How to deal with aphids on indoor plants and win: effective methods for home conditions

Aphid is a terribly unpleasant insect that likes to spoil not only the appearance of the plant, but can also lead to its death. Aphid spreads very quickly, so the fight against the pest must begin in a timely manner.

In this article we will talk about methods of dealing with aphids at home, what to do if it appeared in the ground or on the indoor flowers themselves, how to get rid of the pest quickly.

What is this insect?

Before you start fighting the parasite, let's find out what this insect really is.

Aphid is a tiny insect belonging to the order of beetles. It parasitizes plants. Nowadays, there are about four thousand species of aphids (more details about the types of aphids can be found here). In Europe, there are about a thousand species of insect. They all differ in size and color.

Most of these insects do not exceed 1-3 mm, although there are species larger up to 7 mm. Aphids can be of yellow, white, green, pink and black colors (you can learn more about white aphids and how to fight it here). Each colony has individuals with and without wings. Wingless aphid is used for breeding, and winged is responsible for distribution.

If an insect has enough food (in more detail about what aphids feed on in nature, you can find out here), then only wingless aphids, providing instant reproduction, can appear on domestic flowers. The female is capable of producing 100 thousand offspring in one month.

On a note. Aphids have a special proboscis, which serves to pierce and suck the sap from the plant. Aphids exude a sugary liquid while sucking juices, and this attracts other insects, especially ants, with which it can create symbiosis.

Learn more about the symbiosis of aphids and ants can be found here.

A photo

Below you will see a photo of what aphids look like in room flowers:

Where does it come from?

Often aphid settles on plants in whole colonies, so it will not be so difficult to spot it.

Also You can bring the plant louse into the house, with the plant you just bought from the store. Therefore, carefully inspect the plant before you buy. Together with the new land, the aphid also penetrates the house, so disinfect the soil of the plant, especially the one that was taken on the street.

How to recognize and what to do in the first place?

By the following signs aphids can be easily recognized:

• A sticky substance appeared on the stem and leaves.
• Buds and stems seem to be "hairy" - this means that your plant has a whole colony of aphids.
• The appearance of dark spots.
• Blooming flowers seem ugly and painful.
• Shoots turn yellow and wither.

The first step is to cut all the buds and leaves that have lesions. Immediately put the flower away from others and inspect the rest of the plants. Next, you need to wipe with a solution of soap and alcohol the place where the flower was located, the windows and the outer sides of the pots.

How to withdraw it with your own hands?

First you need to try to prevent the emergence of flower aphids on your houseplants. There are some methods of prevention that will help in this:

1. Inspect the plant regularly.
2. Purchased flowers should be placed in the quarantine zone for at least a week.
3. In the summer you can put mint leaves between the pots, the aphid does not tolerate them.
4. Follow the microclimate. With high temperature and dry air, the insect develops faster.

But if, aphid appeared in your house, immediately take the following measures:

1. Replace the top layer of the substrate in the pot.
2. Before applying the product to the plant, wash it under a shower or wipe it with a cotton swab. It can be treated with methyl alcohol diluted with water or with a solution of soap.
3. Once processed, the tool must be washed off and leave the flower to dry. Then the plant and the top layer of soil are sprayed with a systemic insecticide.
4. Ventilate the room well so that no chemical agent remains.

How to process flowers at home?

The most effective are chemicals. They can completely destroy the aphids on domestic plants. Fitoverm copes with aphids and most gardeners advise to use this drug in the first place.

On a note. "Fitoverm" is an insectoacaricide of biological origin with minimal danger to humans and domestic animals.

The main advantage of the drug is its harmlessness. Also, the advantage is that the processing of indoor plants is possible during the period of fruit ripening. The effect of habituation of insects to Fitoverm is not.

The disadvantage - mixing with other drugs is prohibited.

To destroy the pest will need to dissolve 2 ml of the drug in 200 ml of water and spray the plant. The procedure is carried out once in 6-8 days, it all depends on the size of the plant and its age. As a rule, three or four sprays are enough to completely destroy the aphids. The Fitoverma price depends on the number of ampoules in the package. 4 mg package - costs 17-20 rubles.

If failed to acquire Fitoverm, Excellent drug called Aktara. This powerful systemic insecticide easily removes aphids from indoor plants. The effect is enteric-contact.

This drug is toxic, however, the smell is weak, so you can use it at home. Aktara is very economical, since even a small dose of the drug is enough for a fairly large area. High efficiency allows you to make the minimum number of treatments. The performance of the Aktar environmental conditions do not affect. The preparation is very convenient to use, it can simply be applied to the soil.

The flower is sprayed with Aktara solution (1 gram per 1.25 liter of water). Treatment is done 3-4 times every ten days. Most often, after two or three times the aphid treatment disappears. Rinse Aktar is not necessary. For 4 grams of the drug will have to pay 100 rubles.

How to quickly get rid of the pest?

1. How can I remove aphids from violets? It is necessary to process a flower indoors. For violets are well suited such drugs as:
   • Fitoverm.
   • Aktara.
   • Actofit.
   • Intavir

   After treatment, be sure to air the apartment. If the street is already warmer, then it is better to persecute aphids on the balcony. Repeat treatment after a few weeks if necessary.

2. Means against aphids on the plant Kalanchoe. Treat the flower with potash once a week for a month. Excellent helps pruning damaged areas of Kalanchoe. Chemical aphids for Kalanchoe:
   • Calypso.
   • Aktara.
   • Inta-sup.
3. How to deal with aphids on geraniums? When insects appear, aspirin is often used. The tablet needs to be dissolved in eight liters of water. And once in 21 days the geranium is sprayed. The drug Marathon perfectly copes with aphids. It is brought into the ground and poured water. It is necessary to apply 1 time per season. Effective for 90 days.
4. What to do if aphid appeared on hibiscus, how to remove a pest? If only some leaves of hibiscus are affected, they can be pruned. In more serious cases, apply:
   • Nicotine sulfate.
   • Decis.
   • Fitoverm.
   • Tobacco dust.
5. What is necessary to sprinkle a flower if aphid appeared on the chrysanthemum? Chemicals to combat aphids on chrysanthemum:
   • Metaphos.
   • Karbofos.
   • Aktara.
   • Fitoverm.

   Important! It is better to carry out treatment on the street or on the balcony. Chrysanthemum should be processed completely from the root to the top. It is also necessary to process the soil, for this Aktar is suitable.

6. What to do with aphids on azaleas? Most often on azaleas aphid parasitizes entire colonies. It is worth fighting with it with the help of a 0.3% solution of Karbofos, a 0.1% solution of Aktellik or Ambush.

Conclusion

Recognizing aphid on houseplants is pretty easy, you just have to do a regular inspection. And also easy to get rid of it, especially with the help of chemicals. And it is possible to completely prevent the appearance of aphids, if you do prophylaxis for plants.

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