Updated on May 31, 2023
Every hobby gardener knows the problem: the spring and summer flowers have barely opened their blossoms and are attacked by aphids. The pests can often be found in the home garden and are difficult to get rid of. Luckily, there are certain home remedies you can use to get rid of insects in your garden and greenhouse. In today's article we will explain how you can use milk against aphids.
Milk against aphids: How the home remedy works and important questions about its use
Although they are small insects, aphids can be seen with the naked eye. They often hide on the lower side of the leaf. If you see lots of millimeter-sized green or brown dots moving around, then these are most likely the “Aphidoidea” pests. A safe oneSigns of infestationis honeydew, a sticky substance that aphids leave on stems and leaves. Dry and curled leaves also indicate this. Fortunately, the insects can be combated quickly and easily.
Ants “milk” aphids
You can often see lots of ants on the infected plants. This is because the ants are attracted to the honeydew that the aphids excrete. The ant colony often protects the lice from predators and carries them from plant to plant. This allows the pests to produce even more honeydew for the ants. That's why not only the aphids have to be fought, but the ants also have to be driven away. Otherwise they can cause major damage, especially in vegetable patches. The easiest way to do this is to plant garlic around the affected plants. You can also place bowls of vinegar in the ants' path. Essential oils such as lavender and ground cinnamon can also achieve the desired effect.
Why do aphids die on milk
Milk creates an invisible film over all parts of the plant. This interrupts the pests’ breathing and “suffocates”. At the same time, the milk is not harmful to the plants and is even used by some hobby gardeners as a natural fertilizer because of its high calcium content. The mineral promotes growth. The milk also contains beneficial bacteria that can successfully combat the cause of powdery mildew.
Which milk for aphids?
Both long-life milk and the unpasteurized variant, i.e. so-called raw milk, are suitable. The fat content also plays a role. The higher this is, the better. You can use whole milk with 3.5% fat or coffee milk with 10% fat. Add rapeseed oil - it has a similar effect and also proves to be very helpful in the event of an infestation.
How often to use milk against aphids?
If you only notice individual specimens on the plants, then you can spray them once a day for two weeks. If there is a severe infestation or to prevent it from spreading to other plants, you can use the home remedy once or twice a day for two to three weeks. If you want to prevent a new infestation, spray the plants once or twice a week.
Which plants should be sprayed with milk?
Almost all vegetables react well to milk. The home remedy has a particularly good effect on tomatoes, kale and various types of lettuce. But ornamental plants such as roses also benefit from regular milk doses. By the way, milk is included in bothGarden and house plantseffective. A prerequisite for their effectiveness is to use the home remedy correctly.
Preparation and use of the home remedy
Proceed as follows:
First, fill an empty and clean 1 L spray bottle with 250 ml milk and 500 ml water, add 2 - 3 tablespoons of rapeseed oil and stir the whole thing. Don't shake the bottle vigorously, just stir it. Try to use the home remedy within 1 to 2 days. If any remains, pour it into the kitchen sink and wash the bottle carefully.
Spray all parts of the plant above ground, wetting the leaves not only at the top but also at the bottom with the milk solution. Then set thePlant potted plants in a place protected from sun and rain. Best on a covered terrace. Because the strong summer sun can burn the leaves and rain can wash away the milk. The milk solution takes effect for several hours.
Infestations are particularly dangerous in greenhouses. Since many plants are often overwintered there right next to each other, propagation is fairly easy. In this case, to be on the safe side, you should spray all plants - both the affected and the healthy ones. The milk solution can only be used as a preventive measure once a week on healthy plants. The infected specimens, on the other hand, are sprayed twice a day.
Milk not only helps against aphids, but also prevents powdery mildew
Plants affected by aphids are weakened and have feeding wounds on the leaves. These are entry points for the fungal spores of powdery mildew. Fortunately, milk is also effective against the disease and regular treatments have a preventive effect. We therefore recommend spraying the affected plants with milk even after the lice have been combated. Four to five treatments are enough to kill the fungal spores.
Aphids are pests in...Kitchen and ornamental garden. They can cause great damage, especially in vegetable patches and greenhouses. To avoid this, you should spray the plants with milk at the first sign of an infestation.
