oops, sorry, didn't check your sig. line. White oil is, (others correct me
please if I'm wrong) a petroleum based product that resembles thick, shiny
cream, dissolves in water and is used as a general insecticide. it is
diluted with water, and sprayed onto the insects, i believe it blobks their
breathing apparatus. it has to be re-applied with each infestation, but is
cheaper, and i think more gently, than some other pesticides. it can be used
for insects like scale which protect themselves from toxins with an outer
covering. 'ant sand' is a product made by mortein i think, that is basically
pesticide coated sand. it's used around houses on the outside ie. on patios,
as it killas ants and they won't cross it (usually). i've used it to control
ants carrying aphids onto my plats, just be careful where there are surface
roots, i haven't had any problems so far but i have only used it on very
deep rooted plants. check with a garden centre for something to wipe out the
ants, or they will keep carrying the ants onto your nasturtiums and roses.
it's interesting that they are attacking the nasturtiums over the roses, you
must have an aphid resistant variety. ask for white oil too, it's fairly
general purpose. good luck!

--
There are many intelligent species in the Universe. They are all owned by
cats.

Anonymous

One cat just leads to another. -Ernest Hemingway


"Travis" wrote in message
news:gqAbf.3676$Bx.3235@trnddc01...
meee wrote:
i've found good old white oil with a few drops detergent does
fine
for aphids. and using the hose attachment to dispense whatever
you
use sounds like a great idea, spraying is probably the only way
to
grow the nasturtiums. you might also want to sprinkle ant sand
around the base, as t5hat will prevent the ants bringing more
aphids there.

What the heck is "good old white oil"? What is "ant sand"?

--

Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8
Sunset Zone 5