Imagine my chagrin this year when for the first time ever I decided to try growing dill and woke up one morning wondering why the upper most tender portions of the plants, which were ready for harvest, were drooping heavily sideways. Upon closer inspection those portions were covered with aphids. Well, I certainly didn't want to use anything as a remedy that would be toxic so went to several internet sites to find a workable natural solution.
By the way, you will also want to check plants, both edible and ornamental, near the infested ones. I found those little buggers were also beginning to munch on my pepper plants! This is the solution that worked for me in just a couple of days by adjusting assorted homemade recipe ingredients that I came across on the web. First, in the case of my dill, I cut off the upper portions, which were most likely no longer fit to consume anyway, rinsed the remaining portions of the plants with a heavy stream of water and then heavily sprayed the plants and the surrounding soil with a water bottle using the following recipe:
Note: On the third and fourth days I did find a couple of renegade aphids on the stems and gave them a quick spray. When I checked each morning thereafter, those same little guys were brown and dead. I have absolutely no clue how or why but it gave me great satisfaction. ;-)
By Deeli from Richland, WA
There are insecticidal soaps on the market, however, I normally just take a small spray bottle with tepid water and a few drops of a mild detergent soap. It is much less expensive and I particularly like the "green" detergent soaps.
How do I get rid of aphids on my strawberries without using anything that would be harmful to our grandson and our Yorkie?
Hardiness Zone: 8b
By Judie from Apple Valley, CA
I assume that getting rid of aphids on strawberry plants is the same as getting rid of them on tomato plants. On my tomato plants I spray the underside of the leaves with a water hose, washing the aphids off the plants.
Hello, I had that problem on our lemon tree. I bought ladybugs at Home Depot. I also noticed, when I had aphids, I also had ants. I believe the ants were eating the aphids too. Aphids are gone, and so are the ants. mvb
I'm with mvb. The most organic and safe method is to import some ladybugs. Besides your grandson will love them!
Another idea is planting garlic or green onions in the area. I have little green onions which put up their own seed "heads" (multiplier bulbs), so there's always more to plant and replace those picked for salads, etc.
My crepe myrtle bushes have been damaged by aphids. I trimmed off all the branches, but not the trunk. It's the first of October. Do you think they will give me a pretty blooms next summer? I tried spraying them with aphid pesticides, but it didn't work. I thought about vinegar next time. These bushes are in front of my house.
Please help.
I have aphids on my four o'clocks. I have tried soap mixed with water applied with a sprayer and have also used high-yield bug blaster Bifenthrin 2.4 mixed with soap. I cannot get rid of these aphids which are sucking the juice out of my plants which are producing seeds.
These are genetically modified half-and-half colored flowers; it took me 30 years to breed these. In the only pic of flower you can see the red and yellow on same flower, too early for them to open. Somebody please help!
How do I kill infestations of aphids on my euonymus vine? They have manifested thickly on the stems as well.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By rebecca Parris from Boston, MA
I read the answer re: milkweed for butterflies. I have a much harder time trying to grow them, from seed-starting, to trying to keep the sucking aphids off every day. Your other grower stated he had grown "tons" of milkweed in Spring Hill, FL.
I spray regularly with soapy water, but that's not getting rid of enough in my butterfly garden. I have sandy soil, water, open sun exposure. What am I doing wrong? Thanks so much.
Hardiness Zone: 9a
By Phyllis from Clermont, FL
Another method to get rid of aphids on plants is by going the biological way. You can introduce beneficial predators of aphids such as wasps, ladybird beetles and syrphid fly larvae. These natural predators are effective in controlling the aphids effectively. While using chemical pesticides, confine the application only to the infected parts, so as to conserve the population of these aphid enemies. Act quickly at the first sight of aphids and you will control them before causing serious damage to the plants.
Is using soapy water on Hibiscus aphids as effective as purchasing a commercial product?
Hardiness Zone: 9b
By judy from Riverside, CA
Hibiscus are my favorites so I have had lots of experience with aphids/Hibiscus. I don't know if soapy water is safe to use, but I know that insecticidal soaps are safe for Hibiscus, but after you use the soap, it will take a while for the plant to recover from the "treatment". I use a water hose (or sprayer in the kitchen sink for house plants), and no soap. I turn the water on low force and wash the aphids off the bottom of each leaf. Once washed to the soil, they will not climb back up and the plant will not need time to recover from soap or chemicals, so the blooms will keep on coming.
Yes, fertilize and you should get more and bigger blooms. Be sure you don't over-fertilize or you will get lots of lush green leaves and no blooms.
Is it OK to use Dawn dishwashing liquid soap in my mixture to kill aphids?
I need a home recipe to get rid of aphids on my cabbage.
By Judy from Waverly, OH
There was a post awhile back about making your own pest control out of soap and water. I need a pest control for aphids and whitefly. Can someone help me?
By Evelyn Biddy from Interlachen, FL
Any time you use soap or any other chemical on a plant, including Safer Soap, it sets your plant back and it takes a while for it to recouperate.
To get rid of aphids, I use a water hose and spray them off the bottom of the leaves of the plants, they won't climb back up.
You will probably have to use a chemical to get rid of the whiteflies:
www.rnzih.org.nz/
When I get either one of them, I use a nozzle on the hose that I can spray really hard.. The water smacks their soft bodies hard & kills them. Now spidermites is a whole different thing.