By the way, you will also want to check plants, both edible and ornamental, near the infested ones. I found those little buggers were also beginning to munch on my pepper plants! This is the solution that worked for me in just a couple of days by adjusting assorted homemade recipe ingredients that I came across on the web. First, in the case of my dill, I cut off the upper portions, which were most likely no longer fit to consume anyway, rinsed the remaining portions of the plants with a heavy stream of water and then heavily sprayed the plants and the surrounding soil with a water bottle using the following recipe:
Note: On the third and fourth days I did find a couple of renegade aphids on the stems and gave them a quick spray. When I checked each morning thereafter, those same little guys were brown and dead. I have absolutely no clue how or why but it gave me great satisfaction. ;-)
By Deeli from Richland, WA
Controlling aphids takes spraying the leaves (both top and bottom) and also I spray the top of the soil. I do this every day (sometimes twice a day if the infestation is severe) for at least 3 to 5 days. It is important to keep checking the plant every day or two, since there may be a new hatch of aphids.
For plants that are outdoors having lady beetles is one of the best solutions. The lady beetle larvae just love to munch on the aphids.
As a side note, if you notice ants on a plant that has aphids you will find that the ants are actually "herding" the aphids. They love the sweet nectar that the aphids produce and they keep and protect the aphids as we would do with cattle, sheep, or goats. I mentioned this to a friend at our office who had ants and aphids on a plant and at first he thought I had totally lost my mind when I said the ants were herding their aphids. After I explained the relationship between the two, he seemed to understand and didn't question my sanity.
By Lilly M from NW MI
By MJ from AK
Is using soapy water on Hibiscus aphids as effective as purchasing a commercial product?
Hardiness Zone: 9b
By jpear from Riverside, CA
Aphids are trying to take over my houseplants. Help!
Hardiness Zone: 8b
By Keri from southern NM
08/18/2010If you use any type of spray, even something like Safer Soap, on your plants, it will take them a couple of weeks to recover, so I use plain old water to get rid of aphids.
Place a plant in the kitchen sink, use the sprayer to spray the under-side of each leaf, washing off the aphids. If any fall into the soil, it's OK, the aphids won't climb back up.
How do I get rid of aphids on my strawberries without using anything that would be harmful to our grandson and our Yorkie?
Hardiness Zone: 8b
By Chemoangeljudie from Apple Valley, CA
By prov31mom04/20/2009Another idea is planting garlic or green onions in the area. I have little green onions which put up their own seed "heads" (multiplier bulbs), so there's always more to plant and replace those picked for salads, etc. This is also good anti-thrip on the rosebush protection.
I need a home recipe to get rid of aphids on my cabbage.
By Judy from Waverly, OH
By T&T Grandma06/16/2010You need cabbage dust. Check garden supply shop, farm supply.
There was a post awhile back about making your own pest control out of soap and water. I need a pest control for aphids and whitefly. Can someone help me?
By mother3times from Interlachen, FL
08/30/2009Using sprays on white flies can and does kill other critters. There are some effective systemic products but same result. The biggest concern is bees on flowering plants. If they have white flies I would only use a non residual contact killer. Bees are too important to indiscriminately kill.
I read the answer re: milkweed for butterflies. I have a much harder time trying to grow them, from seed-starting, to trying to keep the sucking aphids off every day. Your other grower stated he had grown "tons" of milkweed in Spring Hill, FL.
I spray regularly with soapy water, but that's not getting rid of enough in my butterfly garden. I have sandy soil, water, open sun exposure. What am I doing wrong? Thanks so much.
Hardiness Zone: 9a
By Phyllis from Clermont, FL
By florida gal03/26/2010Phyllis: I forgot to mention that the only reason I grow tropical milkweed is that they are a host plant for the monarch butterflies. The caterpillars are going to totally strip off every leaf from the plant so I don't care about the aphids. After all of the leaves are gone and the caterpillars have climbed my wooden fence and are tucked snug in their chrysalis I cut the plant down to about 8 inches off the ground and they start to grow all over again. You can do the same thing since you are only about 2 hours from me. The monarch butterflies like my zinnias, verbena and vincas also but those are not host plants.
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Getting Rid of Aphids on Cabbage