n00b

Hello all.

I’m very pleased and fortunate to wander across this community because I’m a newer gardener type person and I definately need some help.

Recently I went from my mother’s 1-acre yard to a teeny weeny condo with a teeny weeny patio. I’ve got my plants in two places (for the most part) some in the sunniest room in the house and some on the patio.

I have a major bug problem. I know some of the bugs are aphids, and I can handle those fine. I’ll kill the little b*stards eventually.

However some of the bugs are very small and brown and slender, they remind me of thrips, however they’re much skinnier. If I can focus my camera properly to upload a picture, I’ll do so tonight.

They’re currently running amok on some impatiens I started from seed. I had never seen them before until my impatiens started to sprout. Now I see them on my hibiscus and my bouganvilleas. Impatiens are one thing…but I’ll cry if my bouganvilleas kick it.

I recently bought a Sun Parasol Crimson Mandevilla (Dipladenia, whichever suits your fancy) and now the leaves are falling off at a startling rate. They yellow, sometimes curl, and just plop off.

See what I mean? Maybe it’s because it’s not getting enough sunlight, but it’s strange because the pink dipladenia in the pot with it is doing pretty well.

I really don’t want this thing to die because the flowers are so beautiful.

Ok well I have to get ready for work now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)