Aphids are annoying pests that prefer to spread on weakened plants. They reproduce en masse, so that the insects have taken over the entire plant within a short period of time. They use their mouthparts to pierce the leaf veins to suck the plant sap. You can kill the pests with various household products.
Instructions for use
While in the case of a light infestation the pests can be removed with a hard jet of water, a mass spread requires other means. Numerous home remedies have proven to be effective here. They are distributed on the plant using a spray bottle. Depending on the weather, the remedies work for different lengths of time. If the plants are exposed to rain, the substances wash off quickly and the treatment should be carried out more often. Before spraying, cover the substrate to prevent solvents from entering the substrate.
Spices
They are rich in essential oils and other effective ingredients that prove effective against aphids. Because of their intense aroma, the spray solutions should be used every five to ten days.
Oregano
The spice plant is rich in essential oils, tannins and bitter substances. To prepare a solution you need 100 grams of fresh plants. Alternatively, dried herbs with an intense aroma are suitable. An amount of ten grams is sufficient here. Pour boiling water over the herb and let the tea steep for 15 to 20 minutes. The plant parts are sieved out before the extract is diluted with water. For every three parts of brew there is one part of water.
- fresh herb contains more essential oils
- dried spices lose fragrance through storage
- herb stored for a long time is less effective
garlic
The root tuber contains various sulfur compounds that mix when cut. Chemical reactions produce sulfur-containing degradation products, which are responsible for the smell of garlic. This aroma has a repellent effect on leaf pests. An effective home remedy can be made with 40 grams of garlic and five liters of boiling water. The tea should steep for three hours and then be strained.
Tip:
Chop a clove of garlic and stick the pieces into the soil. This method prevents pest infestation.
Natural detergents
Soapy substances help combat leaf pests. They are not only present in products that are used in the home. Plants also produce soap-like substances.
Ivy
The leaves of the ornamental plant contain saponins that foam when washed out. These secondary plant substances protect against predators. Collect a handful of leaves from the plant and chop them roughly. Pour a liter of boiling water over the leaf material and let the broth steep for at least 30 minutes. After the solution has cooled, the plant parts are removed and squeezed well. In this way, other ingredients are dissolved.
- helps with severe aphid infestations
- Medium can be used daily if necessary
- Rinse the plant with clean water after successful treatment
Chestnuts
The fruits of the deciduous tree are rich in saponins and, like ivy leaves, can be used to prepare soapy water. About 15 chestnuts are roughly chopped and poured with a liter of water. After steeping for half an hour, the fruit residue can be sieved out. If the infestation is very advanced, the plant can be sprayed with the solution several times a day.
- Soap nuts have the same ingredients
- stir while cooking so that the stock does not boil over
- Treatment for medium pest infestation every two to three days
soft soap
Natural plant soaps are not suitable for this product as the oils they contain can damage the plants. Curd or soft soap contains no added fragrances or colorings. It is free of thickeners and has no excess fat. Choose a potash soap with a pH of ten. Rub 50 grams of a bar of curd soap and dissolve the amount in one liter of water. Hand-warm water accelerates the liquefaction of the soap. Allow the solution to cool and spray the leaves on both sides.
- Medium also damages beneficial insects such as hoverflies
- Use solution carefully and only spray on aphid colonies
- The effect quickly wears off due to exposure to light and good ventilation
Soda
Sodium bicarbonate changes the pH value in the aphid's organism. For the basic recipe, half a teaspoon of baking soda is dissolved in a liter of water. To prevent the watery solution from running off the leaf surface immediately after spraying, you can add a teaspoon of cooking oil or a quarter teaspoon of grated curd soap. Mist the plant daily. When used outdoors, the product is also effective against ants, which feed on the sticky, sweet secretions of the pests.
Tip:
If you don't have baking soda in the house, you can use double the amount of baking powder.
Stimulants
These products can be found in many households. Leftovers and waste products can be reused for pest control. Spray the products on the affected plants every two to four days.
Coffee grounds
Many pests do not like the roasted aromas that develop from cooking in coffee grounds. In order for the fragrances to fully develop, you can pour boiling water over the coffee residue that has already been used. Let the brew steep until it is cold. Sieve the coffee powder and soak a cloth in the solution. This can be used to wipe leaf pests and their sticky secretions, known as honeydew, from the leaves. As a preventive measure, you can spread coffee grounds on the substrate so that the aroma spreads into the air.
- Coffee grounds contain nitrogen
- do not spread too much coffee on the substrate
- Avoid direct contact with the roots
Tobacco
A decoction made from cigarette butts is considered a tried and tested home remedy because the nicotine it contains acts as a strong neurotoxin and reliably kills pests. To make the broth, 50 grams of tobacco are boiled with one liter of water. The coarse residue is sieved out before the product is sprayed onto the leaves. The use of products containing nicotine is prohibited outdoors because the neurotoxin not only kills pests. If the ingredients get into the soil, microorganisms can be damaged.
Black Tea
This home remedy proves to be effective against advanced aphid infestation. Steep two tea bags in a liter of water for at least 15 minutes. Boiling hot water ensures that the essential oils are released from the tea herbs. These have a deterrent effect on aphid species. Before using the remedy, the tea should be cooled to room temperature.
Alcohol
You can dab isolated pests from the plant with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. A solution of 80 percent water and 20 percent spirit with a few splashes of dishwashing liquid is not only effective against aphids but also against scale insects and mealybugs. Pure alcohol or spirits can increase the effect of the individual remedies. Add two teaspoons to the prepared solution. You should not use this mixture on orchids and roses. The alcohol damages the protective wax layer on the leaves.
Oils
They have fragrances that have a repellent effect on aphids. At the same time, oils ensure that a fine film forms on the leaves. Under this layer, aphids die within a short time because they can no longer breathe.
Neem oil
The oil of the neem tree has an intense aroma that is reminiscent of the smell of sulfur, onions and garlic. It is obtained from the drupes of the plant. A solution with neem oil rids the plant of aphids without harming the beneficial insects. The ingredients disrupt the metabolism and prevent leaf pests from multiplying en masse. Therefore, you need to use the product more often until all pests are eliminated. It is a universally applicable plant protection product with natural ingredients. The tincture consists of a teaspoon of oil and a liter of water.
Tea tree oil
The oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It also has an anti-fungal effect. Of the approximately 100 different substances, a certain terpene alcohol makes up the majority. This ingredient works effectively against the proliferation of aphids. Add ten drops of tea tree oil to a liter of water and spray the affected plant. A splash of detergent ensures that the oil dissolves in the water.
- effective against many vermin
- Lavender or geranium oil has a similar effect
- great effect by dabbing the pests directly with a cotton swab
Plant broth
From spring to autumn you can collect fresh leaves of nettle, tansy, wormwood or bracken and make a decoction. One kilogram of fresh leaves is poured into ten liters of water. Place the vessel in a warm place and let the brew steep for two weeks. During this time, fermentation processes take place, which leads to unpleasant smells. Rock dust suppresses the formation of odors. After the brew has steeped, one liter of manure is diluted with ten liters of water.
- Wormwood works against green aphids
- black aphid species are unimpressed
- As an alternative to vermouth, a shot of vermouth liqueur is suitable
