Grrrrrr - frustrated with my pepper plants

Fiishergurl · May 14, 2014

They are growing well enough but they are harboring aphid fugitives and I can't get rid of them.

This is the only picture I have... taken about a month ago and the plants are bigger and bushier and more leaves closer together now. Hundreds or thousands of aphids are hiding under the leaves. Have sprayed every single leaf top and underside several times now with neem oil and water mixture and with soapy water mixture. Works for a few days and then they are back.

What to do? My tomato plants don't have the aphids like this YET... but I am about ready to burn the pepper plant aphid hosts. But then the aphids won't have the peppers to suck dry.

Help!

Thanks,
Ginny

Stvrob · May 14, 2014

They do that to my peppers too, but mine are nowhere near as lush as yours are. I spray with soapy water, then come back and blast them off with a hose on the underside of the plant. All I can say is that for some reason their population seems to stabilize at an acceptable level by early summer.

kurt · May 14, 2014

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...light=ladybugs

Raybo found a good deal in #22 by Hirts(Ladybugs).I just did my peppers,gardenias,citrus two weeks ago.They do work,and is less expensive,eco friendly and they eliminate a lot more than just aphids.

Fiishergurl · May 15, 2014

Two fellow Floridians.... :-) thanks for the input. I will try the ladybugs.

Ginny

Fiishergurl · May 15, 2014

How well did the ladybugs handle shipping?

Ginny

kurt · May 15, 2014

They come in a mesh net,box with holes punched,a sticker with "Live Ladybugs".When you get them it is recommended to put in fridge or cool place.I use some designer water(no chlorine tap)mix some of the nectar (comes with)and sprinkle some for the thirsty little buggers.Then in the evening when cool spray some nectar mix in the target spots(underneath leaf infestation areas )Cut corner of bag,keep one of those office type clamps handy.When you turn the cut end open and upwards they will stream out.Usually at base of plant at stalks and underside of leaves.If you need a break to move to another area shake off the emerging babys turn over the mesh and clamp then move on.I do this almost every other year to keep a good poulation in the area.I do it when my nieces are around they really enjoy it and it is a great introduction to nature for them.

b54red · May 16, 2014

I was very lucky this year as the ladybugs arrived early and that was a surprise with the cold we had. As a result I have not had to spray my peppers one single time this year. Usually by the time I am setting them out to harden off they are starting to get aphids but not a ladybug in sight. If you have a light infestation the soapy water and neem work okay; but if it is very heavy then I hit them with a very soapy water mix with Permethrin in it and wait 3 or 4 days and do it again making sure to get the underside of every leaf both times. Five years ago I kept using the soapy water and neem and each time they returned with more aphids til they ended up ruining some of my pepper plants. This is the first year in a very long time where I haven't seen a single aphid on a pepper plant yet. If they are on them the ladybugs are getting them before they get large enough for me to spot.

Bill

Kazfam · June 2, 2014

Check out this link for ladybug info...also tels how to make a ladybug feeder to attract them to your garden.

AND ladybugs eat pollen - article lists some flowering plants that will attract them.

Here is the link: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-...-garden-169681

We have lots of the Pink Spotted Ladybug - a great little creature - see info here: http://www.urbanwildlifeguide.net/20...d-ladybug.html
I mention it because we first thought it was a pest - but thankfully it is not.

heirloomtomaguy · June 2, 2014

I find that the praying mantis does a much better job. Lady bugs eat , lay larvae and leave. The larvae eats the bulk of the aphids. But when the aphids are gone they to leave. The praying mantis however eats a broader range of bugs including aphids and tends to stay on one plant most of its life. Plus the mantis is just cool looking.

May 14, 2014	#1
Fiishergurl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Oak Hill, Florida Posts: 1,781	Grrrrrr - frustrated with my pepper plants They are growing well enough but they are harboring aphid fugitives and I can't get rid of them. This is the only picture I have... taken about a month ago and the plants are bigger and bushier and more leaves closer together now. Hundreds or thousands of aphids are hiding under the leaves. Have sprayed every single leaf top and underside several times now with neem oil and water mixture and with soapy water mixture. Works for a few days and then they are back. What to do? My tomato plants don't have the aphids like this YET... but I am about ready to burn the pepper plant aphid hosts. But then the aphids won't have the peppers to suck dry. Help! Thanks, Ginny

May 14, 2014	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...light=ladybugs Raybo found a good deal in #22 by Hirts(Ladybugs).I just did my peppers,gardenias,citrus two weeks ago.They do work,and is less expensive,eco friendly and they eliminate a lot more than just aphids. __________________ KURT

May 15, 2014	#6
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	They come in a mesh net,box with holes punched,a sticker with "Live Ladybugs".When you get them it is recommended to put in fridge or cool place.I use some designer water(no chlorine tap)mix some of the nectar (comes with)and sprinkle some for the thirsty little buggers.Then in the evening when cool spray some nectar mix in the target spots(underneath leaf infestation areas )Cut corner of bag,keep one of those office type clamps handy.When you turn the cut end open and upwards they will stream out.Usually at base of plant at stalks and underside of leaves.If you need a break to move to another area shake off the emerging babys turn over the mesh and clamp then move on.I do this almost every other year to keep a good poulation in the area.I do it when my nieces are around they really enjoy it and it is a great introduction to nature for them. __________________ KURT

June 2, 2014	#8
Kazfam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 113	Check out this link for ladybug info...also tels how to make a ladybug feeder to attract them to your garden. AND ladybugs eat pollen - article lists some flowering plants that will attract them. Here is the link: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-...-garden-169681 We have lots of the Pink Spotted Ladybug - a great little creature - see info here: http://www.urbanwildlifeguide.net/20...d-ladybug.html I mention it because we first thought it was a pest - but thankfully it is not. __________________ God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment of the spirit of man, without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiwork. Francis Bacon Last edited by Kazfam; June 2, 2014 at 02:34 PM.

May 14, 2014	#2
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	They do that to my peppers too, but mine are nowhere near as lush as yours are. I spray with soapy water, then come back and blast them off with a hose on the underside of the plant. All I can say is that for some reason their population seems to stabilize at an acceptable level by early summer.

May 16, 2014	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I was very lucky this year as the ladybugs arrived early and that was a surprise with the cold we had. As a result I have not had to spray my peppers one single time this year. Usually by the time I am setting them out to harden off they are starting to get aphids but not a ladybug in sight. If you have a light infestation the soapy water and neem work okay; but if it is very heavy then I hit them with a very soapy water mix with Permethrin in it and wait 3 or 4 days and do it again making sure to get the underside of every leaf both times. Five years ago I kept using the soapy water and neem and each time they returned with more aphids til they ended up ruining some of my pepper plants. This is the first year in a very long time where I haven't seen a single aphid on a pepper plant yet. If they are on them the ladybugs are getting them before they get large enough for me to spot. Bill

June 2, 2014	#9
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I find that the praying mantis does a much better job. Lady bugs eat , lay larvae and leave. The larvae eats the bulk of the aphids. But when the aphids are gone they to leave. The praying mantis however eats a broader range of bugs including aphids and tends to stay on one plant most of its life. Plus the mantis is just cool looking.