a minty liquid, as I read somewhere that mint discourages aphids. Does anybody have any advice for me?

[~Obsidian~]

On second thoughts, I think they're actually called mealy bugs :eek:

[Kirsten]

Eek... .no idea with the mealy bugs, I'm sorry :(

I fought WW III with the aphids this summer. I tried making sprays out of detergent, chili peppers, whatever, you name it... none of it worked. The easiest way for me was actually taking a plastic cup, filling it with wate,r dipping my fingers in the water, and then just rubbing them on the underside of the leaves and the aphids come right off. It's a little disgusting but I figure it was worth it to try and save my tomatoes (of course then I lost them to the squirrels...)

By the way, aphids are generally green. :)

[~Obsidian~]

Eek... .no idea with the mealy bugs, I'm sorry :(

I fought WW III with the aphids this summer. I tried making sprays out of detergent, chili peppers, whatever, you name it... none of it worked. The easiest way for me was actually taking a plastic cup, filling it with wate,r dipping my fingers in the water, and then just rubbing them on the underside of the leaves and the aphids come right off. It's a little disgusting but I figure it was worth it to try and save my tomatoes (of course then I lost them to the squirrels...)

By the way, aphids are generally green. :)

Yeah I know they are, but these looked awfully aphid-like until I spotted the tiny white weevil looking ones :( I've tried wiping them off and using a detergent spray but I may have to resort to these pellets I spotted in sainsburys, you just stick them into the compost of the potted plant and they supposedly kill 'em off somehow! I'm willing to give it a try, want to save those tiny peppers! Ahh squirrels...they're generally cute! Not sure how I'd see them if they started stealing my toms though :mad: (my first one is turning red yaaay!!!)

[Riz]

some good advice kirsten..

You could put a very tiny amount of washing up liquid into a water bottle and spray the plant not forgetting under the leaves, the washing up liquid acts like "clingfilm" and sucks out all the moisture from the aphids and mealy bugs, or alternatively you could buy the universal bug killer from the d.i.y shop and just use that, they do work aswell, On you pepper plants the aphids love the soft stem this way they can suck the moisture out, when the plants grow in size and the stem gets bigger and hardens they leave it alone , at the moment i have over 30 chilli plants in the garden and none have aphid problems. The only probelm i have is the lack of sun :(

[~Obsidian~]

some good advice kirsten..

You could put a very tiny amount of washing up liquid into a water bottle and spray the plant not forgetting under the leaves, the washing up liquid acts like "clingfilm" and sucks out all the moisture from the aphids and mealy bugs, or alternatively you could buy the universal bug killer from the d.i.y shop and just use that, they do work aswell, On you pepper plants the aphids love the soft stem this way they can suck the moisture out, when the plants grow in size and the stem gets bigger and hardens they leave it alone , at the moment i have over 30 chilli plants in the garden and none have aphid problems. The only probelm i have is the lack of sun :(

I tried the washing up liquid thingy yesterday, and it didn't really work! Got some bug killer today, gave it a spray and watched the little things run :mad: The plant has quite a hard stem already :) thank God for that! I've got some pretty decent sun today :D so pepper is outside

[Riz]

peppers as in capsicum or chili peppers ?

[~Obsidian~]

peppers as in capsicum or chili peppers ?

Capiscum! Green bell :D temps outside reached around 90 today with the sun!

[Riz]

Capiscum! Green bell :D temps outside reached around 90 today with the sun!

well i have 3 of the bell peppers growing, i took out the seeds from a bell pepper that i had bought, I am also growing a host of chilis, when you have time you might want to check out the chili thread http://www.muslimgrower.com/discussionforum/showthread.php?t=6

[~Obsidian~]

well i have 3 of the bell peppers growing, i took out the seeds from a bell pepper that i had bought, I am also growing a host of chilis, when you have time you might want to check out the chili thread http://www.muslimgrower.com/discussionforum/showthread.php?t=6

I think I've checked out nearly every thread already :p those chillis look good! Do you have a pic of your bell peppers? I fear that the plant won't survive the infestation, I've treated it twice and theres been a significant reduction in bugs, but it doesn't look too good :( I'm only allowed one more application according to the bottle :(

On the bright side the tomato is turning redder by the day! :D

[Riz]

I think I've checked out nearly every thread already :p those chillis look good! Do you have a pic of your bell peppers? I fear that the plant won't survive the infestation, I've treated it twice and theres been a significant reduction in bugs, but it doesn't look too good :( I'm only allowed one more application according to the bottle :(

On the bright side the tomato is turning redder by the day! :D

the plant needs a boost of nitrogen to make it grow big and strong espically after the aphid attack, get yourself some tomato nutrients and give it a liquid feed with water ( always read back of pack)

[~Obsidian~]

I already had some of that, I tried feeding it yesterday, and despite treating the bugs the leaves grow floppier day by day :(

[Riz]

On the back of the nutrients or fertilizer bottle it should have a N.P.K ratio ( nitrogen, pottasium,phospate, it could be something like 5-10-5 ratio, for peppers and tomatoes the higher the n.p.k ratio the more lush the plant will be, i use a 20-20-20 ratio but i have ran out of the nutrients so i am just using regular garden centre nutrients and fertilizers.

[globalart4u]

i put garlic in all my plant pots and they grow and the aphids are kept at bay and have planted them in the greenhouse and outside - they do not like the smell of garlic so fresh garlic growing is an added plus. a few years ago we were inundated badly with the pest and nothing stopped them except planting the garlic pods in each plant pot

[1clicc]

My mango has grown about 5inches and now i have started to see some kind of pest and not sure if it's aphid or mealy. The little critter will only be seen when i water the plant and they will sunk in the soil do some little leaping to get away. It's very tiny and white kinda like translucent. What do you guys think it might be? I'll try to take a picture of one close up.

[Riz]

repot it in fresh compost/soil and it will be ok inshallah.........

[Riz]

make sure you clean the pot out good too

[1clicc]

Should i also wash the plant as well?

[Riz]

u can take the aphids off manually, just use a tissue..... post a pic of your mango plant on the mango thread too :)

[1clicc]

The plant seem to be in great shape. I just want to be caution not to bring these little crittle long when doing a fresh repot. I'll take photo of it when i get home.

[Riz]

thats why i suggested to clean the pot out in bleach and then rinse it out well and pot on with fresh soil.. were do you keep the plant anyway ?

at a window ?

[Kirsten]

You can also place a cut piece of potato (peeled) on the soil, it will attract the buggers to come to the surface and attach to the potato and then you can throw them away... it's disgusting but it works. And welcome to MG btw :)

[~Obsidian~]

The plant seem to be in great shape. I just want to be caution not to bring these little crittle long when doing a fresh repot. I'll take photo of it when i get home.

Glad to hear it, nasty critters those bugs are! Are they/were they on the leaves too?

Where's that picture :D

[ze leetle elper]

My sister recently went on a permaculture course (highly reommended!) so she shared part of what she learnt re: balance in a garden between plants and wildlife!

So the aphids need ladybirds to keep them under control. She suggested to plant dill next to any plants that encourage aphids as ladybirds are enticed by the dill! also to provide a shelter/ area for the ladybirds so they can nest overwinter int he garden as well :D

[~Obsidian~]

*must plant dill next to roses*

:ty: