Aphids are the nemesis of all flower growers. These small gray or green midges pester not only garden plants, but also house plants. Aphids literally suck the juices out of the plant they capture, in addition, they secrete poisonous substances and are the carrier of more than a hundred different viral diseases.
Signs of aphids on plants
Signs of aphids infestation are as follows: Leaves literally stick together, curl up, turn yellow, flowers do not bloom or fall off altogether. The plant is covered with liquid sugary clots. In addition, if aphids have appeared, then its companions – ants – will also appear after it. And vice versa: If you have ants, you will soon have aphids too.
How do I protect my plants from aphids? Prevent ants from multiplying. Aphids often “move in” on bunches of roses and chrysanthemums. So don’t place bouquets close to houseplants. A total epidemic can be caused by a single female aphid flying in through a half-open window or balcony.
Folk methods of aphid control
Green potassium soap. Grate a small piece of soap and dissolve it in a liter of water, then literally wash the aphid-infested plant with the solution obtained. Important: Green soap solution should not get into the soil in which the flower grows, so before the “treatment” cover the soil with polyethylene film.
Common celandine. A bunch of fresh or dried stems (you must take the whole plant, with leaves and flowers) celandine insist on water for 1-2 days, and this infusion spray plants.
Citrus peel. Pour 200-300 grams of orange or lemon peels in a liter of boiling water, let infuse for three days in a dark and warm place. Use to spray sick plants.
Pelargonium. For houseplants on which aphids have settled, the neighborhood with pelargonium fragrant will be very useful, it scares away the pests.
Shampoo against fleas. For half a liter of water, one capful of shampoo is enough. With the solution, fill up an ordinary sprayer and spray the sick plant. This solution can also be used to prevent aphid infestation.
Cigarette smoke. This remedy is said to help with more than just aphids. Put the infested plant in a plastic bag, ask someone you know to smoke it. Tie the bag up and leave it there overnight. One or two such procedures are enough to kill the aphids.
Tobacco and tobacco. Tobacco, extracted from a pack of any cigarettes, soaked in a liter of clean water for 24 hours. Spraying with tobacco infusion will help to save not only room, but also garden plants from aphids.
Onions. Finely chop an ordinary onion, pour a liter of water, cork tightly and allow to infuse for seven hours. Onion infusion will not only save house flowers from aphids but also from spider mites. Use it for spraying.
Kerosene. Add half a teaspoon of kerosene to 10 liters of water, cut some laundry soap into it, so that the composition is a little “glued”, not just flowing on the leaves. Of course, this volume for indoor flowers is a lot, but it is enough to process flowers and trees in the garden. Kerosene product repels aphids, mites, thrips.
Household chemicals. My friend recommends Amway detergents to control aphids, although I think any other brands will also be useful. Dilute a drop of dishwashing liquid with water and spray the plant, remembering to cover the soil in the pot!
Ladybug. In nature, aphids have a sworn enemy – ladybugs. Therefore, if you notice in the house of such a bug – do not hurry to chase him away.
Effective chemopreparations against aphids: Decis, Karate, Actellic, Inta-vir, Neoron, Arrivo, Aktara.
Radical methods. If one of your indoor plants is heavily infested with aphids and no methods work, unfortunately, it is better to get rid of the sick flower to save the other plants.
On what houseplants aphids appear most often? Favorites of this pest abutilon and chrysanthemum, although the aphids do not disdain other plants. But plants with dense, hard leaves or those with leaves that secrete milky sap are much less likely to be attacked by this pest. Palm plants do not like aphids either.
Like traditionally I repeat the most important commandment of all flower growers: Use good technique to keep your plants healthy and aphids and other pests at bay!