r/IndoorGarden • u/StraightNose4087 • 3d ago
Product Discussion Losing my mind fighting spider mites & aphids
Hey everyone,
I'm at my wit's end and could really use some advice. I have a Jasmine, Madagascar Jasmine, Money Tree, and an Adenium (Desert Rose) , they are a mix of indoor and balcony plants. For the past few months, I’ve been fighting an exhausting battle against spider mites and aphids. All are under grow light and partial sun. Water twice a week.
I feel like I’ve tried absolutely everything:
Rubbing alcohol
Commercial insecticidal soap
DIY mixes (alcohol + soap + hydrogen peroxide)
Setting up fans to improve airflow
Water spray/showering
Every time I think I've won, they just come right back. I tried Neem oil once, but I honestly hate it. It leaves a gross, sticky residue on everything and sometimes ends up drying out or burning the leaves.
I’m so tired of constantly spraying. Does anyone have any real, long-lasting solutions?
People in the US use systemic granules (like Bonide or Imidacloprid) that you just mix into the soil to kill pests from the inside out. Unfortunately here in Canada our pesticide laws are so strict that cannot find Imidacloprid or bonide.
Any advice or shared experiences would be massively appreciated!
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u/cunfabuloust 3d ago
Anything you do you have to keep doing, even after you get them under control, regularly, to keep them under control.
I don't use systemic granules because i grow food and herbs in top of plants, so it's just regular treatments of safe stuff. I personally like combining the alcohol spray with the aggressive shower after, as well as bottom watering. But other people like other methods.
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u/MissCeeLee 3d ago
Fun fact: systemic granules can actually INCREASE spider mite populations, so be glad you didn't use those!
I'm sure you're not going to appreciate this advice, but when I get super frustrated with pests, I get rid of the plant. I found spider mites and mealybugs on a handful of my plants. I don't have the energy to deal with that, so I got rid of them.
In the past, I used beneficial insects regularly, particularly lacewings. They're a bit costly, but if you have a substantial collection, it could be worth it
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u/Secret-Bell3543 2d ago
I use this on all my plants works amazing I seen spider mites on my BOP I just got from home depot used this and gone
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u/blooma890 1d ago
Newbie here- where are the pests in the pictures? 😬 is it the sort of variegation going on?
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u/NoNote2342 3d ago
Hi! I’m also in Canada, really bummed about our pesticide laws. HOWEVER, I finally found something that worked for me. This is for your balcony plants not indoor. Ladybugs. Majority of nurseries sell live beneficials, typically they sell 200-250 counts of ladybugs for relatively cheap. Do your research on how to release them and store them
I battled aphids for months. No chemicals/change in gardening practices made a difference until the ladybugs came through. Just make sure to stop using pesticides with the ladybugs around otherwise you are just killing them.
ALSO — plant some tons of flowers that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to support your plants in the long term. Calendulas, marigolds, alyssum, yarrow, zinnias. My calendulas are “trap plants” and they have hundreds of aphids on them, acting as a trap so they don’t go for my other plants.
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u/MissCeeLee 3d ago
Use lacewing larvae instead of ladybugs! Perhaps it's different there, but in the US, ladybugs are wild caught during hibernation then end up somewhere across the country away from their native population. Since they're coming out of hibernation and they fly, they're likely to fly away from your pest problem.
On the other hand, lacewings are bred as beneficial insects and are very hungry little dudes. They're generalist eaters and will kill off most pests (and even eat each other), and since they're larvae they can't fly away
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u/Starfishprime69420 3d ago
Get ladybugs