Indoors? Unusual if its aphids. Neem oil would be a great way to get rid of these. Fungus gnats and their maggots are also damaging to indoor plants. The maggots feed on the roots and the tiny black bugs fly to other potted plants to infest everything. You can find many brands of neem (Safer is one) as a spray and its quite safe to consume the leaves a week or two after a few sprays. Just flcking them off or spraying with a strong stream of water will not get rid of them totally. Bugs lay eggs, and some are microscopic and can live in the soil. Neem works two ways, it smothers them as well as disrupts their digestion when feeding on the leaves. Its the safest thing out there now.

I notice that nobody suggests using chemicals such as Diazinon. Is this because everyone is environmentally friendly or won't apply chemicals to plants they're going to eat? This is my first year overwintering a couple of plants. I was expecting aphids to appear based on all the postings here, and, sure enough, I noticed the first ones yesterday on a jalapeno. Although I don't like using chemicals on anything, I'm figuring that it will be about six months before I'll have any jalapenos to eat (if all goes well), so all traces of active Diazinon will be long gone. So, why do all of you choose not to use chemicals? I don't like the idea of releasing a lot of lady bugs that will starve to death in my basement once they've eaten the few aphids I've got. I'd welcome your reasons for not using chemicals. Thanks, Tom

Here is what I did that seemed to help: I filled a 5 gallon bucket half way with water and a bit of dish soap. I put a few sprays of mild insecticidal soap in as well. Then I wrapped the net pot in foil to prevent the medium from falling out when I flip the plant upside down and dunk/soak it in the soapy water. After 10 minutes I thoroughly rinse the leaves, taking extra care not to wet the air roots, and put the plant back in it's Kratky home and turn a fan on to help dry up any water remaining on the leaves. So far, so good.

Oooo niice plants!! =D I've dealt with aphid infestations before...soapy water in a spray bottle, followed by a rinse with another spray bottle is how I was able to deal with it...also...ants. Ant baits and looking for and dealing with ants. Aphids and ants go hand in hand. Lots of folks find aphids more of a nuisance than an actual pest, but that may be because there are worse pests out there that your plants can actually succumb to. I hear it's not often that plants are killed off by aphids, unless they are weak to begin with, but it sure stunts the new growth, is unsightly and really....NOT something I relish dealing with. Especially indoors with no natural enemies...speaking of which, ladybugs. Maybe a search on beneficial insects in your area (timing and conditions may be important) might help in the long term. Good luck with it, looking forward to hear how you made out & what worked for you.