Actually some ants do bring the aphids to the plants, others are opportunistic farmers. It's misleading to talk about ants, or aphids, as if they are all the same. There are thousands of different, unique types of ants in the world and they don't even all eat the same things. There are populations of aphids that are winged and fly to new plants, others are carried by ants. The OP probably has both types occurring. There are some cases where I ignore aphids happening, like trees and sunflowers, since large plants often don't seem to care. Also some populations of aphid are not large enough for me to bother with. Anyway, for the OP's particular case, I would say if the ants ignored the bait, then it isn't the right type of food for them. Baits can be protien based or sugar based. Sugar based baits are probably appropriate for the ants in question, but even that may not be enough to get them to sample it. Since they are feeding on honeydew, it is likely that these ants will go for a bait that is in a liquid or at least gel, form. I think you can find baits and traps online that will work. I made a homemade bait of sugar water and borax that worked pretty well last year, but you have to be careful with the borax. It's pretty much harmless to us and most wildlife, but the plants really don't like excess boron. Don't know if any of that will prove useful to you in the long run, since a lot of what you are seeing sounds environmentally based. But sometimes a little intervention can give a plant enough energy to survive until the weather or soil get to be more copeacetic.

I don't see anything here to worry much about. 1. The aphids and spittle-bug won't do serious harm, just wipe them off. 2., 3. Some scattered leaflets and leaves will just die for no evident reason. Ignore. 4., 5. The translucent windows are from rose slugs, small green worms feeding on the underside. Just wipe them off. Predators will often control them for you. Oil or soap sprays should work if you coat the worms, but wiping off is actually easier unless there is a huge infestation. 6. This may or may not be spider mites. Look with a 6x hand lens. Mites are normally found mainly on the undersides of lower leaves. I've only seen them on upper stems in the case of neglected plants grown indoors, especially in low wintertime humidity. It's possible this mini plant was infested when you bought it. Washing repeatedly with a strong spray of water will control mites effectively. Outdoor rains, humidity, and natural enemies usually keep them in balance. Use of chemical insecticides is the usual cause of flare-ups. Good luck. Sounds like you are a good, attentive gardener. The main things to keep up with are blackspot control and water.

"I read the label - several times. 99% of products do not like to mention their problems, the 1% that do are not around long...." If you truly believe that then it is probably best to not use anything on your garden food. Federal regulations on pesticide labeling are so over-whelming and so specific that the label usually ends up being bigger than the bottle the product is in. You don't mention the brand you are using but I pulled up the labels from the three common brands and every single one of them lists hazards to humans and domestic animals, environmental hazards, first aid, precautionary warnings, etc. including warnings about the hazards to bees and other beneficial insects. http://www.bonide.com/assets/Products/Labels/l024.pdf http://www.biconet.com/botanicals/infosheets/70NeemOilLabel.pdf http://www.fertilome.com/ProductFiles/40712%20Neem%20Approved%2005-15-12.pdf The primary ingredient in the product sold for home garden use is 40-70% Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil. Azadiractin is but one component of the tree Melia azadirachta L. foliage and bark. The extraction process used determines how much of that particular compound remains in the oil once processed. Dave

I have been looking into neem and what I don't like are all the websites that say it is good for everything and totally safe (paraphrase). It is presented as almost a 'miracle' product. What I have read is that it is safe for beneficials as they are not directly being sprayed and not feeding on the sprayed plant directly. Is this not accurate? For indoor use, you are unlikely to have beneficials present, anyway. Right now, I need something for the leaf roller cats on my citrus. I started with handpicking. Then it's gonna be Bt or neem, or both (ideally rotating). Aside from ag chemicals, also consider they myriad of other substances (and breakdown products) that ends up in our water, in general. Here's an example: "Most of the triclosan is removed in waste water treatment plants. However, a U.S. Geological Survey found the antibacterial in nearly 58% of freshwater streams. What does that mean for the food and soil irrigated with water from streams? As triclosan breaks down, it can turn into other harmful compounds. The breakdown of triclosan produces more effective hormone disruptors." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160525121602.htm