Bugs (aphids I think) on my herbs. . .

A few weeks ago I purchased and planted some basil, thyme, and italian parsley in a window planter - note, this is my first foray into "gardening" or "growing" of any kind. They are beautiful plants that I picked up at the Bardstown Road farmers market. They have been doing very well, until yesterday when I noticed what I now believe are aphids hanging out in my indoor herb garden. I can already tell where they are eating away at the plants.

How do I get rid of them, and keep them away? Considering I'm 9 stories up, I'm not sure how they got there in the first place. A little internet research tells me that spraying the plants/soil with 2 tbl. Dawn dish detergent mixed with a gallon or so of water does the trick. Does it, and is this safe for the plants?

Soap treatment will work. You also may want to use the sprayer from your sink to rinse them off & down the drain. This might be a better first step, as i don't know how dawn might effect the taste.

I have never tried dish soap, but it might work. However most hardware stores and garden centers such as Otte will have an insecticidal soap that I would use. These are not poison that will get into the plants.

Safer is one brand but there are others. Shouldn't affect the taste of the herbs, but I would wash before using. Whatever you use, make sure you spray the underside of the plants thoroughly.

That's unusual! Most herbs are not affected by bugs and disease like other garden type plants! You need some ladybugs! They LOVE aphids. Dish soap works great, just remember to reapply if it rains and when you water, don't pour on the plants, or you will have to reapply. You can order aphids from organic gardening supply places.

brad,
Do you have a balcony? I'd squish all visible aphids in place(scares others away),treat with safer, then put outside for a week or so. Any left inside will die from lack of food.
Deb
L

Basil and parsley both are aphid magnets. If it is possible to move the pot to a shower or outdoor area where you can use the spray from a hose or shower head to wash them off, that works well. If you can find lady bugs for sale they work great. Safer soap will do the job but you have be sure to wash the leaves well before you use them. I believe the active ingredient in safer is potassium salts of fatty acids and thats not something I want in my caprese.

Here's what I've used for aphids on my orchids:

2 cups tepid water
10 drops dishsoap
1/2 tsp cinnamon extract

Dip the leaves in and gently agitate, and you can soak the root ball (pot and all) for about 20 minutes. Rinse well. That should do it.

I've been having problems with them on my basil. I used the dish soap treatment.