Greenfly on houseplants

[Mobile Chicane]

I bought some chilli plants from the garden centre, which unfortunately had a couple of greenfly on. I thought I'd picked all the buggers off, but every day there seem to be more appearing.

Any idea on how to get rid before they spread to my other plants? I'd rather not spray them with pesticides, and wondered if there was anything 'household' I could use.

Thanks very much in advance.

[pies]

Spray with water

[odyssey2200]

pies said:

Spray with soapy water

EFA

[pies]

odyssey2200 said:

pies said:

Spray with soapy water

EFA

I would usually use soapy water but too much soap and you could kill the plant,plus the op didnt want to use chemicals

If you use soap only one or two drops in the container and fill with water

[Sheets Tabuer]

I used hand soap on mine mixed with water which was washed off after.

I find the greenfly only attack the flowers and run by the time the chilli forms, where are yours biting?

[Mobile Chicane]

Sheets Tabuer said:

I used hand soap on mine mixed with water which was washed off after.

I find the greenfly only attack the flowers and run by the time the chilli forms, where are yours biting?

The flowers! Exactly what I don't want!

I'll try the soapy water trick - I can cover the soil with cling film / tin foil so that whatever I've sprayed on the leaves doesn't get down there.

[odyssey2200]

Very mild washing up liquid solution in one of those spray bottles.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Mild soap won't hurt the plants it just blocks up the little holes in the greenfly they breathe from.

You're supposed to leave it on but I like to wash it off with a watering can

[Simpo Two]

You eat chillies and you're worried abut a bit of pesticide residue?

If a pesticide has clearance for food crops and you follow the instuctions there's really no cause for concern - the media has just made everybody frightened of everything, like MMR vaccine.

[HiRich]

pies said:

odyssey2200 said:

pies said:

Spray with soapy water

EFA

I would usually use soapy water but too much soap and you could kill the plant,plus the op didnt want to use chemicals

If you use soap only one or two drops in the container and fill with water

Soft soap, specifically Johnson's Baby Shampoo, seems to be the best choice. 1 tablespoon per litre.