There are various effective home remedies that combat green aphids on garden and indoor plants. Find out here what they are, how they are manufactured and what advantages and disadvantages an application entails.
Table of Contents
“First aid”
If green aphids have been spotted on a plant, immediate action should be taken. Regardless of the home remedy used to combat the pests, the following steps will contain the spread and ideally reduce the extent of the infestation:
- Immediately isolate indoor/potted plants from neighboring plants
- Pluck severely infested leaves and dispose of safely under lock and key
- Wipe heavily infested shoots with kitchen paper or something similar from bottom to top
- shower affected plants with high water pressure/strong water jet
- Don’t forget the underside of the leaves
- Depending on the type of plant, the time of year and what is available, place indoor plants outside for a few days
Home remedies for green aphids
Below we present six natural remedies that have proven themselves in the fight against green aphids. They are all easy to make and easy to use.
nettle broth
mode of action
The smell of stinging nettles (not only) deters green aphids, which subsequently leave treated plants. In addition, the formic acid it contains causes organ injuries that can even lead to death. Furthermore, nettle broth strengthens the plant’s defenses, making it more difficult to suck out the parasites.
manufacturing
- Add 100 to 200 grams of fresh, crushed nettles per liter of water
- let stand for two days and stir occasionally (no longer, otherwise fermentation)
- Sieve out nettle residue
- Before use, mix broth with lime-free water in a ratio of 1:10
application
- Immediately fill the strained brew into a spray bottle and use it
- Spray the plants generously until dripping wet, including the undersides of the leaves
- Choose a cloudy day for application, otherwise there is a risk of burns
- Frequency of use: for about 14 days at intervals of two to three days
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + can be produced quickly and inexpensively + acts as a fertilizer at the same time + environmentally and climate-friendly + acts reliably against green aphids and other sucking plant pests | – desired result requires patience – strong odor – short shelf life , therefore rapid consumption and renewed production effort with each application – sensitive plants can react with burns |
garlic broth
mode of action
In the case of garlic brew, it is mainly the smell of the essential oils that makes it. If the green pests also ingest them with food, the oils clog the airways and death by suffocation occurs.
manufacturing
- Peel and chop the garlic cloves
- Place in bowl/pot and pour over 1 liter of boiling water
- leave for at least 30 minutes
- Sieve out the garlic residue
application
- spray infested plants dripping wet with gentle pressure using a spray bottle
- Treat nearby plants as well
- Frequency of use: daily for at least 14 days; on rainy days several times during rain breaks
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + long shelf life + quickly manufactured + environmentally and climate-friendly + also keeps other pests at bay | – lengthy, frequent application required – effective effect only with continuous use without longer interruptions – less suitable for houseplants in closed rooms due to intensive smell |
milk
mode of action
The lactic acid or the substance lecithin it contains has a lethal effect here . Due to the fat content, the milk sticks to the body of green aphids, the lactic acid sticks together the outer skin and breathing stops as a result.
manufacturing
- Mix UHT or fresh milk and water in a ratio of 1:2 (example: 100 milliliters of milk with 200 milliliters of water)
- add a drop of cooking oil to promote adhesion
application
- Pour the milk-oil mixture into the spray container
- Spray plants liberally all over
- Time of application: early in the morning and late in the evening so that the sun does not cause burn marks
- Frequency of use: once a day; in case of severe infestation, twice a day until all pests are gone
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + no damaging effect on plants + climate and environmentally friendly + simultaneous control of other sucking pests + effectively prevents powdery mildew + quick preparation and ingredients available in every household | – possible fermentation with unpleasant smell at high temperatures; therefore only conditionally applicable for indoor plants – lactic acid can attack building materials such as concrete and uncoated ceramic pots and cause “blind spots” on metal – prepared only lasts a few days |
rapeseed oil
mode of action
Canola oil is one of the home remedies that is most effective at fighting green aphids. It makes parts of the plant slippery so that the parasites have nowhere to eat. In addition, the oil film covers the body surface. This prevents oxygen exchange and suffocates the aphids.
manufacturing
- Mix about 90 milliliters of rapeseed oil with five liters of water
application
- water the plants dripping wet from all sides with a spray container
- Frequency of use: every other day for a week
- Rinse leaves thoroughly after treatment, as oil can inhibit photosynthesis
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + manufactured quickly + no harmful effects on humans or plants + natural, biodegradable product + works very effectively against green aphids | – also kills beneficial insects on contact with oil mixture – if not rinsed off, photosynthesis disorders possible |
soft soapy water
mode of action
Soft soap has a pH between 8.0 and 11.0. In aphids, contact triggers organ failure. In addition, the soft soap clogs the airways, which leads to suffocation. If the solution settles on the leaves, it spoils the appetite of the pests and the smell often makes them keep their distance.
manufacturing
- Stir about 20 grams of soft soap into 1 liter of warm water
- Alternative: Break up 50 grams of curd soap per liter of water and dissolve in it
application
- Pour the lye into the spray pump
- Spray plants completely dripping wet with soft water pressure
- Mist soil to wet fallen green aphids
- Frequency of application: every two to three days until no more pests can be seen
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + biodegradable and environmentally friendly household remedies + cheap, quick and easy to produce + can be used without harmful consequences + effective effect + lye has a very long shelf life | – a high pH value can penetrate the protective shell of useful insects and kill them too – some plants react with damage to alkalis, so it is advisable to try them out on a small area beforehand – smell and taste can drive green aphids to neighboring plants |
onion broth
mode of action
An onion broth has a similar effect to garlic broth. When fighting green aphids, the essential oils also contained have a mucous membrane-irritating effect. The airways swell and organs slowly decompose, leading to the death of the pests. In addition, smell and taste spoil the appetite.
manufacturing
- Cut one onion per liter of water into medium-sized pieces and bring to the boil
- Simmer for 30 minutes
- Sieve out onion pieces
- let cool down
application
- pour into spray containers
- Spray all parts of the plant and soil generously and over a large area
- Frequency of application: every ten to fourteen days; in case of severe lice infestation every seven to eight days
| benefits | disadvantage |
|---|---|
| + plant-friendly application/effect + longer effectiveness than garlic stock, therefore less frequent use necessary + environmentally friendly and climate -friendly + is well tolerated by plants, especially sensitive roses + significantly longer shelf life than nettle stock + quick preparation without long preparation time | – Odor can have a disturbing effect on indoor plants – Slowly progressing effectiveness |
frequently asked Questions
Conditional. Vinegar doesn’t kill them, but creates an acidic environment that lice don’t like, so stay away. But the targeted use of vinegar as an insecticide against green aphids is prohibited by law for environmental reasons. Therefore, vinegar should not be used.
The natural predators include above all arch and parasitic wasps, ladybirds and lacewings. Gall midges in particular are considered to be very voracious and can also be used on greenhouse and indoor plants without any problems.
No. It is “either or” because most of the effective home remedies can also be fatal to natural predators.
