A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Tiny Black Bugs

Rachel called in a panic because she has little black bugs on her begonia (houseplant) and they are destroying it.

She said they are teeny, tiny black bugs that look like potting soil on the plant. That's what she thought it was until she looked real close.

I didn't know what to tell her...so I told her to try to wash them off with a spray bottle of water until I could find out something.

Sounds like Aphids....

They pinch off very easily...
*outside, I take a hose to them, inside,
I might just wash the leaves, etc.. in sink
after pinching them all..*
(by pinching them, I mean squeezing them)

And then I'd look at the care of the plant indoors,
what's causing the aphids to be attracked to the plant...
When a plant gets something like aphids, it means
it's probably getting fertilized too much, or spindly growth
(sun light's not right)... *that's the part that they like
eating is the fresh tender new green growth*...
or too much heat on them...

Thank you, Weezie...
I'm gonna call Rachel right now and tell her.