How to get rid of aphids on indoor flowers: effective remedies and useful recommendations

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Published: 08/16/2018

Reading time: 4 min

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The fastest way to get rid of aphids is to use chemicals. But flower growers assure that it is better to fight with environmentally friendly folk methods - infusions and decoctions.

• 1 How does the pest manifest itself?
• 2 How does a pest get into the house?
• 3 Consequences of aphids
• 4 How to deal with aphids on orchids
• 5 How to get rid of aphids on indoor plants without harming them?
• 6 Traditional methods of pest control
• 7 Preventive measures against aphids

How does the pest manifest itself?

Soon after the aphids appear, the leaves of indoor flowers are wrapped in tubes. Experienced gardeners know what aphids look like. If you carefully examine the curled leaves, you will see very small through punctures and tiny insects, the size of which does not exceed 2-3 mm. The color of parasites is white or light green.

It is noteworthy that white aphids are not able to pierce indoor plants with hard leaves. Aphids often grow on violets and other delicate leaves - begonias, cyclamens. So, there can also be aphids on Kalanchoe, but the leaves of the plant are dense and leathery.

Get rid of the pest immediately; you will see that the plants are covered with small growths - the colony has begun to multiply. The trunks of the same indoor palm trees are too tough for the insect, since the proboscis will not bite through the durable shell of the tree. Aphids may well appear on ficus while the plant is young.

The harmful insect sucks sap from leaves or branches. A small number of insects leads to a noticeable weakening of plants, and when the colony of pests becomes numerous, it leads to the death of domestic flowers. Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of aphids on indoor plants.

Mechanical methods of getting rid of pests

You can save indoor flowers using mechanical cleaning, but this method is effective only at the initial stage of infection. To preserve the plant, remove damaged leaves, buds and shoots and wash it daily under running water. A solution of laundry soap will help to achieve maximum effect. Processing procedure:

1. Prepare a soap solution from laundry soap and water in a ratio of 1:6.
2. Prepare the necessary attributes, put on rubber gloves.
3. Soak a sponge in the solution and thoroughly wipe all leaves, shoots and stems. Avoid getting the product on the soil.
4. Rinse the plant with clean running water.
5. Repeat the treatment daily until the parasites are completely eliminated.

To mechanically remove aphids, wipe the leaves daily with a damp sponge, remove affected shoots and bathe the flowers under running water.

As an alternative to soap solution, you can use medical alcohol - dissolve 6 tbsp in 1 liter of water. spoons of the product and wipe all the leaves. This composition effectively removes pests and does not damage the leaves, since ammonia quickly evaporates from the surface.

To be sure to get rid of aphids, replace the top part of the soil, where eggs and larvae of pests may be. In this case, choose high-quality soil that has been disinfected or frozen.

How does a pest get into the house?

It doesn't take much for aphids to appear on house plants - if you don't properly care for the flowers, they will start appearing. The exception is if you purchased a plant already infested with aphids.

Inspect the newcomer carefully, because the insect will quickly choose other flowers. Therefore, after purchasing a green pet, carefully inspect it. If its appearance does not cause suspicion, still do not rush to place it next to other flowers. Quarantine it away from other plants.

The pest may appear when changing the soil in the pot. However, this will only be your fault: you forgot to disinfect the new soil mixture, and there were aphid eggs in it. To disinfect, heat the soil in the oven or heat it in the microwave. You can also freeze the soil in the freezer. Keep it there for several days, the larvae and eggs of parasitic insects will die.

Aphids start if a flower pot is in the yard, even when the room is ventilated. This is usually how the winged individuals of this pest end up as uninvited guests. Aphids can also be carried by domestic dogs or cats.

Signs of a houseplant being affected by aphids

With periodic inspections of flowers, you can notice in time that the plant is sick. External modifications will be visible on it:

• Young shoots wither and curl up.
• A syrupy trail has appeared (produced by pests).
• Blackness has spread - sooty fungus (carried by a parasite).
• Flowers have shrunk or not opened.
• The shape of the buds has changed.
• The presence of a mass accumulation of individuals on the outer side of the leaf.
• Growths have formed on the trunk.

At the initial moment, when there are still few pests, you can notice small punctures on the leaves and the insects themselves. Later they will begin to curl up. Parasites cannot bite through the bark, so they do not settle there.

If an aphid attacks young plants, its death will occur quite quickly. A large colony can stop growth and harm even a more mature flower.

Consequences of aphids

Inspect your flowers often so you can spot signs of aphids in time. This should be done at least every time you water the plants.

If you notice that the flowers are “decorated” with thick, damp spots, then this is a sign that the colony is successfully reproducing. Such a substance is a product of the vital activity of this insect.

Curled, fading young leaves of domestic flowers are also a sign that the aphid has “tried its best.”

Black spots on leaves are a disease called sooty fungus. Its causative agent is aphids.

A multiplied colony of aphids manifests itself by the appearance of jelly-like spots, white or light green, on the bottom of the leaves.

Aphids also find themselves on the buds of flowering plants. Due to its influence, the buds look underdeveloped, the flowers from them turn out small or do not bloom at all.

Description of aphids

Aphids are small insects with an elongated body and long legs. Its belly is quite wide with a pointed end. The color varies: pale, greenish, pinkish, pale yellow, black. The most common aphid is white. All types cause the same harm. The insect sucks the sap of plants by piercing the leaves. Feels great in any environment and adapts well. Reproductive function is well developed.

Species differ in color and the presence of wings. The winged one searches for and captures new habitats, and the wingless one reproduces. Each female lays about 100 larvae, which after 2 weeks become adults. Most often they can be found on young shoots and buds, and on the leaves - on the inside.

How to deal with aphids on orchids

The manifestation of aphid infestation of a flower can vary. This depends on the care of the epiphyte and the size of the pest colony. Signs:

• insects crawl on leaves, stems, buds, flowers;
• orchid flower stalks begin to fade and crumble;
• orchid leaves lose their attractiveness, their shape changes, some leaves curl into a tube;
• the orchid trunk becomes covered with dark spots, and they increase in size;
• aphids secrete secretory fluid - sticky spots appear.

Aphids on orchids love excessively dry ambient air, high temperatures, and weakness of the plant. The latter happens due to a lack of nutrients in the soil. Buy specialized soil for orchids; do not forget to feed your flower. You can use the same remedies for aphids on orchids as for other indoor plants.

Mr. Summer Resident advises: ways to prevent damage to indoor plants by aphids

Every gardener knows that it is easier to prevent than to remove pests and treat a diseased plant.

It is recommended to carry out a number of preventive measures to prevent aphid infestation:

• Newly purchased flowers need to be quarantined for a while. Be sure to use a warm shower.
• The soil is kept cold (in the freezer) for a short time before planting. You can warm it up in the microwave or bake it in the oven.
• Carry out systematic inspection.
• Provide access to fresh air.
• Moisturize periodically. Sometimes put it under a warm shower.
• Prevent the appearance of ants. If they appear, then treat them.
• Use folk remedies.

How to get rid of aphids on indoor plants without harming them?

Lather and rinse off the sticky substance from the plants, rinse the stains with warm water. The secretory mucus of aphids is a favorite delicacy of black ants; they can also infest the house, but it is difficult to remove them. After treating plants against aphids with soap, it is worth using one of the following methods of prevention against their reappearance.

• Prepare from citrus peels. Pour 100 grams of peel with a liter of boiling water, leave for three days. Then spray the plants against white aphids with the infusion.
• An interesting way is peppermint or tea tree essential oil. 30 drops of oil per half liter of water is enough. Spray all house plants with this solution, not just the affected flower. When the air temperature is above 25 degrees and its humidity is high, you cannot use this product! Aphids on lemons are afraid of this method.

If we talk about orchids, then an effective preventative against aphids is the essential oil of the Neem tree. It does not need to be diluted in water, just moisten a tampon with it and lubricate a few orchid leaves. Flowers tolerate the effects of oil well, and aphids do not get used to it.

Types of aphids on flowers

There is no significant difference in the degree of parasitism between different species. They all feed on plant juices and lay eggs on the underside of the leaf. After hatching, the larvae immediately begin to wreck.

Females lay eggs without fertilization. Throughout the warm period of the year, females are born. The family lives on one plant or moves to neighboring ones. At the end of summer, winged individuals are born - females and males. This migratory generation of aphids is capable of moving to any plant and establishing huge colonies in a short time.

Important!

Over the course of several weeks of her life, the female lays about 150 eggs. Each time 40 pieces. The larvae develop in the egg in room conditions in 10 days. They penetrate into the leaf plate, disrupt its integrity, and draw out important substances. In a month, without emergency measures, the plant risks dying.

Different types of aphids clearly differ from each other in body color. Several pests appear on indoor flowers:

• White aphid. Migrating individuals with wings. Dicotyledonous plants are affected; legumes are the most susceptible to attack. The pest overwinters on pistachio trees.
• Green. Apple aphid that attacks pears, plums, and quinces. Overwinters near the buds under the bark.
• Black aphid. Garden aphids, covering several species. Body brown, blue, black. Affects any garden, vegetable crops, decorative flowers.
• Yellow. It affects coniferous trees and lives permanently on their branches. 10 generations are hatched per season. He breaks into the house by accident.
• Bloody. Characterized by a bright red color. Winters on elm. Several generations of wingless individuals grow there, then winged females and males appear and migrate to apple trees.

A photo of the aphid is located below.

Types of aphids

There is no particular point in figuring out which species has captured the home flower. All insects are called aphids; identical methods and methods of control are used. But many people are interested in where pests come from.

Traditional methods of pest control

How else to treat an orchid? The methods are good for all house plants - pelargoniums, saintpaulias and others.

Infusions of tops. You can remove aphids at home using an infusion of tomato or potato tops. To prepare, take 500 grams of tops and finely chop them. Pour the mixture with a liter of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for half an hour. After cooling completely at room temperature, strain the infusion and add the powdered laundry soap.

Treat some of the orchid leaves with this product and see how the plant accepts the solution. If after a day you do not notice any changes, then feel free to spray the flower or wipe the leaves and branches with the product.

Aphids on begonias are afraid of infusions of vegetables - onions (even their peels), garlic, hot peppers. These infusions are prepared in arbitrary proportions. After a day of infusion, treat your home plants with them.

Wipe the affected areas on chrysanthemums and other house flowers with a vinegar solution To prepare the solution, take one tablespoon of 9% vinegar and a liter of water.

Infusions of marigolds, celandine, and St. John's wort help against aphids on azaleas.

Tobacco infusion successfully rids cyclamens of aphids. It also fertilizes the soil well.

A solution of baking soda is the simplest remedy for killing aphids on house plants. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a liter of water. This product can be used to wipe individual areas of the plant or spray it completely.

Many gardeners add 3-4 tablespoons of sunflower oil to the soda solution. But then the interval between flower treatments should be at least 3 days. Do not treat flowers exposed to bright sunlight. Move the plant to the shade, let it cool a little, only then treat it with a soda solution and oil, otherwise burn spots will appear.

— A regular soap solution has proven itself very well:

— How else can you treat plants against aphids? An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide also fights aphids on indoor plants; it is prepared as follows: 1 tablespoon of 3% peroxide, 500 milliliters of water.

If traditional methods do not help, then we recommend using the recommendations from this video:

Chemicals for killing parasites

If folk remedies are ineffective, use chemicals. The choice of means depends on the degree of damage and the scale of the disaster. The most effective means include: “Decis”, “Iskra”, “Fitoverm”, “Aktellik”, “Confidor”, “Akarin”, “Karate”.

Spraying flowers with chemicals will help get rid of aphids. When working with insecticides, observe safety precautions and strictly follow the instructions for the product.

Procedure for using chemicals:

1. Read the instructions for use of the product.
2. Take the recommended safety measures - put on seals and a respirator, remove pets and children from the premises. After handling, wash your hands thoroughly with a concentrated soap solution.
3. Wipe the leaves and stems with a sponge soaked in soapy water and then let dry.
4. Spray the flower. Carry out the treatment on the balcony on a cloudy day at a temperature of +21…25 ℃, since at a lower temperature the effectiveness of the drug decreases.
5. Perform preventive spraying of all plants in the house to prevent aphids from moving onto them.
6. Re-treat the flowers several times at intervals of 5-7 days (depending on the recommendations in the instructions).

If the plant cannot be saved, discard it to avoid contaminating other flowers.

Preventive measures against aphids

1. Place each purchased flower in quarantine for at least a week.
2. Inspect the flowers regularly, and at the first sign of a pest, treat them with one of the home remedies for aphids.
3. Careful care, regular watering, and fertilizing are the key to ensuring that your house plants will be strong and will not be eaten by aphids.
4. In the summer, it doesn’t hurt to place mint leaves next to flower pots - this is protection against aphids, which cannot stand its smell.
5. In winter, place geraniums next to your house plants, which aphids also hate.
6. Do not forget that the hotter the room and the drier the air in it, the more likely it is that white aphids will appear, which will have to be dealt with somehow.

Olga Danilina

Species diversity of aphids

The following types of aphids are found on indoor flowers.

melon aphid

Most often, melons, or also called “white aphids,” attack plants. It is light green in color and has a drop-shaped body. Among agricultural crops he prefers cucumbers and cotton. Parasitizes more than 300 plant species.

Black aphid

The name “black aphid” refers to species characterized by a dark, almost black color. Their body is round, their skin is denser than that of the white one.

Root aphid

This is a highly specialized pest that parasitizes small roots. Signs to notice an infection:

• wilting of the plant;
• growth slowdown;
• yellowing of leaves.

The insects themselves can only be seen during transplantation.

In the case of root aphids, the plant requires urgent help. It is carefully shaken off from the roots. The soil is shed with a systemic insecticide - Aktara.

Preventive measures

To avoid the appearance of a colony of pests, the housewife is recommended to follow simple care rules:

1. Inspect the plants two to three times within 7 days.
2. When insects appear, treat with folk, biological, and chemical means.
3. Keep purchased plants in isolation for a week and put them in another room.
4. Follow agricultural cultivation techniques so that the flowers are immune to diseases and pests:

• on feeding;
• watering;
• soil replacement;
• transplant;
• temperature conditions.

1. Use mint as a repellent.

On summer days, after airing, taking it out onto the balcony, do preventative irrigation, use ladybugs.

What do houseplants affected by aphids look like?

With minor damage, the leaves begin to curl. During inspection, you can notice small punctures and small, about 2-3 mm, insects on them. Most often, parasites are white or greenish in color. White aphids love to settle on flowers with delicate, soft leaves, such as violet, begonia, and cyclamen.

Sometimes the presence of aphids can be determined by small growths on stems or leaves. They cannot be seen on tree trunks of plants, since the insect’s proboscis is designed in such a way that it is not able to bite through the bark. The main harm of these parasites is to pierce the thin skin of the leaves and suck their juice. It often leads to the death of the entire flower when the colony attacks either a young shoot or is so large that it can paralyze the growth of an adult plant by sucking the juice out of it.

How to fight in the garden?

In the garden, aphids most often attack young shoots and buds . Leaves and stems affected by aphids have a sticky surface because the insects secrete an odorous mass - honeydew, which attracts ants.

• One way to control aphids in the garden is mechanical treatment. It is convenient to use a water hose for this. Using strong pressure, you can get rid of aphids and larvae by thoroughly washing the leaves. You should only remove parasites with your hands while wearing gloves.
• A safe method of killing aphids is the biological route. Ladybugs and lacewings are considered the best fighters among insects; you can buy several of them in a specialized store (read what other insects eat aphids here, and in this article we talked about how ladybugs help fight aphids). You can also attract birds to the garden using a bird feeder. Tits, linnets and sparrows can fight aphids.
• Proper planting helps prevent the appearance of aphids - insects are repelled by onions and garlic, as well as Dalmatian chamomile.

We invite you to watch a video on how to fight aphids in the garden:

Additional tips and tricks

Fighting aphids is a simple process. But the procedure for exterminating pests must follow certain rules:

1. Maximum effectiveness can only be achieved by treating all infected areas of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe and spray the foliage, stems and root part of the indoor crop.
2. It is better to alternate aphid repellents. This will prevent pests from becoming accustomed to the active component.
3. The use of oil solutions is allowed only on the green part of the vegetation. Contact of the product with the buds is prohibited.
4. It is necessary to spray flowers in the evening or early in the morning. The room should be damp and cool.
5. To enhance the impact of folk remedies, the use of a plastic bag is allowed. After treating the plant with the selected solution, put a bag on it and leave it for several hours.

Aphids on indoor flowers are a common problem for indoor plant lovers. To prevent parasites from destroying crops, they must be removed in a timely manner. Regular examination of flowers will allow you not to miss important time. When the first symptoms are detected, you must immediately take measures to eliminate the insects.

Chemical preparations for aphids

If aphids appear in the room, insecticides will help fight the parasite. When toxic drugs enter the body after treatment, they block nerve impulses. To completely eradicate pests, you need to choose the right poison.

Fitoverm

A biological insecticide for aphids on indoor plants was made based on microorganisms. If pests appear, regular treatments will help kill them. After the first event, a pause of 6 days is maintained, then the procedure is repeated. In the first 96 hours, adult individuals die, then it is necessary to eradicate the young.

The working solution is prepared from 0.5 liters of water and 1 ampoule of the drug. The liquid should be poured into a spray bottle and generously sprayed on the green parts and stems. If the infestation is severe, then the affected areas are manually wiped with a sponge soaked in the medicine.

Aktara

An effective aphid repellent destroys many types of insects not only in the apartment, but also in the greenhouse, vegetable garden and garden. The chemical blocks the functions of the nervous system, leading to rapid paralysis and death. If you treat a plant with Aktara, the protection lasts for 3 weeks. The insecticide shows good results with irrigation - up to 2 months.

What plants do aphids live on?

The pest is not attracted to all types of flowers. Parasites feed on plant sap, so they choose specimens with soft leaves (violets, primroses, begonias) to live. In conditions of low humidity, insects are found on orchids, cyclamens and spathiphyllums. Aphids love indoor roses and chrysanthemums.

It is difficult to pierce the tops of palm trees and dracaenas with a proboscis, so the colonies avoid them. The pest rarely attacks adult ficus trees; seedlings of small-leaved and dwarf varieties are at risk. The absence of plates and the thick, smooth skin of succulents make them protected from parasite attacks.

Modern insecticides designed to control aphids

• "Aktara" is a moderately dangerous biological insecticide that is always popular among many gardeners and flower growers due to its complex effect on different types of insects. The drug can not only destroy aphids, but also provide reliable protection against various types of mites, moths and beetles. It is not recommended to use in the immediate vicinity of apiaries, as it poses a fatal threat to bees. Available in the form of an emulsion, which must be diluted with water; complete destruction of pests usually occurs within 2-3 days.
• "Fitoverm" is an insecticide of biological origin, the effect is achieved due to the special properties of the soil fungus, on the basis of which the drug acts. The product can be used both for treating indoor plants and for use in the agricultural industry. “Fitoverm” is capable of destroying not only aphids, but also various types of mites, in which it first causes paralysis and then death.
• Spark "Double Effect" is an insecticide that affects aphids through direct contact or ingestion. The main active ingredients included in the composition are cypermethrin and permethrin. These are very common substances that have a detrimental effect on most types of insects, so treated plants receive comprehensive protection. The drug causes a number of disruptions in the central nervous system of pests, which consistently lead to paralysis, the inability to perform basic actions to maintain vital functions and death

Solving the problem of getting rid of aphids is achieved through persistent and lengthy struggle. The high fertility, mobility, and adaptability of pests require simultaneous protective measures for all indoor flowers. Preventing a disease is easier than treating the cause. It is extremely difficult to fight aphids: they multiply rapidly and incessantly. Therefore, we must try to get rid of it faster.

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Signs of appearance

These insects can be very difficult to notice due to their very small size and habit of living on the lower surfaces of foliage.

However, there are many third-party signs that may indicate the appearance of these pests and their infection of plants:

1. Deformed leaves. They not only change their shape, but take on a very characteristic, ugly, crooked appearance.
2. An increased level of stickiness of trunks, leaves and branches , covering them with a kind of sweet dew that these insects secrete.
3. The existing buds change and take on an irregular shape , after which they stop blooming.
4. The presence of white waste on the surface of the soil or the plant itself, which is actually old skin that the aphid has managed to shed.
5. Gradual yellowing, drying out and falling of foliage is a sign that usually appears in later stages and in the most advanced cases.
6. Detection of places where aphids made injections with their proboscis to suck out nutritional fluids. They are usually very easy to find based on the main feature - the presence of dead tissue around.