Hi guys.
Recently I had a HUGE problem with my plants.
I grow 4 C. chinense plants, indoors, 7th floor in cold climate.
And approx a month ago my plants has been attacked by these nasty creatures — aphids.
I thought I killed them. And I was wrong.
Week ago I discovered, that EVERY single flower has them inside, sucking and killing my plants.
Nothing really helped me — neem oil, soap, even boveria killed only few of them, which caused some aphids colonies to produce a flying form, and infect my whole apartment. Even sundew has them on it leaves.
So, my only hope was to lock down whole room and spray peppers with systemic insecticide.
It was two neonicotinoids and 2 piredins.
Unfortunately, my plants already had some fruits on them, and this is my question.
Do you have any idea, is it safe to use these fruits as spicy addition to dishes?
I can’t find anything clear on that matter on Google.
And do you know any idea how to “wash out” from tissues of my plants these chemicals?
Many thanks in advance!
by OberNavigator
1 Comment
For chemicals once it’s in there, It’s in there. I don’t know enough about plant poisons but if it says it’s crop safe and you used the proper dosage it should be… within tolerable consumption rates and relatively safe to consume. Most insecticides/pesticides have a half life that you can use to measure the remaining active content, you’ll have to look up your specific brand but based on the application and material it’s in the half-life can range from 24-45 hours for water and usually 30-110 day for plant tissue. Kind of a big deal for situations like trying to figure out when it’s safe to use a compost that had a Herbicide in it (usually 12-18 months)
I’d also be more worried about any new fruit that grows more than what’s already there since the chemicals are in the plants tissue now.
For me i only get aphids when my plants are unhealthy. Just brought 7 in since the first frost is coming and I got aphids on one small sugar rush peach that I just trimmed and got water logged from poor drainage. The 2 healthy 4ft peppers next to it didn’t have a single bug on them.
Sorry that nothing worked for you. I can usually get away with a simple 3 to 1 hydrogen peroxide and water wash then if I thing they might come back spray the leaves top and underside with diatomaceous earth. I try not to use the earth unless I have to since it kills my pollinators too.