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Aphids attack a variety of plants, but the pests can be effectively controlled. There are a wide variety of methods and home remedies available to combat aphids, such as washing-up liquid. In this article you will find out how the home remedy works in the fight against the pests and how it is best used!
aphid infestation
Whether plants are infested with aphids can usually be clearly seen: the pests are extremely small, but they can still be seen with the naked eye. In the event of an infestation, the animals can be seen distributed over the entire plant and leave a sticky coating there. This is honeydew, which in turn is an optimal breeding ground for a wide variety of fungi. However, an infestation cannot only be recognized by the pests themselves and their excretions, because the following symptoms also indicate an aphid infestation:
- small green, yellow, red-brown or black animals
- a few millimeters in size
- often on the underside of the leaf
- found in groups
- stunted and/or curled leaves
Detergent against aphids
There are a variety of home remedies that can be used to get rid of aphids. One of them is actually conventional washing-up liquid, which has also proven to be particularly effective against aphids. Because this leaves a smear on the plant, which fights the aphids in two ways: On the one hand, it literally takes the air out of the pests to breathe, because the aphids are trapped under the smear. On the other hand, it prevents the lice from being able to climb up the plant, which noticeably inhibits their spread.
The home remedy is tried and tested against aphids and can also be found in almost every household. The application is not only effective but also very simple. However, there are still some points that need to be considered. In particular, the mixing ratio and the way the agent is applied play an essential role. So that the attempt to combat aphids is not only successful, but also protects the plants as much as possible, it is best to proceed according to the following instructions:
Aphid infestation on a rose
mixing ratio
The detergent is first mixed with water, with the correct mixing ratio being the crucial point. Because if too little detergent is added, the mixture is ineffective against the aphids. However, too much detergent should not be used either, because the entire process is a strain on the plants. If too much is mixed in, the aphids will die, but possibly also the plant itself.
- Mix water with detergent
- 0.5 l water and 5 ml dish soap
- mix everything properly
notice: To increase the effect, some pure alcohol or spirit can be added.
spray plants
Before the plants are treated with the mixture, it is advisable to shower them off first. Because this measure makes it possible to simply rinse off a large part of the lice. Potted plants can simply be placed in the bathtub and rinsed off. For plants in the garden or in the greenhouse, on the other hand, a shower with the garden hose is ideal. The plants are then treated with the dishwashing liquid against aphids as follows:
- spray entire plant
- from all sides!
- especially stems and leaves
- spray the underside of the leaves as well
notice: Spraying the underside of the leaf is so important because the lice prefer to be in this spot.
aftercare
Not only the pest infestation, but also the fight with washing-up liquid represents a burden for the affected plants. Because both the pests and the plant lack the air to breathe under the lubricating film. In order to make the process as gentle as possible, professional aftercare is recommended. Another advantage of this measure is that the plants recover better.
- remove excess mixture
- Moisten kitchen paper
- gently wipe off all leaves
- Finally fertilize the plant
Soft soap instead of dish soap?
Another home remedy that is often used in the fight against the pests is a mixture of soft soap and water. The control method differs only in the mixing ratio. Because when treating with soft soap, around a liter of water and a tablespoon of soft soap are mixed.