A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems Tiny bugs on my tulips

Today, as I was watering my houseplants, I noticed that my pot of indoor bulbs didn't look so good (I have been sick so have not been paying close attention)

upon inspection I find tiny bugs on the green---stems & leaves were just beginning. at first I broke off the 1 leaf that I thought was affected, put it in a plastic bag tied it shut and threw it in our trash----BUT---I soon found all 5 flowers were affected to some extent---I washed off the leaves & I did a poor job of and probably have just washed off all of the bugs to the dirt. so then I got out my insecticidal soap & sprayed the plants. it is now outside.

No, I do not have photo's sorry. it upset me so I just took action not thinking.
These "bugs" are very very small, less than 1/16th of an inch or so in size and "pinkish" in color. I had to get a magnifying glass to even be sure they were in fact bugs.

These bulbs were in the house with my other housepplants.
My question is do I discard the bulbs in favor of saving my other plants/flowers?? Do I discard the dirt as well??? Or is there something I can do to save the bulbs??---do I spray the dirt with insecticidal soap?? and what about my houseplants----I am ever so upset--HELP!!!!

I'm thinking your insecticidal soap should do the trick. If the bugs found your tulips indoors then your houseplant are as vulnerable. Insecticidal soap may be in order for them also after inspecting. The way I feel about bugs inside, they would certainly be sprayed. And one of the minor reasons that I don't have houseplants. (the major reason being that I kill them).

Insecticidal soap works, but letting the soil dry out a bit will also help some.

Some say washing the leaves real well will also do the trick. I'd advise you to spray the bugs with soap as often as the instructions allow you to spray them. Sometimes it takes a couple of sprays.

Hope someone can identify the bugs for you, then it's easier to decide what to do.