New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Delaware  Lgrimsley85 Jun 10, 2020 4:28 AM CST |
| Hello! This is my first year with a garden, prior to Monday I was doing really well. On Monday I noticed what I now know to be eggs on my Jalapeño plant. At the advice of one person, I removed the leaf and inspected all the others. At the advice of another I made a soapy water solution and sprayed on the leaves on my plants to suffocate "bugs". Tuesday when I returned home from work, ALL of the leaves on my pepper plant were gone plus the leaves on some other plants were dried up and damaged. I rinsed them thoroughly (although I know this may have been too late). Through research I know I destroyed the waxy coating on the plant. Is there anything I can do to salvage my plants? Will my pepper plant be ok? |
Port d'Envaux, France (Zone 9a) A Darwinian gardener  JBarstool Jun 10, 2020 5:16 AM CST |
| Gosh and golly! How much soap did you add to how much water? I know it is too late now, and not to make you feel bad, it is always best to wait until you've properly identified a pest before treating it and only then with the least aggressive treatment that is effective. You say you know you saw eggs, but of what? It might not have been a harmful critter while the treatment seems to have been...well, aggressive. But, I guess, on an optimistic note it does sound as if you did eliminate the potential pest problem on that plant. Water under the bridge now. The plant that has lost all its leaves is unlikely to recover; though if the roots are strong it could surprise you, plants do want to grow. Is it by any chance a pepper of the cultivar 'Lazarus'? The plant(s) with scorch-like damage stand a better chance of growing through the damage. Unless you feel inclined to bathe it again - lather, rinse, repeat. As a new gardener acquaint yourself with your county extension office or their website; every state has one and they provide good research and science based advice. Not only that, but it is generally specific to your part of the world. Likewise, if you are researching online I think it is safest relying on information found on websites with the .edu domain name. If you are new to this whole gardening thing then this may be the first plant you've 'killed'(?) In that spirit it is good to remember that if you aren't killing plants you aren't gardening. I stopped carving notches in my shovel handle for the plants I've killed decades ago. Better luck with the next one! Now step away from the dishwasher. Don't know if this will work: https://www.udel.edu/academics... I find myself most amusing. |
Delaware Lgrimsley85 Jun 10, 2020 6:08 AM CST |
Thank you for your response! I used 1 cup water to approx 1Tbsp dish soap (it is a common mix I found when "searching") I am not sure the type of eggs but I was told they would destroy the plant. Hindsight I should have been more conservative and just removed the leaf. This morning I saw a little green leaf on my jalapeño plant that looks like it is trying to grow. Unfortunately I sprayed other plants and there is some leaf damage. Below are pictures of the eggs I found and the damage that was sustained     |
             slowcala Jun 10, 2020 6:42 AM CST |
Lgrimsley85  here. What gardener has not done some type of damage to a plant at one time or another. Don't beat yourself up about it. Plants, like humans, have an ability to repair themselves. Your plant has new growth and it looks to be about to bloom. Who knows what miracles may come! Don't sweat the small stuff!  'Only love can be divided endlessly and still not deminish' ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh |
Name: Lynda Horn Arkansas (Zone 7b) Eat more tomatoes!            gardenfish Jun 10, 2020 6:58 AM CST |
| Totally agree. The eggs look like they might be cucumber beetle eggs, in that case you can satisfy yourself that at least it was a bad, bad bug! The leaf damage isn't too great, and I'm thinking the pepper plant will survive. Peppers are one of the toughest veggie plants that there is. Gardner's make mistakes. That's how we learn. If you find more Eggs like these, just remove by hand. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Mother Teresa |
Name: Baja Baja California (Zone 11b)           Baja_Costero Jun 10, 2020 10:01 AM CST |
| For future reference, soap water for treating insects should be in the range of 1-2% liquid dish soap in water, which is about 10 times more dilute than what you used. Or use insecticidal soap, a special preparation available in your nursery which comes already diluted (or in a concentrated form you can dilute yourself, if you like). |
Delaware Lgrimsley85 Jun 10, 2020 10:37 AM CST |
| Thank you all for the assistance! It hurts to look at my garden now, but I will use it as a learning experience. I appreciate all of your expertise And willingness to help 😊 |
Name: Sally central Maryland Seriously addicted to kettle chips.        sallyg Jun 10, 2020 3:54 PM CST |
| Best take-away- don't believe everything that comes up on Google. Some bad advice just keeps recirculating. i'm pretty OK today, how are you? ;^) |
Name: Carol Santa Ana, ca Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.     ctcarol Jun 10, 2020 6:03 PM CST |
| One more bit of advice...Never spray anything on a plant while the sun is on it! liquids can act as a magnifier and cause leaf burn. Always best to spray early or late, or on a cloudy day |
Port d'Envaux, France (Zone 9a) A Darwinian gardener JBarstool Jun 11, 2020 4:48 AM CST |
gardenfish said:Totally agree. The eggs look like they might be cucumber beetle eggs, in that case you can satisfy yourself that at least it was a bad, bad bug! The leaf damage isn't too great, and I'm thinking the pepper plant will survive. Peppers are one of the toughest veggie plants that there is. Gardner's make mistakes. That's how we learn. Though, to make an omelette, it will require quite a number of those eggs. I am happy that that is one pest with which I do not have to deal. Yet. Probably they are arranging a caravan to arrive next week. I find myself most amusing. |
Name: Lynda Horn Arkansas (Zone 7b) Eat more tomatoes! gardenfish Jun 11, 2020 8:44 AM CST |
Or tomorrow! Aphids are born pregnant, talk about a bug nightmare!  Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Mother Teresa |
Delaware Lgrimsley85 Jun 11, 2020 9:05 AM CST |
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Delaware Lgrimsley85 Jun 11, 2020 3:15 PM CST |
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