Chilli Help

[Pickle]

Last year I grew a chilli plant in my kitchen that my neighbour had given me and it ended up covered in little greenfly type creatures (they're not as green as green fly but they look just like them but a brownish colour). I ended up having to throw it out it was so infested.
This year I've got a few chilli plants started off in my kitchen. They are all thriving but so are the greenfly type creatures again. What am I doing wrong? And what can I do to sort this out?

[Two_Sheds]

They were greenfly, they were the nymph stage

You need to squish them with your fingers, or wash them off under the tap. Keep it up too, they will keep coming

[Pickle]

Thanks for replying. It's driving me mad as they seem never ending! I've tried washing them off but they cling on for dear life!!!! Is there anyway I can erradicate them completely as I was hoping to keep a couple of them as houseplants?

[Shadylane]

Some people use a pump spray containing water and a drop of dish soap or washing up liquid in it, although I hear this is technically illegal(making your own pesticide). If they were outside the ladybirds might help you out, but you'd ideally need a greenhouse of some sort. Failing that, just keep squishing. They're born pregnant so you need to keep on top of em. Good luck

[Two_Sheds]

I don't think your house will be light enough for them all summer (unless you have a conservatory)

Pop them outside on warm days and the aphids will get eaten (keep checking them though, and squishing). When you bring them back indoors for next winter, there will be eggs on there that will hatch out when conditions are right, so always keep on top of the squishing

[Davyburns]

If you know anyone in Canada or the USA, get them to send you "Home Defense Max" that kills every insect that fles. For some reason, they stopped selleng their equivalent (Vapona) here

[Two_Sheds]

For some reason, they stopped selleng their equivalent (Vapona) here

It contains chemicals called dichlorvos, which cause cancer

[Davyburns]

It contains chemicals called dichlorvos, which cause cancer

There is no conclusive evidence of carcinogenicity to date, however a 2010 study found that each 10-fold increase in urinary concentration of organophosphate metabolites was associated with a 55% to 72% increase in the odds of ADHD in children.

Yet still its on sale in the USA and Canada. I get it shipped out, but we dont have any kids anyway.

It also appears only to have this effect when subjects are subjected to high amounts of dichlorvos over a sustained period.

[Shadylane]

The fact that it 'kills every insect that flies' is enough for me to not touch it with a sticky stick, never mind the rest. Sounds horrible. Just my opinion obviously

[chilliking]

If you mainly keep the plants indoors then spray them with water with a few drops of washing up liquid, leave an hour then rinse off with water. This will kill the aphids. The key is to be consistent and do it every few days until the problem goes away.

Also as Two Sheds says try and get them outside during the day so that natural predators can help you keep them under control. I'm a big fan of having ladybird nest boxes in the garden as they love to eat aphids.

here's a couple of posts from my blog that may be of use....

Growing Chillies - Pests and Disease | The Chilli King
Aphids on Chilli Pepper Plants – How I Solved The Problem | The Chilli King
Natural Aphid Control - The Easy Way To Get Rid Of Aphids | The Chilli King

[Davyburns]

The fact that it 'kills every insect that flies' is enough for me to not touch it with a sticky stick, never mind the rest. Sounds horrible. Just my opinion obviously

I only use it if I get a bad infestation of aphids/anythingelsethatsanuisance

[buzzingtalk]

I have whitefly, greenfly and red spider mite ALL nesting on my outdoor strawberry pots this year, there is a party under every leaf! But, I seem to be keeping on top of it.

If you are gentle handed enough, I've found getting some parcel (brown) tape and rolling it around your finger so the sticky side is up, then pressing it very lightly onto the affected leaves etc removes eggs and adults very well. However it is hard to get all of them and I have found a lot of them like to feed in the smaller, delicate folds on new growth emerging from the crowns. I do this once a week or so, sometimes more often, especially if the weather is nice as I can sit outside and pick through my plants.

I have bought some organic spray which apparently helps get rid of them too, although for now it is hard to tell as the packet says that the dead flies will still be on the plant for a while. It works the same way as spraying washing up liquid on your plants by making a slippery, lubricated surface which the bugs cannot grip on or get stuck on and prevents them from feeding.

[buzzingtalk]

Related question - how can I encourage ladybirds to come? I don't have a garden, there are (apart from my pot plants) no grass/trees/plants for quite a while and my garden is enclosed from all directions by houses...is there a way of buying some? What do they need to survive, and will they fly away once they have fed on my pests or will there be a way of encouraging them to breed and live near my plants?

My garden is cut off from the rest of the world, and apart from one wondering honeybee and a lot of pests and aphids there are no natural predators like ladybirds.

[Brentalist]

Hi all

been having the same problem and its becoming a trial of will. have been using the following methods and it seems to be helping me win

- using a small soft hair brush to remove them from under leaves/stems/flowers/new growth
-spraying every 2-3 days with an organic pest killer
-leaving them outside on hot days
-introduced a ladybird to the inside area (although it seemed more interested in walking around rather than eating)

hoping I dont have to keep doing this for the whole summer as I have about 30 chilli plants.

[chilliking]

Related question - how can I encourage ladybirds to come? I don't have a garden, there are (apart from my pot plants) no grass/trees/plants for quite a while and my garden is enclosed from all directions by houses...is there a way of buying some? What do they need to survive, and will they fly away once they have fed on my pests or will there be a way of encouraging them to breed and live near my plants?

My garden is cut off from the rest of the world, and apart from one wondering honeybee and a lot of pests and aphids there are no natural predators like ladybirds.

as mentioned in one of the posts i linked to above try fitting a couple of lady bird nests into your garden. also planting lots marigolds helps as they attract hovver flies which also love to munch aphids.