Some of the geraniums that I bring indoors for the winter end up with aphids on them before it's warm enough to put them back outdoors. Spraying with dish soap seems to slow the pests down a bit, but doesn't eliminate them. After the snow and ice is gone and it's safe to take the plants outside, I lay them down on the lawn and spray them with the hose on full blast, turning the plants a couple of times to make sure that each entire plant has been sprayed. When all the soap residue and foam seems to be gone, I plant the geraniums in flower beds. I've done this for several years. The plants do well in spite of the excessive blasts of cold water. I've never see an aphid on them in the garden.

Now, if I could just find out where the aphids come from after the plants have spent several winter months in the house...

rags