Aphids show no mercy when weakened balcony plants cross their path. Within a few days, shoots and leaves are covered with the penetrating pests. The earlier balcony gardeners counterattack, the more effective the counterattack will be. Reaching for the chemical club is usually superfluous. How to act correctly in case of aphid infestation on balcony plants.

Heavily infested balcony plants should be quarantined

Recognizing aphid infestation in good time - tips on the symptoms

The earlier you start fighting aphids, the better the chances of survival for affected balcony plants. The following symptoms indicate a pest infestation:

  • Ruffled leaf margins
  • Sticky coating on the undersides of the leaves
  • Stunted flowers, shoots and leaves
  • Yellow spots on the foliage

Successfully fight aphids with home remedies - this is how it works

If you have found out about aphids, infested balcony plants are first of all quarantined. If the insects sense trouble, a winged generation develops in no time at all and migrates to neighboring plants. In isolation, target plant lice with the following home remedies:

  • Rinse off aphids with as strong a jet of water as possible - even overhead
  • Spray made from 1 liter of water and 2 to 3 tablespoons of pure soft soap plus 1 tablespoon of spirit
  • Alternatively, buy ready-to-use soap from Neudosan and spray on repeatedly

You can make a powerful aphid remedy from the fresh leaves of non-flowering nettle plants. To do this, pour 1 liter of boiling water over 100 grams of nettle leaves and let the brew steep for 24 hours. Then strain the broth and dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:10. Every 2 to 3 days, spray the entire plant until dripping wet, including the undersides of the leaves.

Aphid-infested balcony plants do not tolerate spray - what to do?

Fighting aphids with water-based sprays is counterproductive if fungal diseases such as powdery mildew are already rampant on the balcony. Damp leaves and shoots attract fungal spores of all kinds, so a dry control method comes into focus. A powder sprayer or hand brush is required to apply the following:

  • Algae lime (effective against aphids and fungal diseases at the same time)
  • rock flour
  • Pure wood ash

Ideally, pollinate the aphid-infested balcony plants in the early morning when the leaves are damp from dewdrops.

tips

Before wintering in the basement, please examine your balcony plants with a magnifying glass for aphids and their eggs. In late summer, the last females produce numerous eggs, which they hide well on the underside of the leaves or in the leaf axils.

Category:

Indoor plants