Opt for organic, non-chemical controls whenever possible
Aphids are tiny sucking insects from the insect familyAphididae.
Adult aphids are pear-shaped, measuring less than 1/8 inch in length.
Additionally, winged aphids can appear when colonies are established and fly to infect new plants.
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Juvenile aphids (nymphs) look like smaller versions of the adults.
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What Is an Aphid?
An aphid is a small insect that sucks sap from plants.
They prefer to feed on new growths and can cause leaves to become crinkled or look small.
Aphids can be green, pink, white, gray, or black.
How Aphids Damage Plants
Aphid infestationstend to develop quickly.
The insects are highly mobile: they rapidly travel from one plant to another.
Indoors, aphids spread between plants by flying or crawling.
Aphids cause damage by sucking sap from new growth on plants.
They tend to cluster at the growth end of plants and attach themselves to the soft, green stems.
If the infestation is bad enough, the plant will begin to drop leaves.
Tip
Like most pests, the best control for aphids is defensive.
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Healthy, vigorous plants are less susceptible to infestation than weak, under-potted, and stressed plants.
Understanding the Aphid Lifecycle
Outside, aphid eggs survive the winter by attaching to woody growth.
Thus, the aphid population can quickly get out of control on indoor plants.
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This is best for light infestations.
Use Water to Remove Them
Use a strong stream of water to blast aphids from your plants.
Turn the plant upside down and dip the foliage portion into a bucket of clean room-temperature water.
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give a shot to find a product free of perfumes and additives that might harm plants.
Spray on plants, focusing on the undersides of the leaves.
Use Neem Oil
Neem oilis derived from the neem tree and thus isentirely organic.
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Use according to label instructions.
Mix into 1 quart of water and steep for 1 hour.
Strain through a cheesecloth and add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
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The mixture can be stored for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Two other types ofhomemade sprays can also control aphids.
Sticky traps are available at garden centers and from online retailers.
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To limit potential harm, try pyrethrin-based sprays, which are low in toxicity.
Fundamentals of Horticulture: Theory and Practice.
“National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services, 2012.
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“Cold Pressed Neem Oil (025006) Fact Sheet.
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