Indoor aphid control that works?
This winter, I've been growing tomatoes, peppers, & eggplants indoors. Well, theoretically. They haven't actually fruited since December, though they have bloomed. The problem is aphids! The eggplants, especially, are covered in them. I've been trying to treat them since NOVEMBER! I've tried:
- Spraying them off with tap water.
- Insecticidal soap.
- Physically squishing them with my fingers or a damp cloth.
- Asian lady beetles (just the random ones I've found around the house).
Nothing puts a dent in their population for more than a day or two at a time. The insecticidal soap didn't seem to do a *censored* thing! Spraying them off with water helps for about 48 hours, but one of the pots is too big to fit in the sink, so it's practically impossible to spray those plants (the weather has been mild enough I was actually able to spray them outside once this winter!). Squishing/wiping helps, but I have to do it every day to really make a dent, and as soon as I skip a day for any reason, they're right back to their previous density. The lady beetles don't make a noticeable difference, and don't stick around for more than a couple of days.
I've thought about using something truly toxic, but these plants are in my living room, and my dog occasionally takes a bite (of eggplant leaves!?) and my kids and I touch them (unavoidable due to where they have to sit to get sun). I've seen the garlic solution suggestion on Pinterest, but I'm skeptical that it will work any better than the other things I've tried, and it's messy & smelly to boot.
- Spraying them off with tap water.
- Insecticidal soap.
- Physically squishing them with my fingers or a damp cloth.
- Asian lady beetles (just the random ones I've found around the house).
Nothing puts a dent in their population for more than a day or two at a time. The insecticidal soap didn't seem to do a *censored* thing! Spraying them off with water helps for about 48 hours, but one of the pots is too big to fit in the sink, so it's practically impossible to spray those plants (the weather has been mild enough I was actually able to spray them outside once this winter!). Squishing/wiping helps, but I have to do it every day to really make a dent, and as soon as I skip a day for any reason, they're right back to their previous density. The lady beetles don't make a noticeable difference, and don't stick around for more than a couple of days.
I've thought about using something truly toxic, but these plants are in my living room, and my dog occasionally takes a bite (of eggplant leaves!?) and my kids and I touch them (unavoidable due to where they have to sit to get sun). I've seen the garlic solution suggestion on Pinterest, but I'm skeptical that it will work any better than the other things I've tried, and it's messy & smelly to boot.