Just last month, here on my blog, I featured photos of the three large coleus plants I called "my girls" all summer, and brought indoors to overwinter because I couldn't bear to see them die.Now I have to admit that my girls brought with them a whole herd of tiny flying insects, gnats or fruit flies or something.
Sigh.
I don't really know what to do.
I'd like to think I can get rid of the little "buggers" but I don't really believe I can. And we aren't always home to look after houseplants, anyway, vagabonds that we are.
So I'm afraid I'll have to put them outside in the windy wintry weather.
Part of me wants to advertise them "free to good home" but that would just mean passing on the infestation of insects to someone else.
And the bug problem really is getting to be awful.
So here they are again, my beautiful girls, just before I say goodbye to them.
(Or until I find a solution to the problem. No, Kay. Down, girl. There really is no solution. Admit it and move on.)
Sigh again.
Linking to Lady Fi's Our World Tuesday
9 comments:
Well, you tried. The soil flies are a nuisance for one hatch but they don't reproduce inside.
Hari OM
I bring you the following from homeguides.sfgate.com
"Coleus plants are sometimes attacked by mealy bugs, which resemble bits of white fuzz, though they may also be infested with whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and slugs. Pests can cause spots and holes in leaves, as well as stunt growth and reduce plant vigor. To remove pests, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe the bugs away, or spray the plant with soap diluted with water."
Any help??? If not, farewell lovelies - glad to have known ya. YAM xx
Bugs are a nuisance. What a shame about your 'girls'.
Have you tried putting some diatomaceous earth in the soil. We get gnats associated with our compost toilet and adding a few scoops to the compost mix reduced them to a large degree. I've also used it in my garden to reduce the pests that lay eggs in the soil and to deter slugs and snails. The small sharp edges to the ground silicon does the trick by piercing their tender bodies. - Margy
Wow, Margy, I don't even know how to spell diatomaceous.
My poor old coleus plants are outside now, but I'll try to remember that the next time. I have some cuttings I'll leave with our neighbour so he can keep the water level up when we travel. I probably shouldn't even try to have indoor plants because we're away so much, so we shall see. Thanks for your advice. I hope you are both well.
K
Yup -- that would be why our homes have been devoid of houseplants ever since we started traveling. Sometimes I miss them, then I make myself remember times when we had this kind of thing happen. Hard enough when you're in a stationary home and don't plan to leave for long periods of time. impossible with the kind of life we lead. Maybe when we settle down in our old age (LOL) .. I will have plants again. Maybe. If I can still lift the watering can.
I have no advice, my friend. My thumb is not green, not even a smidge. The only thing I can think for you to do is "bomb" the house to kill everything flying about, but then you still have to worry with hatchlings later. Gak.
We don't keep house plants in the house in Hawaii for that very reason. We have to keep our bugs outside. In Chicago, we did have a lot of house plants, but if those little bugs showed up... out they went. Sigh... If you like, coleus are really easy to propagate. Maybe you could cut a few branches, really clean it thoroughly of bugs and stick them in water until roots come out. Then you can replant them. Just a thought?
Years ago I moved from MN to GA and had to leave behind my ficus tree I'd nursed through many 'tough' times. I still miss it! Hope my comment finds you happy and well.
Post a Comment