johnny_vet_boy_

I think I have aphids (I can't get a picture, sorry), but I can see them moving with the naked eye - just - and with my magnifier they are oval shaped and green.

So far I've used pyrethrin based sprays which did nothing, I then used a systemic product called "Pest Free" which contains Imidacloprid in the water and as spray form - none of these have helped. I'm now using a squirt of fairy liquid washing up liquid in a water spray, I've only done that once and am not sure if it's helping, but I'll do it every day until I know either way.

My question is: what else can I do? I can't find any other products in this country (UK) in the garden stores, and this forum seems to talk about mainly US based products.

If the detergent based spray is the only answer, how much do I put in? Can I add some regular soap as well?

Mr Burns

Johnny use a vegetable based aphid/pest spray from a garden centre and spray them as soon as lights are on when the aphids will be sedate and clinging to the plant. They'll need time to warm up and flex their muscles so do it as soon as lights are on.
If yiou use a vegetable based spray it'll not harm your plants or the end product in any way.
I'd also spray around the soil and surrounding areas for a few days if the directions allow it.

Good luck.

Burnsy.

BaadPuTthyKat

They do sound like aphids, which are sometimes farmed by ants for the honeydew they make. I've had great success getting rid of ants with sticky ant syrup, with boric acid... They take it to the nest, end of problem. A protective few drops at possible points of entry/exit is very cheap & easy.

To rid yourself of the pests you hve already, you could try a simmered & filtered mix of a few drops of... cornflower/starch -sticks pests & suffocates.
2. Garlic/chilli powder/similar - repellant 3. Neem oil sticks & suffocates too, but also disrupts reproductive cycles...4,5,6 etc.. You can add vinegar, alcohol, pepper, and and mny other things, just avoid sugars, check in the small print of products.

I just use washing up liquid as a detergent, just a drop or two is all thats needed of this. Same applies to the list above really, and test out your brew on few leaves first.. I've never had a reaction to my brews, but its quite possible with alcohol/vinegar combo's to cause harm. Keep concentrations down to tsp/L or tbsp/gal of your simmered & filtered stew. Don't allow it to boil either... Just a few ideas anyway, maybe something is useful..

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