monarda problems

[jessep13]

so my mom gave me a beautiful monarda from her garden a few weeks ago. After a couple days i started noticing the leaves were all chewed up and there was a silky substance on some. So I took a closer look and lo and behold I found worms on my plant! They were green , same colour as the leaves so extremely hard to see. I picked off four and than watered my plant with a dish soap and tabasco concoction, hoping to kill any stragglers.

So now the worms are gone. awesome! But i have a new problem and have no idea how to resolve it. Now my monarda is infested with these tiny flies, I would call them a fruit fly, but they are smaller. I had a spider plant sitting beside the monarda and it died. I have watered my monarda with the dish soap and tabasco concoction numerous times to no avail. I really dont want to throw it out as it has some really awesome health benefits, not too mention that the flowers are gorgeous.

I dont want these bugs to contaminate my other plants, or start spreading. I am in a apt so all my plants are in my house as well so I really need to find a resolution soon.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me as to how to bring my plant back to good health?

[Patty Smyth]

You could also make a home concoction of any peppermint mouthwash(1 tblsp)and water in a spray bottle and try that.

[jessep13]

ok ill do that one than... thanks!

[sweet sparrow]

This suggestion is similar to Patty's in principle, but I heard from a specialist to wipe down the leaves with rubbing alcohol if the bugs aren't living in the soil.

[lecale]

.

[jessep13]

ok i will definatly be trying these suggestions