Aphids on catnip?

last year

last modified: last year

I have two indoor catnip plants that I moved from outside when it got cold here in northern NJ (zone 5) in late Oct. They were both growing well for a while, but about a quarter of the leaves on one of the plants started to look like it was becoming moldy, as if it was being overwatered. So I stopped watering both of them for about two weeks.

Now I'm noticing the undersides of the leaves have a small bug, like an afid, that has attached to about 20% of the leaves. Are these plants salvageable? Will an insect spray save them?

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
My first thought would be why didn't you ust leave the plants outside? Catnip - Nepeta cataria - is a vigorous and very hardy (zone 3) herbaceous perennial. It was not meant to be grown indoors and for a number of reasons will not thrive in indoor conditions.

One of the critical elements it will lack by being grown indoors is a natural period of dormancy. At this time of year, the plant would have died back to the ground and any possible insect issues moot.

I could not get the photo to enlarge clearly so I could not see clear signs of aphids but I could see what appear to be ladybug larvae, aka 'aphid killers', so quite possible aphids were present at some point.

Just cut the plants back and store somewhere cold but not freezing for the winter. Or heel into the ground if your soil is not frozen. The stems and leaves will grow back in the spring as they would normally do if planted outside.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
I don't know what the bugs are but they aren't aphids or ladybug larvae. The shape looks more like thrips. The pale stippling would also indicate thrips. You also have powdery mildew.

Agree with GG that trying to grow this indoors is going to be a challenge.
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gosssamer
Original Author
last year
Thanks for your comments - it's below freezing here now, and my understanding was catnip grows in 50-70F weather, so since they both were started late, I figured the only chance for them to continue to grow was inside.

I also read that the best time to cut is once they flower, but obviously that can't happen now.

Is there going to be any benefit to my cats if I cut them back and dry them out now? Or is this a loss?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
As GG said, this is a hardy plant that requires a period of winter dormancy. It really needed to be planted outdoors when you first got it. You could try to keep it going for its first winter since it's a bit late to plant it out now. Have you got somewhere cool with lots of light such as an unheated porch? That might be your best bet to either cut it back to get it to go dormant or perhaps keep it limping along until you can plant it outside.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
last year
Looks like thrips and thrip frass, to me. I’m growing a pot full of catnip on our back patio. We had temperatures into the low teens earlier this season, both with and without an unsulating layer of snow. It’s still green and perky out there!