newbee has bugs!!

[peppermint patty]

Hi I wouldn't say i'm any way near self sufficent but I am starting on the road with a windowsill full of plants. However I have a couple of questions for those with more experiance. I have a couple of chilli plants, parsley, mint and an aloe plant and loads of tiny flies!!! The flies seem to like the mint and chilli plants and some of the chilli leaves seem to be lunch for the little blighters. I try to squish them if they stand still long enough ( It is a bit mean but they are in the kitchen and the other half doesn't like flies in his soup!!)
I am keen to know how to get rid of them as i have also planted some tomato seeds and don't want them eaten too.

Cheers

[MKG]

Hi Peppermint, and welcome

Are you sure they're flies? More to the point, are you sure that it's them doing the chili eating?

[Shirley]

hello and welcome to Ish.

What did you plant your seeds/seedlings in? Could they be sciarid flies or shore flies?

http://buzzorganics.co.uk/index.php?mai ... &chapter=2

[marshlander]

Hello Peppermint!

Like the link, shilrz!

[red]

hi PP - welcome

er could be adult aphids.. which means they lay eggs on the plants and the juniors - the little green beasies demolish your plants the adults look like teeny fruit flies.

how you deal with them.. well ... assuming you dont want to spray em with pesticides.. people do say the soapy water thing works.. but I have not tried it.
you can buy these yellow sticky fly trap things - designed for whitefly, you catch the adults this way, and if you go round rubbing off the juniors.. eventually you can get it under control.. but you have to be very thorough and keep checking. we failed to get a chili crop from the chilis on my kitchen windowsil last year due to an infestation.


course.. it might not be aphids at all...

[Annpan]

I get similar things... like midges around indoor plants (veg and herbs) and in the bathroom... They look like they are sciarid flies or shore flies, as described in the link that Shilz gave.

I never get them on house plants (other than the one in the bathroom) it must be a damp thing, I think

[peppermint patty]

Hi thanks or the replies, I have been prone to overwater my plants in the past so I shall try not to water them too much. They are above the sink so it probably is the damp that is attracting them. They are all in terracotta pots and I haven't noticed any bugs on the house plants elsewhere in the kitchen. On the bright side I am still getting chilis from my plants not many but enough to make me smile!

[oldfella]

Hi Peppermintpatty like the name

[johnhcrf]

With a name like that, are you by any chance a toothpaste alternative manufacturer. If so, share the good news.

John.

[Geonz]

Im in a similar spot. Lots of tomatoes and peppers in little pots getting light inside, and a packet of corn ... I have a quarter acre yard with lots of sun and alas, lots of creeping charlie, too. NOt sure hwen to stick the things outside ('cept I know they have to get bigger) and not sure what the rabbits will do to them.

(but no flies or aphids :) )

[thomasgreen]

hello and welcome!!

[Millymollymandy]

Hi and welcome!

[peppermint patty]

no I have no secret toothpaste recipes just have an addiction to peppermint tea ( just finishing a cup as typing) and a fond memory of a Snoopy character!!

[johnhcrf]

It's a good name. My point is that a toothpaste alternative is required, from the waste point of view. It requires a sound recipe, including mint. Any ideas?

[peppermint patty]

thanks to all but I have found a brilliant solution, a venus fly trap!!!!

My little fly trap is in heaven and growing really well, there seems to be a good balance as the fly trap gets plenty to eat and there are no flies in my kichen hooray.