Question
Red Bugs
Dear Mike,
I have red bugs, they kind of look like ants and aphids. Not sure exactly what
they are. However, they keep showing up on my cayenne pepper plant and my
sweet basil plant. The tomato plant isn't actually producing vegetables yet. I
was curious is there any organic way to take care of them if they are
dangerous to the plants?
Thank you!
Alyssa
AnswerHi Alyssa. I couldn't decipher the bug because of the quality of the picture, but there are several organic options you have to eradicate them from your plants.
Two great organic pesticides are pyrethrin and rotenone. Both are plant extracts which are non-toxic to humans and pets, and can be sprayed right up until harvest. They can be purchased separately or as a combination.
Home Harvest, Concern, and Dragon sell these solutions through most reputable garden centers, nurseries, or the Internet. You can also purchase this product on-line through companies that specialize in organic products. One that I use quite frequently is Gardens Alive. You can find their website at: http://www.gardensalive.com/
Two homemade solutions that are very effective are insecticidal soaps and garlic spray. You can purchase either of these at your local garden center, or make them at home.
Soap is a very popular insecticidal control. I use it myself in combination with ammonia. Simply mix one tablespoon of regular non-concentrated dish-washing soap and one tablespoon of lemon ammonia to one gallon of water. Spray it liberally on your plants. It destroys the digestive tracts of the insects and kills them within a few hours of ingestion.
To make garlic/pepper spray, liquefy 2 bulbs of garlic and 2 hot peppers in a blender ?to 2/3 full of water. Strain the solids and add enough water to the garlic/pepper juice to make 1 gallon of concentrate. Use ?cup of concentrate per gallon of spray. To make a pure garlic tea, simply omit the pepper and add another bulb of garlic.
Finally, you can apply oil sprays, also known as dormant sprays, that are organic and break down very quickly. Oil not only kills live insects, but also suffocates their eggs, reducing future infestations. These also can be purchased at your local garden center or through Gardens Alive.
I hope this solves your problem. Please write again if you need more assistance.
Regards,
Mike
