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northern indiana

I am overwinterning 2 (very)hot pepper and one bell pepper plants inside my home.. They are besiged by aphids. The mix of dawn dishwashing liquid and water makes a heck of a mess when used inside the house. I would like to use a systemic pesticide. ( I can move them to the garage of an hour or such to spray them) I have some Merit in the form of bayer advanced tree and shrub. How long will the stuff stay in the plant? will it effect the peppers the plants produce next yr? As i understand it they will begin to flower and start to be productive as soon as they reaclimate next year after being set out. So I want to kill the aphids and eggs, not contaminate my peppers next year, and not kill the plants. Can I use the merit? and in what amount? Any help would be very welcome.
Eric

12/7/2007 5:58:35 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Just me Eric, but I would not use any systemic on anything I planned on eating at all....period.

Aphids are pesky little buggers but if you try other things I think you are better off.

Try using antiseptic mouthwash (listerine) and dishwashing liquid mixed together and give that a spray.

Or just try good ole safers soap as that will work on them too.

12/7/2007 7:09:29 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Ditto North Shore. Only contacts should be used for anything you will eat.

12/7/2007 8:18:34 PM

Commack, NY

hit them with some oil spray, suffocate them no problemo

12/7/2007 9:30:56 PM

northern indiana

Oh well I figured with 5 months before they would be set out that a systemic would dissapate to a safe level. I just hate to spray and spray as eggs hatch and new adults lay more. kind of a pain. I will get some oil and try the listerine. it pays to ask i guess.
Thanks

12/7/2007 9:50:20 PM

Georgia

Neem oil works great..aphids hate it. I used to have problem with aphids on my pepper plants. Combinations of Neem oil and Ortho-max stopped them dead in their tracks. I would not use a systemtic spray on anything you plant to eat.

12/8/2007 9:26:03 AM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I am sure Steve will weigh in, but many of the systemics do NOT translocate to the fruit and are therefore very safe to eat. Need to be sure they are correctly labeled for your particular plant though.

What is keeping the aphids alive? Do you also have ants? Typically they seem to thrive when their honeydew is being cultivated by another insect. Taking them outside and using a stong blast of water should also work. Once removed, I would think they would not return indoors....

12/13/2007 10:12:53 PM