Indoor Bug Spray Recommendation

[Aunty Social]

I hope y'all are enjoying the run into the first sowings of the season....

Can anyone recommend a good reasonably-priced bug spray for tomato & pepper plants? In the past I've tried to grow tomatoes indoors but have had a problem with little black bugs which drive OH wild - he's up for anything but hates indoor bugs. Going to try tomatoes indoors again as outside is a bit chilly for these plants, even in summer, and I wondered the best safe bug spray (we haven't got pets or children).

Oh, homemade sprays no good they always clog up my sprayer.

Many thanks in advance!

Happy Tuesday
A xx

[bikermike]

To the extent I tend to buy them, I just pick whichever of the organic bug-sprays are about.

When you say home-made sprays clog your sprayer - have you tried diluted washing-up liquid? that works.

As an extension of that, I tend to use Ecover surface-cleaner (I usually rinse afterwards), which dislodges bugs nicely (you need to wipe them up to get rid of them).

[ESBkevin]

Another vote for diluted washing up liquid. Re apply avery 3 weeks or so.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

A couple of garlic cloves smashed to bits and left to soak in water! Sieve it through, bang it in a spray bottle! And dilute to taste!

Jobs a gone en!

[Chris11]

'Bug Sprays' should be a last resort rather than a starting point, especially for plants that you might be eating fruit from.

I've used the diluted Ecover washing up liquid in the past, but that's for aphids, and there are other better ways of managing things if possible. And this is more relevant if you're growing outdoors or in a greenhouse, but the spray can damage 'good' insects as well as 'bad'. Companion planting, good watering practices and healthy plants, and encouraging beneficial insects like ladybirds is the best answer.

The 'little black bugs' might be fungus gnats. Harmless, and can usually be managed with growing practices rather than chemicals. Water your plants from the bottom if you're not already doing that. The top layer of compost will then dry out and the fungus gnats will largely disappear.

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