As stubborn as these pests seem to be, the advantage is that they are actually not that difficult to get rid of. Even the simplest remedies can work wonders, provided you use them consistently. In contrast to commercially available chemical pesticides, natural pesticides work more slowly but are harmless. What are the best and most popular home remedies? Let's fight aphids together without chemicals with the help of our top 5!
1. Rinse: The undefeated favorite
Admittedly, this home remedy for fighting lice is not particularly unknown. But it is a fact that it is one of the most effective natural remedies. In addition, the dishwashing liquid is also biodegradable and therefore does not harm the environment or the microorganisms in your garden. How do I fight aphids without chemicals by using dish soap?
The fact that it is so easy to make makes it so popular:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- small bucket
- spray bottle
Fill a small bucket with water. Add a few tablespoons of dish soap and mix. Put the finished pesticide in a spray bottle. Spray the plant with it, focusing particularly on the affected areas (usually the undersides of leaves, buds and fresh shoot tips). You should do the whole thing once or twice a day and over a longer period of time - until the lice have disappeared.
Notes:
- In addition to dishwashing liquid, soft soap and normal liquid soap are also suitable.
- If you use liquid soap, make sure it is pure soap.
2. Nettle manure for pest control and as fertilizer
A little less well-known or widespread is the manure or decoction made from nettles. That's actually a shame, because this product is at least as effective as the good old dishwashing liquid, if not better, because it supplies the plants with nutrients in the same way as fertilizer, can prevent diseases because it makes them stronger and also protects the plants a new infestation as it makes the leaves harder and more resistant.
You can either make a slurry of cold water, which takes several days, or boil the nettles into a decoction for a quicker solution. If you want to fight the aphids without chemicals by using these herbs, prepare the manure asin this articledescribed, dilute it and then spray it on the plants.
Fight aphids without chemicals with a decoction
To make the nettle broth, simply boil the nettles in water for a few minutes, let it cool down and then use it, also diluted, to spray the affected garden or house plants.
Also read:Fighting aphids on roses: effective herbal remedies
Black tea brew is also suitable, which you prepare as usual, except that you increase the brewing time to 15 minutes. Use two tea bags per half liter of water. You don't need to dilute the tea, but it should be cooled or at least lukewarm and can then be used for drizzling so that the tannins it contains do their work.
3. Use beneficial insects against the aphid
Pretty much everyone now knows that beneficial insects are a great help in the fight against pests. Therefore, in terms of prevention, it is advisable to use plants and other aids to attract insects to the garden. It is also known thatincluding ladybugshave a weakness for green and black aphids, for example. What is less known, however, is that in this final stage of their life they have far less appetite than in the larval stage. So instead of collecting or buying adult ladybugs, you should go for the larvae (see picture) or simply combine both.
By the way, parasitic wasps are also very useful helpers.
With the yellow variants of these pests, other insects are ineffective. What can you do about yellow aphids?find out here.
4. Fight aphids without chemicals: use simple milk
In milk it is a substance called lecithin that works against the pests. More precisely, it forms a deadly film over the louse so that it no longer receives oxygen and simply suffocates. You need to mix the anti-aphid milk with water in the right proportion so that it can work effectively and fight the aphids naturally. A ratio of 1:2 is optimal, although you can also add a drop of oil, which will help the mixture adhere better to the lice.
By the way, milk is also often used on orchids. For what and how,find out here.
5. Neem oil or other vegetable oils
Whether on roses, apple trees, strawberries or houseplants, neem oil is also a common remedy against pests due to its pest-fighting ingredients. The only disadvantage: It can also work against one or two beneficial insects, which you don't actually want. That's why it's in last place for us and should be used with caution if possible. If you notice increased activity of beneficial insects on the affected plants, it is better to use a different product.
Rapeseed oil is also a good alternative. A recipecan be found here.
