RE: [CH] Aphids--another option
Mary & Riley (uGuys@ChileGarden.com)
Tue, 5 Dec 2000 17:46:07 -0800
> > Help! I brought in my tobasco plant so it would finish up the peppers
> > it finally started producing before the cold weather got here, and now I
> > have aphids on it. What can I do to kill the little buggers that won't
> > involve chemical pesticides?
> >
I still have some plants outside (in containers) I've been neglecting--they
have some whitefly. While at Home Depot I ran across SunSpray Ultra-Fine
pesticidal oil. Haven't tried it yet. Has Paraffinic Oil (mineral oil, I
believe), 98.9% and inert ingredient: Emulsifier, 1.2 % by wt.
Now the emulsifier is almost certainly some type of detergent, to emulsify
the oil to mix it with water. For aphids and whitefly it sez 2.5 to 5
tbsp/gal water.
Don't think I'd spray oil inside the house. However,
15ml/tbsl * 5 tbsp = 75 ml Assume 1 ml = 1 gm (not true but good 'nuff for
gov'mint werk)
Then 1.2 % 75 ml = .9 ml
Probably make your own with mineral oil and 409. But the 409 worries me.
Might be worth a try with a true soap. With me LB? Mix 5 tbsp mineral oil,
a few drops of soap (1/5 tsp), shake well, add to one gallon water. 409
might work better but is much stronger.
This stuff was $10/qt.
Riley