I have a mint plant that attracts aphids and other bugs like crazy. I want to use the mint in my cooking and drinks, so I don't want to use anything on the plant that could be harmful or poisonous. But there's a lot of aphids, and it's gross! When the pant gets REALLY eaten up, I prune it way back, and it grows back fine, until the aphids get to it again. Is there anything I can make or use to get the bugs off? Help!
2007-03-14 20:36:32 · 13 answers · asked by pomzajr 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
a few drops of dish soap, garlic juice, or make a liquid with garlic powder & water, and add these to a spray bottle. Fill with tepid water and spray plant, under the leaves, too. We use it outdoors in the gardens, as well. If it rains, or when you see new bugs, do it again. It is safe, just wash it off.
2007-03-15 02:14:50 · answer #1 · answered by Karen L 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Those answering soap n water are right on . May i suggest the spray bottle is good as the aphids feed on the undersides of the leaves especially, and you can spray upwards n get them. If you are using potted plants just put your fingers over the dirt and swish the plant in your dish water after it is cool and then rinse.Soon you won't have any more aphids at least for a good long time.
2007-03-15 02:32:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you haven't already used a systematic type of solution, which since it's edible you probably haven't, then the lady bugs are the only natural way. I forgot that I had used one of those slow type of root system poisons that work from the inside out on my roses and released the ladybugs just like it said and awoke to thousands of dead ladybugs instead. I felt terrible. It tells you on the container to release them around your plants at night because they don't fly at night and they will crawl straight to the nearest plants and settle in and if there is plenty of aphids for them to chow on they will be happy to stay right there. If you let the ladybugs out in the day they are sure to scatter and not many will stay where you need them. Dish soap and water is good to wash leaves with but a blast of water from the hose works good on sturdy things like rose bushes but might crush your mint. There is a spray that is less harmful than poison that you can use up to two week before harvest it says then wash good before using. I used it for my corn.
2007-03-15 01:23:18 · answer #3 · answered by lilrunaway45 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are three ways that I can think of.
#1- Some garden centers sell or can order Lady Bugs which will eat them.
#2- They do make "safe" insecticide to spray on fruit, vegetables, and house plants. This stuff can be bought at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot, and I'm sure just about any garden shop, nursery, or department store with a gardening section.
#3- Spray the plant frequently with jets of water. I do this with my roses to help control them. During the day I just point the hose and give the plant a good squirting. This will have to be done frequently because they will come back but it does help.
Good Luck!!! :)
2007-03-14 21:27:11 · answer #4 · answered by Valkyrie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Horticultural oil or soap will do the trick and be safe. You'll have to wash the plants off before you use them.
You can try just using dishwashing detergent and water first. That does a pretty good job on aphids. They smother in the soap film.
2007-03-15 01:33:15 · answer #5 · answered by thegubmint 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-18 09:51:45 · answer #6 · answered by richard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a ladybug house in your garden and put a ladybug pheromone in it or just order a bunch of ladybugs from the internet to get it started. The pheromone will draw and keep your ladybugs right where you want them.
Ladybugs chow down on aphids!
2007-03-15 01:56:56 · answer #7 · answered by jhvnmt 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1
2017-02-15 15:27:23 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a weak solution of washing up liquid in water-it will kill them off.-or else catch some of the outflow from your washing machine and pour that over your mint-same effect
2007-03-14 23:27:05 · answer #9 · answered by bearbrain 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ladybugs! They love aphids, and you can order them online.
2007-03-15 06:22:54 · answer #10 · answered by Lisa P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋