Indoor Grow

[bower]

Not to sidetrack the thread too much, but I started work on my aphid purge today - what a terrible mess! Not to mention the carrot tops, the container soil itself literally covered in aphids, and they were not immobile either at 40 F. Both winged and walkers.

I tried several methods to put them down before handling stuff (worst thing that could happen is to bring live ones perched on me into the house). First I tried hot water drench (140 F tap water). That may have killed a few, but the warmth actually did speed up the activity level afaict... Tried hot soap spray then and if it killed any I couldn't tell, they seemed to be more active too.
So heat (at least, tap hot) was a bust for killing. And soap did little or nothing, whether hot or cold. I went online and read that vinegar (diluted 1:3) could be sprayed or baking soda sprinkled on them... Decided to try baking soda since the soil is doubtless acid enough.
Well, baking soda sprinkled on was the most effective thing. Even a light dusting (no gear, just rubbing it between my hands) seemed to stop them in their tracks.. and they were making tracks! Major exodus from the tub within a few minutes of removing those carrot greens.
They seemed to be most interested in chasing everything carrot. I hope so.



I was planning on using that container soil for several purposes including cycling some in for my greens, but I'm worried about bring them in. I read that their eggs are laid on browning foliage, not in the soil? Not sure...

Anyway - baking soda for aphids.

Will take another look at that when I finish up tomorrow morning.

Originally Posted by bower

Not to sidetrack the thread too much, but I started work on my aphid purge today - what a terrible mess! Not to mention the carrot tops, the container soil itself literally covered in aphids, and they were not immobile either at 40 F. Both winged and walkers.

I tried several methods to put them down before handling stuff (worst thing that could happen is to bring live ones perched on me into the house). First I tried hot water drench (140 F tap water). That may have killed a few, but the warmth actually did speed up the activity level afaict... Tried hot soap spray then and if it killed any I couldn't tell, they seemed to be more active too.
So heat (at least, tap hot) was a bust for killing. And soap did little or nothing, whether hot or cold. I went online and read that vinegar (diluted 1:3) could be sprayed or baking soda sprinkled on them... Decided to try baking soda since the soil is doubtless acid enough.
Well, baking soda sprinkled on was the most effective thing. Even a light dusting (no gear, just rubbing it between my hands) seemed to stop them in their tracks.. and they were making tracks! Major exodus from the tub within a few minutes of removing those carrot greens.
They seemed to be most interested in chasing everything carrot. I hope so.

Great to hear!

I was planning on using that container soil for several purposes including cycling some in for my greens, but I'm worried about bring them in. I read that their eggs are laid on browning foliage, not in the soil? Not sure...

Anyway - baking soda for aphids.

Will take another look at that when I finish up tomorrow morning.

[bower]

They look great, TT. Those plants are loaded!

[Tiny Tim]

Thanks bower, we are happy with our first indoor tomato grow.

[Tiny Tim]

I'm in the final cooking process of building an organic soil for my next grow. I discovered from another site the claim that using crab meal and neem seed meal in the soil mix eliminates thrips, aphids and fungus gnats from your grow. Both are now in my new container mix so we will see if it really makes a difference. I'm not sure I'll actually notice a difference though. I've been fortunate enough to never really had issues with any of these. I like taking the preventative approach over that act now or my plants will die approach.

[GrowingCoastal]

Originally Posted by bower

I was planning on using that container soil for several purposes including cycling some in for my greens, but I'm worried about bring them in. I read that their eggs are laid on browning foliage, not in the soil? Not sure...

Anyway - baking soda for aphids.

Will take another look at that when I finish up tomorrow morning.

Last fall I brought in one small pepper plant after I had cut it back to about 5" and washed the roots totally free of any soil. Fresh pot, fresh soil....aphids arrived in December. I used diatomaceous earth to spray it with in the bath tub. Afterward finding lots of bodies in the bowl around the plant. Also good to have another room to keep it in away from other plants.

One summer I had a bean beetle infestation on a potted cuphea. Having read that they lay their eggs in the top of the soil, while it was dormant I took the shop vac and vacuumed off the top layer of soil. No beetles the following year though I don't know if was due to the vacuum or not!