How to get rid of aphids on plants – You may get shocked when seeing tiny insects under your plant leaves. This pest is known as aphids. It often attacks tomatoes, roses, peppers, chilies, and other plants. Slowly but sure, your plants will die because of this pest. That’s why you have to get rid of aphids immediately once you see them on plants. Check the natural way to get rid of aphids that are safe for your plants.
The Signs That Aphids Attack Your Plants
Let’s say you have tomato plants at home. They look fresh until one day you see the leaves turn yellow and crinkles. It seems that they stop to grow, dry, and finally die. Check the bottom part of the yellow leaves of the tomatoes. If you see small animals or white eggs, they are aphids.
Aphids feed by sucking the juices of the plants. At a certain point, the plants are running out of nutrients and die. This pest can also produce honeydew. The sweet aroma attracts ants or other insects to come. Aphids use ants and other insects to protect them from predators, such as ladybugs and lacewings.
You will also see black sooty mold sometimes. It is a fungus that appears once a honeydew present. They will cover leaves and interfere with photosynthesis. As a result, your tomatoes can’t get enough food.
The Way to Get Rid of Aphids
Now, you know that aphids are dangerous for your plants. Make sure that you get rid of aphids immediately once you see them. Check the list below to know how to remove aphids without harming your plants.
Check and Isolate the Plants
Check the leaves first. Remove the plants if you see aphids around the leaves. You must remove or isolate the plants from others, so aphids don’t fly to the healthy plants. After that, find out the leaves or stems with a lot of aphids. There is no other way except prune them.
Recheck the condition of the plants as well as the soil. Change the soil with the new and sterile one if you see aphids there. Treat the healthy leftover leaves and stems by using natural aphid treatments.
Wash the Plants
Washing plant leaves and stems are okay to do, especially when you see aphids there. Use a strong jet of water to get rid of the aphids maximally. You can also use a shower in the bathroom to wash the plants if you don’t have a water jet. Dipping the plant in a bucket of clean water for plants with delicate foliage.
Use Neem Oil
Spray the leaves and stems with Neem oil. This oil has active and organic compounds that can remove and kill aphids. Mix two teaspoons of Neem oil, one teaspoon of Castile soap, and one liter of warm water to a spray bottle. Spray the mixture to all parts of the plant. The compounds of the mixture will disrupt aphids’ reproductive system.
You can spray this oil for all types of plants, including roses, peppers, and tomatoes. Neem oil also has residues that affect aphids for a long period. The most important thing is that the compounds don’t harm beneficial insects.
Homemade Horticultural Spray
You can create a homemade horticultural spray if you can’t find Neem oil. Mix one to two teaspoons of liquid dish soap or castile soap with one liter of warm water. Shake the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the liquid over aphids colonies. Another alternative is wiping the leaves with the liquid by using a sponge. Leave it for two hours before washing with clean water.
Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is also an effective liquid to get rid of aphids. You only have to dip cotton into the alcohol. Wipe the wet cotton to the leaves with aphids colonies. Combine one cup of alcohol with one liter of water in a spray bottle for plants with foliage leaves. Apply this trick once a week until the aphids are gone. Alcohol is also impressive to get rid of aphids eggs.
Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is one of the environmentally friendly products to kill aphids. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt with 3.8 liters of water. Add one or two teaspoons of Castile soap to the mixture. Spray the mixture to the plants in the late evening.
Some aphids will fly when you spray the liquid. Because of that, prepare a sticky trap first. Flying aphids will stick to the trap and can’t run away to other leaves. You can focus on getting rid of the rest of the colonies under the leaves.
The point is that you have to inspect your plants regularly. Be curious if you find something that is not the part of the plants. Regular inspection helps to detect aphids earlier. The earlier you find the aphids, the easier you remove them. In the end, you can enjoy healthy plants, beautiful flowers, or harvest your tomatoes.