I have just gone to check my plants before I go to bed (sad I know) and found an aubergine plant COVERED in greenfly, and little larvae on the soil. I checked the other plants near to it and found one greenfly on another plant, which I picked off and crushed. The smothered plant I put in a plastic bag and put in the bin :-[ (boo hoo). What can I do if this happend again? I want to do things organically so don't want to use any chemicals. Anyone have any advice? Thanks, Chlo
Oh, dear!
If you start from day one, squidging them daily, they should not take hold. We no longer use 'killers'
Except for predators on cus which are too tall & too prolofic to deal with.
It may have been weak - plants which get covered often are. But there's no need to throw them out; spraying with water with a drop of detergent in it kills them.
look around for a ladybird, pop it on the plant and watch with delight while nature works for you ;D
Ladybirds & the like - yes, lovely idea.
BUT - you don't know whether that ladybird is hungry &, while it makes up its mind, the pests are breeding at a frightening rate!
If you do go that way, the recommended treatment is 5-10 per plant.
So you'd better start searching!! Meanwhile, keep plants clean daily.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I will watching my plants even more carefully and pick off any beasties I see. I think you are probably right about the plant being weak. I am seeing my 4 year old niece later and I will send her out ladybird collecting! Thanks again.
other remedies include using a carefully directed jet of water to knock them off. Also, nettle or rhubarb infusions work when sprayed on.
If you know someone that smokes, try fumigating them with a spare f*g. You put the plant in a box, light the f*g and put it on top of the soil, close the box and hey presto. You have to watch that you dont set light to anything (plant, box etc) but its pretty effective. Make sure there's no predators there first.
Ive also heard that spraying them with a solution made from the contents of an old ashtray may also work.
very interesting David. Is it nettles in water and leave to rot down?
Rhubarb leaf is good. ;)
cut it up place in sausepan ( old one) cover with cold water bring to boil and simmer. Cool down and strain into bottle and mark it. Dilute it in a spray and squirt. Left overs can be added to compost heap.
Legal no but its organic. ;D
Yes I don't have this problem but have read that you should boil up some tobacco (like from old cigarette butts, not the filters obviously - I expect that boiling up a pack of ciggies is an expensive option! ) in some water and use that concoction to spray the aphids. Think it is the nicotine that kills 'em.
I have had them on flowers and also a wash in some mildy soapy water does the trick too. Hands on treatment. Depends on how many there are though.
I wouldn't use detergents or tobacco smoke as both contain chemicals. I make a garlic spray by popping a couple of cloves in the microwave with a little water for a minute to soften, whizzing them in the blender with a pint of water and straining. It works.
G x
Take care with Nicotine, it is an extremely virulent poison even in quite dilute form!
No need for anything so lethal; soapy water does it perfectly adequately. I don't even do that much, and I don't see plants being damaged; most of the time the aphids never build up much before something wipes them out.
I've had exactly the same problem with a few of my toms & aubies in the greenhouse, I suddenly notice one not doing very well then have a good look at it & it's covered in greenfly, the plants next to them don't seem affected so it seems just to be the weak ones. I am picking them off daily & one tom shows signs of recovery so all is not lost Choldonnay. :)
Phew, thanks all you've made me feel loads better. It was just so sad seeing one of my poor aubergine plants covered with little bugs, and having to cull it was awful! :'(
I'll keep checking and will pick them off when I see them and use some soapy water spray if needs be. Thanks again, Chlo :)