I brought some sweet pepper plants inside for the winter, and they have
quite a zillion aphids enjoying themselves right now. I hosed and doused
with soapy water. I'm going to try dabbing leaves/stems with diluted
rubbing alcohol.

Can you suggest any home remedies?

David

"David Auker" wrote in message ...
I brought some sweet pepper plants inside for the winter, and they have
quite a zillion aphids enjoying themselves right now. I hosed and doused
with soapy water. I'm going to try dabbing leaves/stems with diluted
rubbing alcohol.

Can you suggest any home remedies?

David

What you are doing will eventually work. I actually put a contaminated
houseplant under the shower (you need a phone shower, so you can douse
the underside of leaves) and that has been sufficient in both cases I
have had aphids inside. The aphids themselves go down the drain with
the water.

When last we left our heros, on Thu, 20 Nov 2003 12:14:19 -0800,
"David Auker" scribbled:

I brought some sweet pepper plants inside for the winter, and they have
quite a zillion aphids enjoying themselves right now. I hosed and doused
with soapy water. I'm going to try dabbing leaves/stems with diluted
rubbing alcohol.

Can you suggest any home remedies?

Invite a ladybug in for the winter. Don't laugh, I did that last
year when a hibiscus I was over wintering was covered in
aphids. Every now and again she'd wander out of the plant
room and I'd just take her back. One day in March I found her
crawling across the screen door talking trash with another
ladybug on the outside, so I opened the door and wished her well.

It was fun.

Pam
--
"Maybe you'd like to ask the Wizard for a heart."
"ElissaAnn"

Aphid Spray:

I heated water, with about 6 small, very hot peppers, dried and broken.
Sprayed this on my indoor (sweet) pepper plants infested with aphids. Seems
to be deterring them! (I just have to be careful where I touch myself, lest
I find I've gotten some of this on my hands!)

I think it will be an on-going battle. -David


"David Auker" wrote in message
...
: I brought some sweet pepper plants inside for the winter, and they have
: quite a zillion aphids enjoying themselves right now. I hosed and doused
: with soapy water. I'm going to try dabbing leaves/stems with diluted
: rubbing alcohol.
:
: Can you suggest any home remedies?
:
: David
:
:

Pam Rudd writes:
"David Auker" scribbled:
I brought some sweet pepper plants inside for the winter, and they have
quite a zillion aphids enjoying themselves right now. I hosed and doused
with soapy water. I'm going to try dabbing leaves/stems with diluted
rubbing alcohol.

Can you suggest any home remedies?

Invite a ladybug in for the winter. Don't laugh, I did that last
year when a hibiscus I was over wintering was covered in
aphids. Every now and again she'd wander out of the plant
room and I'd just take her back. One day in March I found her

Don't forget that there are two types of ladybugs (at least there are
two types here in Australia). One type eats aphids, so it is said, while
the other type eats the leaves. Just make sure you get the appropriate
one! Most of the ones I find on plants seem to be the latter, greedily
munching holes in pumpkin plants and potato leaves. I squash them under
foot.

To the OP: dilute methylated spirits with water in a ratio 1:3 and spray
it onto your leaves, especially the new leaf tips. The aphids will die
immediately, and they die happy. I have not tried it on peppers, but have
sprayed many plants with no adverse effects, though if you have any
reservations, test it on one plant first, and wait a day or two before
spraying the others.
--
John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)

"John Savage" wrote in message

:
: To the OP: dilute methylated spirits with water in a ratio 1:3 and spray
: it onto your leaves, especially the new leaf tips. The aphids will die
: immediately, and they die happy. I have not tried it on peppers, but have
: sprayed many plants with no adverse effects, though if you have any
: reservations, test it on one plant first, and wait a day or two before
: spraying the others.

Thanks, John! I'm not experienced w/methylated spirits, or where to get it,
but if I don't succeed with my hot pepper/rubbing alcohol spray (either
killing the aphids OR myself), I'll go shopping!

David

"David Auker" writes:
Thanks, John! I'm not experienced w/methylated spirits, or where to get it,
but if I don't succeed with my hot pepper/rubbing alcohol spray (either
killing the aphids OR myself), I'll go shopping!

Methylated spirits is denatured alcohol, i.e., about 98% ethyl alcohol
Sounds like your rubbing alcohol might have similar effect on the bugs.

At a pinch you could always try substituting cheap vodka, I suppose. :-)
--
John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)