??best bug sprays??

what do you use for mites and other pest on houseplants?
I have used soapy water over n over n over!!!

so what do ya'll use?

Safer's Soap Insect spray ... bought it at Lowe's

1 quart warm water, 1 teaspoon ivory dish soap, 1 teaspoon alcohol, 1 teaspoon olive oil - shake well. Spray entire plant once a week for three weeks, then when the insects return (if they do).

thanks ladies

Thanks for this thread. I need it about now, as I'm being infested with bugs of all sorts. I'm anxiously waiting for spring so some of these plants can go back outside again.

I'm gonna mix up some of the spray Kay suggested. I'm assuming it's rubbing alcohol? I could use whiskey, rum, or gin, but I don't want the little buggers doing the jig all over the house.

Rubbing alcohol mixed with water.

I also have more information on this thread.
http://davesgarden.com/t/419606/

This message was edited Mar 2, 2004 12:34 PM

Thanks CoCo, I'm off to read that thread shortly.

*sigh* I'm too lazy to mix stuff so I buy Garden Safe Insectisidal Soap spray and also the pyrethrin spray. You have to keep spraying though...come on spring...

Also, if you want to go the organic route; you can give this a try.
apply a thin layer of horticultural cornmeal to the soil and wait longer between waterings. The cornmeal will control the fungus growing in the potting soil, and the plants will enjoy the reduced watering schedule.
If a heavy population of gnats exists in the potted plants, drench the soil with a neem product, but not one that contains pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide (PBO).

I thought pyrethrum was okay?

It isn't ok if doing the organic way. Any chemical really isn't good for a person or animal anyway.


Pyrethrum is a natural material made from the painted daisy (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium or Chrysanthemum coccineum). Pyrethrins are the six compounds in pyrethrum that have insecticidal power.

One of the common extra ingredients is PBO, which is a synthetic synergist that gives the basic insecticide more killing power.

read in the Journal of Pesticide Reform, (Vol. 22, No. 1), published by the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, there are scary facets to pyrethrum. The journal says that, in laboratory tests, insecticides made from pyrethrum have caused tumors in animals, increased the risk of leukemia, disrupted the normal function of sex hormones, and triggered allergic reactions including heart attack and asthma(see www.pesticide.org/Pyrethrins%Pyrethrum.pdf).

jeepers. I don't think mine has PBO, but I will definitely check when I get home. I mean heck, they call it 'Garden Safe'...blah blah blah...all natural...safe...blah blah blah... We'll see I suppose...

I use alchohol in a spray bottle. I found some that is scented wintergreen, so it doesn't stink up the joint when I spray. THis is effective on mealybugs and aphids, so far and maybe spider mites, too.

About the horticultural cornmeal- any idea of sources? I can't seem to find it. Would food cornmeal work?

I know they contain chemicals, but has anyone ever heard of placing cut up flea & tick collars around in some of the pots, after you use the above home made spray??? What about a flea bomb if the mite infestation is heavy? (I may have dreamed all this!!! lol lol lol )

I have way too many plants to mess with the old soap spray over and over and I now use systemics. I use acephate in the late summer before bringing in my plants...it kills everything that sucks on the plants. It smells absolutely awful. It is toxic, so I make sure I am well protected with a chemical respirator, goggles, long sleeves, etc. and that the wind is not blowing and the pets are secured in a safe area. I have not had spider mites, scale, or whiteflies since I began this program, and I used to have them over and over again.
If you do use this, please take the proper precautions and spray outside. If you have a terrible infestation, you will need to spray again in 10 days.
Another good product is Bayer's Rose and Flower insecticide (it has no odor) but it does not kill spider mites so it only has limited value. I use it more for chewing insects. It lasts 30 days and is available in concentrate which is much more economical than ready-to-spray bottles. I got some this summer at Dollar General for $3 a bottle, enough to make $150 worth if compared to the ready to use prices.
If you only have a few plants, and they are small enough to put in the shower, a simple washing can help drown a lot of insects.

Bayer makes a wonderful product called Advanced Formula with the active ingredient, Imidocloprid. You can mix the Tree and Shrub stuff 1oz per gal. of water and drench the soil (pour it on til it runs out) and that will take care of sucking insects for about 6 months. It does not smell... I have a nursery and use it on all of my plants ... it is not toxic to humans and does the job....

HTH - Carol

Great info, Carol. I will look for the Tree and Shrub formula next year...I always like to drench my soil in the fall because insects are so hard to spray for after I bring the houseplants inside.
The Rose and Flower spray has imidocloprid in it, too, plus another ingredient. It is out in the shed in the dark, so I will have to look later for the name of it.
Wish I was near you...working in a tropical nursery would be like heaven, I think. Too bad it is so expensive to live in Hawaii (I've heard).

Below is the link to the Pesticide Information Profile for Imidocloprid.

http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/imidaclo.htm

I'm not sure that I would say that this is non-toxic to humans and animals.
Yes, the dose makes the poison but....Relatively less toxic than other possible products? Definately!
Toxic to bees when used as a foliar spray? Absolutely!

Use all pesticides in a manner consistant with the label.

im still just using soapy water! :)

I have my bottle of Rose and Flower concentrate in hand. The other ingredient besides imidacloprid is cyfluthrin. One or both is highly toxic to bees, fish and other aquatics, and for animals and humans it says:
Harmful if swallowed or ingested
Causes eye irritation
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing
Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.


Compared to many other chemicals, these warnings are minimal. But that does not mean it is nontoxic by a long shot. Read and follow labels at all times, please!!!
What I like the best about this chemical is the lack of an odor. However, that enhances the likelihood that someone might ingest or inhale or otherwise absorb some of it, so take precautions to alert anyone who might come into the area before it has dried and settled.