Nature has as many advantages as disadvantages. On the one hand, our garden offers us a fabulous spectacle with the profusion of plants and flowers that bloom over time. On the other hand, we have to deal with all those unwanted insects and pests that ruin the landscape. These aphids are a real calamity! They are tiny, but these nasty creatures have a knack for sneaking into young plant stems, sucking the sap, and preventing healthy growth. Not to mention, they further weaken our plants by poisoning them and triggering fungal diseases. When there is an aphid invasion in the garden, it is absolutely essential to deal with it with radical methods!
However, it’s not always necessary to use chemical pesticides, which are themselves harmful to health and the environment. If aphids have settled on your plants and flowers, there are always preventative, natural, and ecological ways to effectively eliminate all pests. Why not consider making your own organic pesticides and insecticides? They are simply prepared with ingredients you may already have at home or can easily find on the market. However, even if they are organic pesticides (biological or ecological), caution is advised: although they are natural, some of the materials we present to you contain substances toxic to your health*.
To combat aphids and all intruders in the garden or vegetable patch, here are some tips revealed by Anthony Lecompte, gardener and landscaper from Besançon.
Also read: The trick to keep cats away from the house with black pepper
NB : Ideally, we recommend that you avoid eating certain garden vegetables on the day you spray certain remedies on the plants. Otherwise, remember to wash them thoroughly under running water and keep them for a few minutes in a basin of clean, cold water.
A spray against beetles
Onion skins
Beetles include a whole family of insects such as beetles, coleopterans, and ladybugs. They have the particularity of having elytra, a pair of rigid, shell-like wings. Most are herbivorous species that cause serious damage to crops. How can you effectively repel them so that these beetles don’t disturb your plants?
Collect the skins from one onion in an airtight container with a lid or in an airtight bag and store them in the refrigerator. You can also add leftover garlic.
Then put everything in a bucket and fill it with lukewarm water. Let it sit for a few days, up to a week, in a sunny spot in the garden or on the patio. Then filter the resulting liquid and store it in a plastic bottle with a sprayer.
Bury onion scraps around plants and vegetables susceptible to aphids, spiders, and other pests. Spray the spray on garden or houseplants to protect them from all unwanted pests.
Treatment of white or black spots on plants
Plants often face dangerous diseases that can be fatal: rust, powdery mildew, brown rot, mold, etc. These disorders regularly cause mold, rot, spots (white, yellow, or black), moss, or dust on the leaves. These diseases are caused by insects, fungi, and certain fungal diseases. When you notice any of these symptoms, never ignore the problem. You must treat your plants quickly before their condition worsens and they eventually die.
An effective solution: Dilute 1 liter of whole milk in an 8-liter container of water. Mix well and spray roses or other plants damaged by mold. The stains will eventually disappear after a few sprays.
Treatment against plant aphids
Aphids on plants
Plant aphids absorb a sugary liquid, which is exactly what ants need for food. This way, the ants carry it throughout the plant. This usually forms a black mold or fungus filled with a black powder that grows on the leaves and stems. So, by controlling aphids, you can also get rid of those brown spots.
Mix 2 cups of cooking oil with 1 cup of liquid soap until you get a white mixture. Then take 1 tablespoon of this liquid and add it to a liter of water. Spray the plants with this solution in areas where they are infested with aphids. Do this when it’s 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 toothbrush.
Some remedies to keep aphids away from plants
Garlic spray
Spray
Finely chop 90g of garlic, cover with oil, and let it soften overnight. Then drain it, add 1 liter of soapy solution (liquid soap and water), and store the mixture in a jar with a lid.
Another tip: Chop 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves into small pieces, then blend them in a blender with 2 glasses of water. Strain the liquid and place it in a spray bottle. Spray the liquid on plants and flowers so that it covers the entire surface of the leaves.
The aluminum foil trick
Place pieces of aluminum foil on the soil at the base of the plants. The reflected light keeps insects away.
General purpose spray
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You will need 3 fresh or canned green chilies and 2-3 crushed garlic cloves. Place everything in a container. Add 3/4 teaspoon of liquid soap and 3 cups of water and let it sit for 24 hours.
Filter the mixture, remove the solid part and spray the resulting solution on the plants, making sure that the liquid covers the entire surface of the leaves.