Aphids

With the warm weather, I have suddenly found the plants in my garden room are full of aphids.

What treatment do people suggest?

I am currently spraying with soapy water (washing up liquid), as I get the feeling that most of the sprays on sale are expensive and pretty ineffective these days. Any comments?

PS - I also have lots of little black flies that settle on the ceiling, But the good news is that I don't see any signs of RSM (Red Spider Mite) ..... so far. Perhaps this is because the humidity fluctuates between 80% and 100%.

 

I rubbed some off the leaves of some broad beans that have only just hatched - where did the blighters come from I wonder :(

Soapy water probably fine - Neem oil is effective too.

 

I use provado, we dont have much left these days.

It does work out expensive and you need to spray all you plants on the same day.

I've never liked soapy water, mostly because if you miss just one insect, they will be back in force within a week, and need to spray again, how environmentally unfriendly is that?

 

Thanks Pete and Kristen. I will look again at insecticides. I think the main lesson that I must learn - is that if I am going to keep plants permanently under glass, I must be thorough and regular with spraying.

 

Neem oils good i think and spider mite and red mite are now active as i seen today! x

 

Lady bugs

 

I have heard garlic water/paste helps. Also, growing chives, garlic or onion plants next to ur plants affected by aphids.. The insects get confused and leave ur plants alone.. Still need to check this out with my clematis. I m growing chives around it.


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I don't use chemicals unless I absolutely have to. As Armandii says, you'll potentially end up killing ladybirds, bees, etc too plus small birds such as Blue Tits who feed on aphids. I just squish them with my fingers or use soapy water. Alternatively, you could try something like Uncle Tom's Soft Soap but not sure that would be any more effective than washing up liquid.

 

Washing Up liquid effective, but not ideal I think. I forget which is which, but "Horticultural Soap" either includes Phosphates, or doesn't!, but whichever way round it is is the better one for plants - less chance of the plant being upset compared to using detergents.

Hopefully someone with a better memory than me can put me straight

 

As it is a garden room you could try a biological control for the aphids. The little black flies may be sciarid flies (fungus gnats). If these are a problem there is a nematode for dealing with them.
Nigel

 

I'd confirm that the parasitic little wasps sold for aphid control really do work, Peter. I used them in my conservatory and they made short work of the infestation, then went on to colonise the garden for the following few years!

 

I can recommend a few drops of Lavender oil mixed with water and frequent spraying....it made short work of greenfly on my verbena cuttings....

 

Just Googled this

What Makes An Insect Soap Work
Some people believe there is a secret to mixing soap in water and spraying a plant. Somehow, this helps wash the bugs away. Nope! A good blast of water can wash bugs away.
The secret (if there is one) is in the “soap” used to make the pesticide soap. The soap needs to be a true soap and not a detergent – more on recommended soaps later.
The insecticidal power – the kill – comes from the fatty acids contained in the soap.
The fatty acids are effective against soft bodied insects like: aphids, mealybugs, mites, thrips and white flies. The fatty acids dissolve or remove the insects cell membranes and their natural protective waxy coatings, causing death from excess water loss.
Potassium based soaps are the most effective in making a spray to control plant pest. One of the most well known potassium based soap products available is probably Safer’s Insecticidal Soap, which controls many pests found on houseplants, vegetables and fruit. I myself like to use Neem oil for plants.

the rest is here http://www.plant-care.com/how-to-make-homemade-insecticidal-soap-a-recipe.html

clearly needs more investigation.