Bugs on indoor mint plant, BLECH!

[Gtice99]

This past Spring, I had a mint plant that I was <sort of> successfully growing
indoors. I eventually noticed little teensy green bugs (I had to get a
magnifying glass out to identify them as bugs) on the stems and leaves of the
plant. It grossed me out, so I dumped the whole thing.

I have another mint plant that I transplanted from outside in late August, or
early September. I looked at it VERY carefully when I brought it inside to
make sure that I wouldn't have that gross bug problem again. The plant is still
struggling - it's now very green, but the leaves are very small and sparse.
Just today, I noticed that they're BACK! (seriously, they're SO small, you
can hardly see them, but they're there!)

Can anyone tell me WHAT these are, HOW they got in my house, and HOW can I get
rid of them? I certainly don't want to use mint leaves (even washed) while I
have this problem!

Thank you in advance for any help!

-G

[Setzler]

Probably that small, they are aphids. The best way to get rid of them is spraying
with water, especially paying attention to the underneath side of the leaves. Do
this at least weekly, and see how it is. If you take it outside and do this you
can blast them off better with the water. If still a big problem, use insecticidal
soap. or a few drops of liquid dish soap, or a little Ivory. in water. I imagine
you have eaten an aphid or 2 in your life and they won't hurt you.

susan

[K3]

All I could think of is the short-term assignment that I had as an Army cook
with the Special Forces and Delta Force when they were eatin' nothin' but
bugs! Chill out!!! We's people been eatin' bugs for a long time now!!!
Ain't gonna hurt 'ya!

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kendall F. Stratton III
Fort Fairfield, Maine USA
k...@maine.rr.com
http://home.maine.rr.com/k3

"Will the real aphrodisiac please stand up?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Setzler" <chri...@i-plus.net> wrote in message
news:3A0A9CAF...@i-plus.net...

> Probably that small, they are aphids. The best way to get rid of them is
spraying
> with water, especially paying attention to the underneath side of the
leaves. Do
> this at least weekly, and see how it is. If you take it outside and do
this you
> can blast them off better with the water. If still a big problem, use
insecticidal
> soap. or a few drops of liquid dish soap, or a little Ivory. in water. I
imagine
> you have eaten an aphid or 2 in your life and they won't hurt you.
>
> susan
>
> Gtice99 wrote:
>

[Susan K. Wehe]

We often use an alcohol wipe to clean up aphid infestations which seem
to happen every winter. Keep in mind that some plants will become photo
sensitive once you've treated with soap (insecticidal soap is better due
to this) or alcohol and you may see some leaf drop or leaf damage.
Healthy plants will outgrow this. Once you get the infestation under
control, for prevention we blast the plants in the sink using the
sprayer. Getting the bottomside of the leaves isn't a problem as we
cover the soil and turn them upside down.

susan

Setzler wrote:
>
> Probably that small, they are aphids. The best way to get rid of them is spraying
> with water, especially paying attention to the underneath side of the leaves. Do
> this at least weekly, and see how it is. If you take it outside and do this you
> can blast them off better with the water. If still a big problem, use insecticidal
> soap. or a few drops of liquid dish soap, or a little Ivory. in water. I imagine
> you have eaten an aphid or 2 in your life and they won't hurt you.
>
> susan
>
> Gtice99 wrote:
>

[Setzler]

Right ,and I should have said a few hours after the soap treatment, rinse the soap off.

susan

"Susan K. Wehe" wrote:

> We often use an alcohol wipe to clean up aphid infestations which seem
> to happen every winter. Keep in mind that some plants will become photo
> sensitive once you've treated with soap (insecticidal soap is better due
> to this) or alcohol and you may see some leaf drop or leaf damage.
> Healthy plants will outgrow this. Once you get the infestation under
> control, for prevention we blast the plants in the sink using the
> sprayer. Getting the bottomside of the leaves isn't a problem as we
> cover the soil and turn them upside down.
>
> susan
>
> Setzler wrote:
> >
> > Probably that small, they are aphids. The best way to get rid of them is spraying
> > with water, especially paying attention to the underneath side of the leaves. Do
> > this at least weekly, and see how it is. If you take it outside and do this you
> > can blast them off better with the water. If still a big problem, use insecticidal
> > soap. or a few drops of liquid dish soap, or a little Ivory. in water. I imagine
> > you have eaten an aphid or 2 in your life and they won't hurt you.
> >
> > susan
> >
> > Gtice99 wrote:
> >