The Content Of The Article: For a biological agent to be really effective, a mechanical cleansing of the plant is essential in advance. Examine the plant thoroughly to see how strong and where the aphids are.
houseplants
If you discover aphids on your houseplants, you should not immediately resort to pesticides. The easiest way is to wash off the plant first with water.- Plant in the shower or bath
- Cover pot with garbage bag / plastic bag and tie together at the trunk
- so the potting soil is not flushed out
- Leaves leaves and stems from all sides (especially on the underside)
- also put the plant on its side
Greenhouse and outdoor plants
In the case of outdoor plants, too, the rule is that larger accumulations of aphids should be eliminated in advance, before the plant is sprayed with a suitable home remedy. Since the plants can not be excavated and kept under the shower, here is a different method than houseplants necessary. It is best to cut off all infested flowers and shoot tips generously and dispose of them in the household waste.Since the aphids overwinter on the plants, it is advisable to cut shrubs back in spring. In this way, you already remove a large part of the eggs, which are preferably located on the shoot tips. Should it come despite all preventive measures to an infestation with aphids, this should be recognized as early as possible. Regular inspection is therefore essential.
fight
However, with a purely mechanical removal of the parasites, aphids are far from being done. Basically you never really get all the lice and their eggs and larvae. The use of chemical or systemic agents should always be chosen only as a last resort, if the sucking pest home remedies can not be dealt with. There are a variety of home remedies that allow you to combat aphids biologically. Effective home remedies for aphids include:soapsuds
For the effective control of lice, a remedy has proven particularly useful: soap solution. It is best to use soap or soft soap for this. In contrast to normal commercially available soap products, pure core soap and soft soap have the advantage that they are not perfumed and otherwise contain no harmful to the plant ingredients.
- 20 g soft soap (potash soap) - equivalent to about 1-2 tablespoons
- Alternatively, 20 g of soap (sodium soap) - preferably small pieces
- dissolve in one liter of water
Tip: The soap suds become even more efficient if you add some alcohol (a shot glass full).
Black tea
Even with black tea can annihilate the annoying sucking insects effectively. Make a tea.
- 2 tea bags of black tea
- pour over one liter of boiling water
- let soak for at least 15 minutes
- let cool down
Promising in the fight against aphids is also the use of edible oils such as rapeseed oil. The natural oil not only forms a greasy film on the leaves of the plant, making it difficult for the parasite to cling, but also encloses the lice airtight.
- 1 liter of water
- 80 ml rapeseed oil
- a little detergent (as emulsifier)
- mix well
The shells of soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) have a pesticidal effect. They contain saponin, which is a soap-like, natural substance. This can be a cheap, non-toxic and odorless remedy for aphids. Soap nuts are available at the health food store or good drugstores.
- shred ten wash nuts
- Boil in 1 liter of water
- Let it cool down
- Strain solids
Brennnesselsud
- Fill half a bucket (10 l) with fresh nettles
- Mince nettles
- Fill bucket with water
- Let stand for at least 12 hours
- Strain solids
- use a fine-mesh sieve or an old dishcloth
- Nettle water catch
The effect of the field horsetail against aphids is due to the high content of silica back. The silicic acid strengthens the cells of the plant, making it difficult for the pests to prick through the leaf surface and suck the plant sap.
- 100 g fresh field horsetail
- use only the green, above-ground growing parts
- alternatively 10 g dried field horsetail
- 1 liter of water
- Soak for 24 hours
If aphids of outdoor crops occur, a self-made, non-toxic mixture of household vinegar, water and a little washing-up liquid is recommended. With this solution, you spray your roses thoroughly from all sides, for example. The mixture consists of:
- 4.5 liters of water
- 500 ml household vinegar (5% acetic acid)
- about 10 ml of detergent
- mix well
Like vinegar, lemon also works. Cut the lemons into slices or small pieces and boil them in water. After cooling, sift the pieces off and use the broth as a spray.
- 3 lemons
- 2 liters of water
If the plants on the balcony or in the garden suddenly find larger populations of ants, this is usually a clear sign of aphid infestation. In order to use garlic effectively as a home remedy for the sucking parasites, there are basically two different options:
Option A:
If the infestation is low, it is sufficient to put a peeled garlic clove in the ground next to each plant stem. This should half out of the ground look. So the garlic can distribute its essential oils also over the air around the plant and drive away thereby the aphids.
Variant B:
The second variant consists of a garlic broth, which is sprayed on the affected plant. The production is very simple:
- Halve three large garlic cloves
- put in a liter of water
- let it rest for two weeks
- Strain through a sieve or cloth
In case of not yet advanced infestation with aphids, an onionsauce is also promising.
- cut two large onions into small pieces
- in a pot with about two liters of water to boil
- Let it rest for 30 minutes
- after cooling, sieve onions
Oregano, which we know as ornamental and spice plant, contains effective substances against aphids. The spray is easy to prepare and very environmentally friendly. For the brew you need:
- 100 g of fresh oregano
- alternatively 10 g of dried spice
- 1 liter of water
neem oil
Another effective antiseptic agent is made with neem oil. Neem oil (Niemöl) is available in the drugstore or in the pharmacy.
- 1 teaspoon of neem oil
- 1 liter of water
- a splash of soap as an emulsifier (without perfume and additives)
Especially the lice on roses and in the greenhouse can be easily combated with potatoes. The boiling water of the nightshade family contains solanine, which the lice do not tolerate. However, only use cooled brewing water that does not contain salt.
milk
Fresh milk contains not only bacteria that work against fungi, but also many other ingredients such as lecithin, which can be used to combat pests such as aphids.
- a part of fresh cow's milk
- two parts of water
application
- Spray plants dripping wet
- treat for several days in a row (at least two to three)
- Repeat procedure after 10 to 14 days
Preventive measures
Aphids infest preferentially weakened plants, so it is advisable to cultivate ornamental and useful plants under optimal conditions. The pests can also be driven by various fragrances and plant ingredients. These plants are placed between the crops. For the prevention of aphids the following measures are effective:- ensure sufficient humidity in winter (in indoor plants)
- Avoid over-fertilization with nitrogen
- ensure optimum temperature and lighting conditions
- Repot potted plants regularly
- Put savory and lavender between the crops
Which methods and which agents are effective against aphids depends above all on the strength of the infestation. If the infestation is still mild to moderate, help the most diverse home remedies, which are usually sprayed as a solution or decoction on all parts of the plant. In this case tenacity and endurance are needed, because the plant must be intensively treated and regularly checked for at least two to three weeks.
FAQ - 💬
❓ What is a biological way to get rid of aphids?
👉 Use Beneficial InsectsCommercially available beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings and lacewing larvae, lady beetles, and parasitic wasps are important natural predators and can greatly help with aphid control. For best results, make releases when pest levels are low to medium.
❓ Which is the most effective biological control of aphids?
👉 The parasite (parasitoid), Aphidius colemani and the predator Aphidoletes aphidimyza are the most commonly used biological control agents for these pests.
❓ What is a homemade aphid remedy?
👉 Soap and WaterA few tablespoons of liquid dish or insecticidal soap diluted in a pint of water is the simplest way to make a natural aphid killer spray for that aphid infestation.
❓ What is the most effective treatment for aphids?
👉 If insecticides are needed, insecticidal soaps and oils are the best choices for most situations. Oils may include petroleum-based horticultural oils or plant-derived oils such as neem or canola oil. These products kill primarily by smothering the aphid, so thorough coverage of infested foliage is required.
❓ What do aphids hate the most?
👉 Aphids aren't big fans of aromatic herbs. Planting garlic, chives, leeks, catnip, fennel, dill and cilantro will help repel aphids. Marigolds are also known to drive away a number of unwanted pests. Research good companion plants for these garden additions and place them wisely.
❓ Can you permanently get rid of aphids?
👉 Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oil will kill aphids but must be applied regularly during heavy infestations since aphids reproduce so quickly. These products only kill aphids when they come in direct contact, so you'll need to reapply frequently until the pests are completely gone.
❓ How do you get rid of aphids naturally?
👉 Of all the natural remedies for getting rid of aphids quickly and effectively (not to mention inexpensively), a simple, strong blast of water is one of the best and easiest ways to control these pests. After all, everyone’s got a garden hose; just aim it directly at the affected leaves and stems to spray the aphids off.
❓ Can aphids eat blackened leaves?
👉 For an infestation with blackened leaves, you might try a multi-purpose organic remedy like Trifecta Crop Control, available from Amazon. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural powder derived from the crushed sea-life fossils called diatoms. And while it won’t harm you or your plants, it is deadly to aphids.
❓ Does soap kill aphids?
👉 Because of their soft bodies, aphids are easier to kill than many other pests. They’re especially susceptible to natural chemical controls like soaps and oils that disrupt the structure of their membranes and suffocate them. Insecticidal soap is very effective against aphids and overwintering aphid eggs when sprayed directly on them.
❓ Does food grade diatomaceous earth kill aphids?
👉 Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural powder derived from the crushed sea-life fossils called diatoms. And while it won’t harm you or your plants, it is deadly to aphids. Be sure to wear a mask to prevent inhalation of this fine powder as you sift it over your plants, or mix into water to make a spray solution per package instructions.