“Ah aphids…”, you exclaim with your head hung low as these tiny soft-bodied insects wreak havoc on your vegetable patch. Maybe you should have seen it coming and harvested the plants a day earlier. While there’s no changing the past what you can do is take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Unlike worms and caterpillars that go only for the fruit, aphids suck the sap out of leaves and stems of plants making it impossible to recover by just removing some ruined fruits. As if that wasn’t bad enough, many aphid species also transmit diseases to plants causing even more devastation.
How to Get Rid of Aphids?
Aphids don’t simply show up out of nowhere and destroy your plants in a blink of an eye. First, a few aphids show up in low enough numbers that you don’t notice them at all since they tend to often be in hidden areas such as under the leaves and dark areas.
Once they start feeding, the plant leaks a sugary substance known as honeydew which attracts more insects including aphids. This is when the aphids start to congregate in huge numbers and start doing some real damage to your plants.
In this guide, we'll explore a range of measures that you can take to prevent or if necessary, getting rid of aphid menace.
While aphids on houseplants can be a gardener's nightmare, plants can make a complete recovery if the infestation is caught and removed early. Inspect your plants regularly, especially the undersides of the leaves since their numbers aren’t large enough to be noticed easily yet.
Even if you don’t see any aphids, you shouldn’t forget to check for proof of past aphid activity by looking for any plant damage. Aphids cause plants to leak honeydew which causes curled leaves and also attracts ants and promotes the growth of mold.
2. Evicting The Aphids
Now that you have potentially spotted some aphids, it’s time to get started with removing them. Luckily aphids aren’t very difficult to remove so you can easily take matters into your own hands without needing to rely on chemicals.
Here are two very simple methods that can be relied on to get rid of the sap-sucking pests without the use of chemicals in a jiffy:
Before you can get started make sure to wear your gardening gloves as aphid bites can cause pain, itchiness, and swelling for some people. Now that you’re suited up, knock off the aphids from your plants with a firm but gentle touch.
To make this more effective, you can flick the aphids into a bucket filled with water or dish soap to prevent them from returning to your damaged plants once they orient themselves as the smell of honeydew makes your weakened plants a prime target.
Spray Water
If there are a huge number of aphids that can’t be removed by hand easily then switch to this method which isn’t just perfect for dealing with early infestations but also huge swarms. Aim the water hose directly at the underside of the leaves and send them tumbling off.
This low-tech approach is more effective than you think because aphids are soft-bodied creatures, so the pressure of the water jet is more than sufficient to crush the body of the aphid nymphs. While the power of a good water jet is undeniable it's crucial to wield it with finesse.
Adjust the water pressure to avoid causing any unwanted damage. Remember, these are the very plants you're trying to protect!
3. Non-Chemical Approach
If the manual eviction method didn’t help either due to the sheer numbers of them or because they keep returning day after day, then it’s time to one-up the aphids. However, before reaching for the harsh chemicals we recommend you first try some natural non-chemical methods.
Not only are these methods safer for your plants and environment, but these measures are also capable of removing those tiny aphid eggs on leaves that could easily be missed due to being small and hidden in secluded areas.
Soap Water
Soap is effective at dealing with aphids as it dissolves their outer shell causing water loss and severe dehydration. Make a soapy water spray by mixing a few tablespoons of castile soap or any dish soap with 4 cups of water
Apply this soap water solution to the infested areas generously to ensure complete coverage. While soap water is capable of killing aphids overnight, we recommend you to continue applying for the next 3-4 days as the aphid population may keep returning for a while.
Pepper Spray
There’s no reason for the aforementioned soap water to be incapable of dealing with the problem mentioned above. However, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of continuously respraying the plants with soap water over and over again then you could try a pepper spray.
Gather and mix 10 hot pepper chillis or pepper extracts with a gallon of water. Unlike the soapy water, it is persistent and will last a few days after spraying so you can spray and forget about your plants. The best part is unlike vinegar which is an herbicide, pepper spray is completely safe.
While dealing with aphids can be quite a hassle as evidenced by the measures that need to be taken in the previous methods, you can instead also get someone or more accurately something else to do all the dealing for you.
Aphids don’t belong to the top of the food chain, so this isn’t as hard as it sounds. Attract natural predators of aphids such as ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantis, and hoverflies by planting marigolds, poppies, and dill to create a welcoming habitat for these aphid hunters.
4. Organic Approach
While many gardeners prefer a more natural approach in order to deal with any problems that are related to the food, they plan to consume such as aphid infestations on vegetables, they also don’t have the time nor the luxury to go through all the DIY steps to prepare and apply them.
Luckily, Mother Nature has already provided a huge wealth of options when it comes to ready-made solutions to combat these sap-sucking green vampires without resorting to preparing concoctions or using harsh chemicals.
Neem Oil
Neem oil disrupts the aphids' lifecycle in several ways. They hinder their feeding, molting, mating, and egg-laying abilities which translates to a significant reduction in the aphid population in a short period. Extracted from the neem tree, the insecticidal oil is readily occurring and doesn’t need much preparation.
Using neem oil is relatively simple, put a few drops of neem oil into a gallon of water and start spraying. Diluted neem is generally harmless to plants so there shouldn’t be any problems unless the plant in question is sensitive to neem so you should also do some research before applying.
Don't spray neem during the day as the combination of oil and the sun can burn your plants. Instead, neem oil should only be sprayed once the sun has gone down or during the night. Make sure to also coat the undersides of the plant leaves.
Often abbreviated as DE, this white powder made out of calcified algae is capable of scratching the hard exoskeleton of pests causing them dehydration from water loss after coming into contact. DE is safe to put directly on the plants and can even act as plant feed making it a safe bet.
Sprinkle DE lightly onto the infested areas of the plant in order to ensure that they start working right away. Otherwise, focus on dusting the undersides of the leaves as that’s where the aphids are most likely to hang out.
Make sure to buy the food-safe grade of DE as it will contain less than 1% crystalized silica content making them fit for human, animal, and plant consumption. This is especially important as you’re using it on something you are going to be eating.
5. Insecticidal Soaps and Oils
Only for some really stubborn aphid infestations once all the organic measures mentioned above fail as insecticidal soups and oils can be a powerful tool but they are also more expensive in comparison to the previous methods.
Since these measures are both expensive and powerful make sure that you understand these products properly so that you can use them properly and responsibly with the least amount of wastage and collateral damage.
Insecticidal Soaps
These soaps function differently from dish soap as they are not capable of dissolving the outer exoskeleton tissue of insects. Instead, they work by disrupting the cell membranes of the insects on contact.
What this means is the aphids are suffocated. Unlike chemical pesticides, the insecticidal soaps are safer for the environment and quick to decompose once no longer needed as the traditional chemical pesticides can remain in the environment for extended periods of time.
It is however important to note that some insecticidal soaps are sold in highly concentrated forms so they will need to be diluted in water instead of being used as it is lest you risk damaging your plants.
Horticultural oils also work through contact similar to insecticidal soaps with the key difference being that they’re oils already prepared in the correct ratio and proportions and are commercially being sold over the counter for the express purpose of controlling weeds and pests.
These oils can be derived from any source such as neem oil, fish oil, or even petroleum oil. Make sure to always read the instructions to prevent any accidental damage or unintended consequences and side effects to your garden.
Some Important Considerations:
Read and follow the instructions written on the label thoroughly before using any insecticidal soap or oil to ensure safe practice such as practicing proper dilution, application techniques, and other precautions.
Always apply these products in the cooler hours of the day such as the morning or the evening as it helps minimize the risk of plant leaf scorching due to the heating of the oil by the sun.
Sometimes insecticidal soaps and oils may require multiple applications in order to fully control aphids and exterminate them.
Remember that while these measures are still less harsh than chemical pesticides, they still cause an impact on the environment and should only be considered after attempting more natural methods.
Lastly, oil-based insecticides are non-selective so they can also harm beneficial insects as pollinators so avoid applying them in excess, apply them in only necessary places in careful amounts.
6. Prevention
The best defense that you can have against any pest infestation is a good preventive network so you won’t have to deal with infestation. In this case, prevention curtails multiple things and can’t be summarized easily.
Below we have attempted to summarize several highly effective proactive steps that you can take to prevent the pesky aphid infestations from taking hold in your garden. A small effort now to save you huge amounts of effort in the future. Aphid-proof your plants by following these preventive methods:
Believe it or not aphids and their eggs can survive plenty of harsh conditions from 89°F heat to the chilling -40°F cold which allows them to successfully hitch a ride on plants that you introduce to your garden from outside.
Regardless of whether you got it from the wild or a nursery garden, always inspect the new plants thoroughly for pests before incorporating them into your garden. If any plants are suspicious, isolate them for a week before deciding to move them to your established garden.
Healthy Plants are Less Vulnerable
I’m sure this comes as no surprise to you, but aphid plants are more likely to target weak, stressed-out, or yellowed plants. Many plant-feeding bugs are attracted to yellow because it is often the color of weakened stressed-out plants.
You can ensure that your plants are in tip-top condition by providing them with the proper care. Do your due diligence and read about the plants’ requirements before planting them.
This can range from adequate sunlight, water, soil type, and content all the way to proper fertilization. Your plants won’t only be more resistant to aphids but also diseases.
Plant some decoy plants guaranteed to trick pests such as nasturtiums, sunflowers, and poppies. Aside from attracting aphid hunters, they can also act as an early warning system for your garden by being the first one that is preferred to be consumed by these pests.
This allows you to notice the pest problems that are about to occur in your garden well in advance so you can take appropriate measures to take care of the problems before they become too serious and difficult to handle.
Keep The Garden Clean
The cleanliness and presence of clutter in your garden also play a huge role in how often aphids attack your plant. After all, they provide hiding and breeding spots for aphids and other pests so they can increase their numbers under your nose without you realizing.
While understandably it's always possible to completely clean and declutter your garden, nature is supposed to be messy after all. The best way to go about it is to do small actions that have a huge impact such as removing weeds and plant debris from your garden.
These make for significant hiding spots for the aphids and some other pests. Make sure to keep your plants spaced properly and allow good air circulation to keep your plants in top health to prevent and deter aphid infestations.
Row Covers
While most well-established plants are perfectly capable of recovering from a light onslaught of aphids, young or recently transplanted plants are pretty vulnerable and won’t be able to recover should they get targeted.
To mitigate this issue, consider using row covers on those vulnerable plants as the lightweight fabrics create a small barrier against aphids while still allowing sunlight and air to pass through. It may not sound like it works but I assure you that it certainly does.
Shape: The most distinguishing feature of an aphid is its body shape. Imagine a tiny pear – that's what an aphid looks like! Their bodies are soft and usually plump, with a narrow head and a wider abdomen that tapers to a point.
Size: These sap-sucking pests are pretty small and typically range from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch (2-4 millimeters).
Color: While green is the most common color for aphids, it can also come in various shades. You might find them in yellow, red, black, brown, or even pink! Some species even have a combination of colors.
Tail-pipes: Aphids have two tail-pipes coming out from the end of their abdomen. These structures are unique to the aphids family and lend a high certainty that you're looking at an aphid.
