wintering over under lights

Well, I brought 15 brugs and a few fuchsia's in to see if I can winter them over in a warm environment under lights. The biggest problem I'm sure is going to be the bugs. I look them over every day very carefully and have been using a Pest Out on them, which is a garlic oil concoction that smothers aphids and the like. So far so good. The few I've had have been dispatched.

The picture is of Pink Beauty. I love this plant. It's such a hardy grower. I don't know if the buds will stay on and bloom. Just have to wait and see. The plants have been in the house now, for 2 weeks. I've had some leaf drop and some bud drop but nobody's bare.

I read the beer recipe thread with great interest and I think I will try it as well. I'm tempted to add a little Pest Out to it and see what happens.

I wouldn't add the Pest Out. If the plants are pest free why use it? The idea behind The Recipe was to use it on a daily basis. I don't know if maggidew and kenboy have used it daily during winter, but that was the idea.

One way oily pesticides kill is by smothering the pests. I would worry that the oil would also clog stomata openings as well. Also, many pesticides contain ingredients to which pests can develop an immunity. I like the addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." :-)

I'm sure your right about the oil clogging if used to much. It doesn't have anything it that they could be come immune to. There is no poison it's all oils. It hadn't even dawned on me the difference in frequency of use. You're right using it every day would be bad. Duh. :) I wonder if Tee tree oil has any impact on bugs....

Thanks you've given me a better vision of what I'm going to use when.

Tea tree oil is a fungicide. I don't know whether it would work on bugs. My biggest bug problem in winter is spidermites, but I use Neem Oil against them. Neem oil is also a natural pesticide, it's safe around humans and pets and pest don't become resistant to it. I can't use anything that might have raw garlic as I'm allergic raw garlic.

This stuff with the garlic in it smells like garlic pickles but the smell doesn't last long. Unless I have to take them outside and really soak them I hardly notice the smell anymore.

Actually I think I have some neem oil around here. If the mites to get bad and this doesn't work. I'll try that.