Nature presents both benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, our garden provides us with a breathtaking display as plants and flowers flourish over time. On the other hand, we must contend with unwelcome insects and pests that mar the landscape. Aphids, in particular, are a significant nuisance. Despite their small size, these pesky creatures have a knack for infiltrating plant stems, sapping their sap, and hindering healthy growth. Moreover, they weaken plants further by introducing toxins and prompting fungal infections. When faced with an aphid invasion, it is imperative to take decisive action with effective methods.
However, you do not systematically need to resort to chemical pesticides, which are themselves harmful to health and the environment. If aphids have taken up residence on your plants and flowers, there are always certain preventive, natural and ecological means to effectively get rid of all the parasites. Why not consider making your own organic pesticides and insecticides? They are simply made from ingredients that you may already have at home or that you can easily obtain on the market. However, even if they are organic pesticides (organic or ecological), caution is required: although they are natural, certain materials that we are going to present to you contain substances toxic to your health*.
To fight against aphids and all intruders in the garden or vegetable patch, here are some tips revealed by Anthony Lecompte, gardener and landscaper in Besançon.
NB : Ideally, we do not recommend eating certain vegetables from the vegetable garden on the day you spray the plants with certain remedies. Otherwise, remember to wash them well under running water and keep them for a few minutes in a bowl of clean cold water.
A Spray Against Beetles
Beetles include a whole family of insects such as beetles, chafers and other ladybugs. They have the particularity of having elytra, a pair of rigid wings in the form of a carapace. Most are herbivorous species which severely damage crops. How to hunt them effectively so that these beetles do not disturb your plants?
Collect the skins of an onion in an airtight container with a lid or in a closed bag, and store in the refrigerator. You can also add leftover garlic.
Then put everything in a bucket and fill it with lukewarm water. Leave it to act for a few days, up to a week, in a sunny place in the garden or on the terrace. Then filter the resulting liquid and store it in a plastic bottle with a sprayer.
Bury onion scraps around plants and vegetables that are susceptible to attack by aphids, spiders and other pests. Spray the spray on garden or indoor plants to protect them from all unwanted people.
Treating White or Black Spots on Plants
Plants often face dangerous diseases which can be fatal to them: rust, powdery mildew, moniliosis, downy mildew. These ailments regularly trigger mold, rot, spots (white, yellow or black), moss or powder on the leaves. Insects, fungi and certain cryptogamic conditions are involved. When you notice some of these symptoms, never ignore the problem. You must quickly treat your plants before their condition worsens and they end up dying.
An effective solution: dilute 1 liter of whole milk in a container of 8 liters of water. Mix well and spray on roses or other plants attacked by mold. The stains will eventually disappear after a few sprays.
Plant Aphid Treatment
Plant aphids take a sweet liquid, the same one that is coveted by ants to feed on. This way the ants carry it all over the entire plant. Which usually forms a black mold or fungus filled with a black powder that grows on leaves and stems. So by controlling aphids, you can also get rid of these dark spots.
Mix 2 cups of edible oil with a cup of liquid soap until you have a white mixture. Then take 1 tablespoon of this liquid and put it in a liter of water. With this solution, spray the plants in areas where they are invaded by aphids. Carry out this operation when it is not very hot outside, so as not to burn the plant leaves.
NB: Sometimes, when aphids are clearly visible, you can simply remove them with your hand or a small brush.
Some Remedies to Keep Aaphids Away From Plants
Garlic-based spray
Finely chop 90 g of garlic, cover with oil and leave to soften overnight. Then drain it, add 1 liter of soap solution (liquid soap and water) and store the mixture in a jar with a lid.
Another tip: Cut 1 onion and 2 cloves of garlic into pieces, then blend them in a blender with 2 cups of water. Filter the liquid and place it in a spray bottle. Spray the liquid on the plants and flowers so that it covers the entire surface of the leaves.
The aluminum foil trick
Place pieces of foil on the soil at the base of the plants. The reflection of the light keeps insects away.
General purpose spray
You will need 3 fresh or canned green chilies and 2 to 3 pureed garlic cloves. Place everything in a container. Add 3/4 teaspoon of liquid soap and 3 cups of water and leave for 24 hours.
Filter the mixture, remove the solid part and spray the resulting solution on the plants, ensuring that the liquid covers the entire surface of the leaves.
