Pest Control with Dawn Soap

[Timmythetort8]

I have been having issues with bugs attacking my plants for my Russian tortoise, Timmy. I've heard Dawn soapy water sprayed on can repel them. Is this safe? If not is there anything else I can do?

 

[RosemaryDW]

What kind of bugs? What plants?

 

[Megatron's Mom]

The normal blue dawn not the ultra diluted works good for some bugs.

 

[COmtnLady]

In general, when you're gardening any soapy water (not detergent/soap straight from the bottle, must be diluted) sprayed on the plant gets rid of bugs. HOWEVER - Its not good for tortoises to eat soapy/detergent-y anything, and if its in the enclosure the tortoise will try to go al a carte on the plants.

Could you post pictures of both the plants and bugs, please?

Its important to know exactly what we are working with. There are some plants and bugs that can be sprayed and some that can't. There are some bugs you can convince to congregate on yellow paper you've put a thin layer of honey on, and some you can wipe away with rubbing alcohol on a cottonball. But what works with one kind (of plant or bug) doesn't work on another.
Plus there are beneficial ones that shouldn't be removed.

 

[Timmythetort8]

In general, when you're gardening any soapy water (not detergent/soap straight from the bottle, must be diluted) sprayed on the plant gets rid of bugs. HOWEVER - Its not good for tortoises to eat soapy/detergent-y anything, and if its in the enclosure the tortoise will try to go al a carte on the plants.

Could you post pictures of both the plants and bugs, please?

Its important to know exactly what we are working with. There are some plants and bugs that can be sprayed and some that can't. There are some bugs you can convince to congregate on yellow paper you've put a thin layer of honey on, and some you can wipe away with rubbing alcohol on a cottonball. But what works with one kind (of plant or bug) doesn't work on another.
Plus there are beneficial ones that shouldn't be removed.

Here are the bugs they are on the stem. Right now my other plants aren't as big so they are not currently on them but they go on them too. Too be honest it's not the damage I'm worried about but rather then getting into tortoises indoor enclosure when I feed him so I might just soak the plants for a long period of time before feeding them

 

[COmtnLady]

Looks like a white fly and aphids. Soaking sounds good but DON'T bring the plants inside to do it or you will have the bugs inside your house.

 

[RosemaryDW]

Is that an "regular" weed, such as a sow thistle or prickly lettuce? Aphids happen. We just blast the majority of ours off with a hose on regular occasion, an aphid or two isn't going to hurt your tortoise. They encounter some bugs in the wild and eat them without issue. If you don't have a hose, the strongest blast your kitchen sink can muster is likely enough.

For "real" plants, like our roses, we work worm castings into the soil, which over time repels sucking bugs like aphids. You can buy worm castings at a regular nursery. You could try that as well, just be aware it's not immediate.

Soaking is fine, just might be overkill.

Good luck!