Hi Squidy, Is your appt temporary or are you planning on moving? 50F degrees is perfect for plants, as long as they're not over-watered. Soil takes longer to dry in cool/cold rooms. Your succulents will love 50F degrees, but proper watering is important..otherwise they'll rot. Yep, I use two, regular, one white warm, one white cool fluorescent light bulbs. They work as well as the two Gro-Lights (much more money) in another room. Heck, there were times I used standard bulbs in a lamp. lol. If you can manage a large stand and buy an inexpensive light fixture, you're in business. Believe me, before moving here, I lived in low-light appartments. The owner/s didn't allow plants outdoors in summer, either, so they stayed inside year round. For standard bulbs, I'd suggest, at the minimum, 75 Watts. If your lamp can take brighter bulbs, do so. You wouldn't believe the number of lights I keep on during winter, and our electric bill isn't all that expensive. Fluorescent bulbs are less expensive, but we use what we can afford to do. Right? Truthfully, natural light is best, so if you decide to use artificial lighting, it's best keeping near a window, despite obstructions. Shop lights are about 20.00 unless you want an ornate, made-for-plants unit. Although there are some beautiful shelf/light units, they can run in the thousands. lol. I'd rather buy more plants than spend money on an expensive light fixture. If we were rich, my feelings would probably change, but we're not, so I do with what I have and can afford. so, what are you thinking about doing? Hey Purple, long time no talk...Toni

I have used Diazinon (sp?) on the surface of the soil and watered in to kill the crawlies that will get into the drain holes of pots. Mosquito Dunks (bt) will only kill larva...not sure what it would take to get rid of the eggs. And then there is still the eggs, etc., that may be on the leaves and bark of the plant. Maybe a good insecticidal spray on the tops?? For smaller plants, you can enclose them completely in a large plastic bag with moth balls and gas them. Need a clear bag (if possible) and leave them several days in the shade.

Best chart for different pesticide MOA I've seen yet. That's confirmation that Abamectin works by Chloride channel activator, while Pyrethrin is a Sodium channel modulator. What I'm trying to think about now is what would we be really trying to kill by treating in the fall before bringing our plants in? Slugs and snails: Water spray or manual removal should be sufficient. Pesticides are overkill. Fungus gnats: Imidacloprid works... but a systemic is probably considered overkill. These should not be a problem with good soil + good growing conditions. Aphids: Imidacloprid works, but water spray would too? Depending on zone, aphids may not be common at this time of year. Mealybugs: Imidacloprid is extremely effective. So is alcohol. Scales: Same as for mealybugs. Mites: Tau-fluvalinate can be effective, but when was the last time that one treatment killed off your mite problem? Be honest. Thrips: Same as mites. Nasty buggers! Whiteflies: Rapidly build extremely high tolerances to pesticides. Rotation of pesticides/action methods is very important due to environmental concerns. Fungus/molds: This is more of a cultural issue. There is relatively little discussion on the forums about treating for fungal infestations other than discarding plants or removal of affected plant portions. And what about the dangers/treatment for each? The first three are more of a nuisance and can be taken care of by non-pesticide means or non-systemics. Mealybugs multiply quickly and can do a lot of damage. I can see systemics being helpful here, but if you catch it early you can treat on a quarantine-plant basis rather than your entire collection. Scales can also do a fair bit of damage but are normally discovered with visual inspection. They don't spread as rapidly so it's debatable if they are an immediate threat or not. One treatment against mites, thrips, or whiteflies is unlikely to solve the problem. Especially if you are not using potent miticides. Maybe you'll cut down the numbers but they will still be present with your indoor collection. Are there any other common/troublesome pests I've missed? If I am going to spend the time and money on treatment, I want to know what I'm trying to kill so I can actually kill it. If it's just to get a feeling of comfort, then butter tarts may be a better choice, haha. I understand some of us have issues with ants herding aphids onto our plants and the neighbour's mealybug or caterpillar infestation constantly causing us trouble. But if there is no apparent problem I question the need for a 'solution'. Not intending to stir up trouble, just what I was thinking about today regarding this. =)

Good reminder! Alas, I wasnt able to water mine today. I had to go do errands and then see the dentist arrgg! I cant feel my face right now so Im not watering lol. I did move a few things.