Serrano Pepper Pests

loopdloop · Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:58 am

Hi!

I just found this forum - it's great! I was wondering if anyone here could help me...

These little buggers have been on my indoor serrano and bell peppers for about 2 weeks now. Interestingly, they don't have a taste for the cherry tomatoes. I can't seem to kill them with anything. My guess is that they are aphids, but my pest spray is supposed to stop them. Would anyone here be kind enough to suggest a food-safe way to get rid of them?

[img]https://www.planetmatt.com/garden_bugs/bugs1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.planetmatt.com/garden_bugs/bugs2.jpg[/img]

Best,

Matt

Jess · Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:12 pm

Hi Matt

Any chance of sticking the plants outside? Their natural predators would be able to get to them and you could give them a helping hand by finding a few spiders and/or ladybirds and putting them on the plant.
Prior to this rub off as many as you can between your fingers.

loopdloop · Mon Jul 16, 2007 4:54 pm

Jess wrote:Hi Matt
Any chance of sticking the plants outside? Their natural predators would be able to get to them and you could give them a helping hand by finding a few spiders and/or ladybirds and putting them on the plant.
Prior to this rub off as many as you can between your fingers.

Hi Jess!

Thanks so much for the tip!

I moved the serranos outside for a little bit today.

At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to move any plants outdoors because the indoor environment seems so "clean and controlled". They are in a temperature-regulated room with a breeze and a 400 watt HPS light. So far, everything has been doing wonderfully - except for these pests.

Since I live in an apartment, carrying the peppers outside each day is a bit of a chore. But, it is still better than having sick plants!

Here's a pic of the garden so far:

[img]https://www.planetmatt.com/garden_bugs/garden.jpg[/img]

Thanks again!

Matt

Jess · Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:39 pm

That is so pretty and so clever!

If it is a real pain taking them outside find some spiders to bring inside. They would stay in your little garden if the pests are there and will make short work of the aphids. When spiders are around it also deters the aphids from the plants. They may fly off and find a host plant elsewhere.