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Aphids are one of the typical pests in the garden. The lice, which can be quite stubborn, can even be found on indoor plants. If the infestation is severe, the crops will suffer permanent damage that is difficult to reverse. For this reason, it is important that you prevent aphid infestations. Numerous home remedies and methods are available for this endeavor, no matter what type of aphid it is.
Aphids: causes
Aphids (Aphidoidea) are classic plant pests that can attack a large number of plants. Six species of aphids that have selected specific plants as a food source are characteristic of Central Europe. These include, for example, the large rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae), which attacks roses, apples, strawberries and pears, or the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), whose favorite plants are various beans, turnips, snowballs and potatoes. However, the causes of aphid infestation are often the same:
- fertilized with nitrogen
- wrong location
- bad vitality
- monoculture
In addition to these causes, it is above all the sensitive plants that often have to struggle with lice. These include, for example, the honeysuckle, various herbs with fine leaves and the European chanterelle tree. Before purchasing a plant, be sure to find out whether it is sensitive to the Aphidoidea. The other causes can easily be mitigated with proper care and preparation when planting.
Preventing aphids: 6 ideas
Based on the causes of the settlement of aphids, you can already see which methods are effective against the insects. Above all, it is important to strengthen your own growth or to hide it from the tormentors. If the insects have already made themselves comfortable on your plants, solutions such as spraying them with soapy water can help. The lice like to return in a short time as they are extremely persistent. For this reason, it is advisable to prevent settlement. You can find 6 ideas for this in this article.
Notice: Since the lice infest a large number of crops, you should avoid using chemical pesticides for spraying to prevent the insects. The pollutants in the remedies are absorbed by the plants and can end up in your body if you eat an apple, for example.
settle beneficial insects
One of the best ways to prevent aphids is to introduce beneficial insects. The insects are quite sluggish and can't really defend themselves, making them easy targets for hungry predators. It is precisely this helplessness that is at the root of ant protection, which can sometimes pose another problem. Settle the following beneficial insects, because with their help you can prevent lice efficiently and naturally:
- ladybug
- hoverfly larvae
- lacewing larvae
- parasitic wasp larvae
- assassin bugs
- caterpillar flies
- soft beetle
- ground beetle
- be crazy
- partly birds
A naturally designed garden is an excellent basis for these predators. Allow a balanced mix of plants in the garden, the predators will find themselves and regularly feed on the aphids. Actually, you don't have to settle them yourself. However, since many gardens have little variety of plants or only monocultures are cultivated, many plants represent a found food for the lice. In this case, not even home remedies help.
The two-spot ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) and the larvae of the common lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) are particularly popular. These are available in pet shops or online and can be placed in the garden. Earwigs (Dermaptera) are also helpful. These can be settled directly, as the adult specimens feed on the lice:
- use a small flower pot
- optionally purchase sleeping tubes
- Fill the flower pot with some wood shavings
- hang upside down
The nocturnal insects will move into the shelter over the warm seasons and hunt for the aphids from there. It is best to place the accommodation near the aphid-infested plants so that the earwigs are immediately nearby. Earwigs are the easiest to settle and do not have to be purchased commercially. With the other beneficial insects, you just have to make sure that you bring enough variety into the garden. Mixed cultures and varieties are a natural protection against insects.
Notice: Predators are not really recommended for indoor potted plants, unless it is a garden shed. However, if they are on the terrace, it is not a problem.
Build plant barriers
You can also prevent aphids with a classic home remedy: simply plant species with certain ingredients that prevent the aphids from settling. There are numerous plants that have essential oils, enrich the soil with substances or taste unpleasant for aphids. For this reason, it makes sense to set up plants as a protective barrier for other plants that are often infested with lice. Particularly suitable for this are:
- Lavender (Lavandula)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Sage (Salvia)
- thyme (thymus)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)
- Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
- Savory (Satureja)
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Mint (Mentha)
- Onions (Allium cepa)
Origanum vulgare
The Mediterranean herbs in particular work extremely well, as they do not even let the aphids near the plants to be protected. The insects smell the fragrances from afar and stay away from them, which is an effective protection against them. The other herbs are alternatives that should be planted specifically between other plants. In general, not only can you build barriers out of herbs, but you should place them near sensitive plants. In this way you increase the effectiveness significantly. The herbs can even be planted in tubs. Despite this possibility, planting robust varieties directly outdoors is recommended.
Administer nitrogen moderately
One of the biggest problems with aphids is using too much nitrogen. If you give the plants significantly too much nitrogen, you have to expect an infestation with aphids. A lot of nitrogen helps the plant to produce significantly more and nutrient-rich plant sap, which the aphids like to tap off. If you don't use a lot of nitrogen in general, you should do a soil analysis. Sometimes the soil can become so saturated with the nutrient that the plant has no choice but to use it. In this case, incorporate some low-nitrogen soil into the site and reduce the amount of nitrogen when fertilizing.
Optimal location
A weakening plant does not have it easy. In the event of an aphid infestation, many home remedies strengthen the plant and thus maintain its natural resistance. Prevention is also recommended at this point, as a robust growing plant will not usually need help defending itself against aphids. Above all, make sure that your plants have enough light and the best soil conditions. Care instructions for the individual species will help you to enable the necessary properties for the location as far as possible.
sprouting spray
Sprout spraying is a special means of preventing aphids and other pests on trees and shrubs, especially fruit trees. It is applied at a specific time:
- bud formation
- first leaves are formed
The reason for this are the eggs of the aphids, which were laid in the numerous cavities of the bark before the onset of winter. Spraying the buds prevents a new generation of lice from growing. A spray agent based on rapeseed oil is used for this, which you can also make yourself as a home remedy. The spray coats the eggs with a fine film that cuts off the air. In this way, they cannot develop and die off. In the case of fast-growing trees and shrubs, the sprouting spray must be repeated more frequently over the spring.
plant protection sticks
There is also a choice of plant protection sticks, which can effectively prevent your ornamental plants from being infested with aphids. They work for a period of two to three months, which provides good protection for the plants. The sticks contain insecticides such as acetamiprid, which are toxic but not dangerous for beneficial insects such as bees. The sticks are simply inserted into the substrate and there they release the substances to the plant, whose sap is enriched with the insecticide. The plants themselves do not suffer any damage, the lice die off when sucking. In addition to the toxins, the sticks support the vitality of the plants with the following nutrients:
- potassium
- phosphorus
- nitrogen
For this reason, the chopsticks are not a bad alternative. Although they are not home remedies, they can be used effectively for annual cases.
Tip: Another idea is the use of plasters such as Celaflor's Hortex rose plasters, which are poisonous to the aphidoidea. They are only suitable for ornamental plants, as the patches contain insecticides that protect the plant.