They are omnipresent in the herb garden and do not spare even basil. Fighting aphids is a double-edged sword. We don't want to swing the chemical club any more than we want to find aphids in our food. How to combat pests with natural remedies.
How do I get rid of aphids on basil naturally?
To naturally combat aphids on basil, check the tops and bottoms of the leaves daily for lice. Dust infected areas with primary rock powder (€17.00 on Amazon) or charcoal ash. Lemon slices with cloves scare away ants, which protect aphids.
Knowledge of the causes maximizes control success
If the triggering factors for a lice infestation are known, the fight begins at the cause and is even more effective. Otherwise, the pests will only disappear for a short time and the aphid-free period will be short-lived. The pests prefer to attack weakened basil, so you should take a close look at its care. Lice like to strike here:
- in locations with poor air circulation
- where cold drafts and dark lighting conditions prevail
- on basil with a waterlogged root ball
Lice particularly target plants that are stressed by an inadequate supply of nutrients. If such omissions come to light as part of the cause investigation, they should be remedied immediately.
How to combat lice on basil sustainably
The long list of environmentally and he alth-friendly remedies for lice is full of liquid-based recipes. Classics such as the soft soap solution, the milk-water mix or tobacco decoction prove to be counterproductive when used with basil. It makes little sense to water the herb plant from below and spray the foliage daily with home remedies for aphids. How to do it right:
- Examine royal herb daily for lice on the top and bottom of the leaves
- At the first sign of infestation, dust with primary rock powder (€17.00 on Amazon)
- alternatively sprinkle with pure charcoal ash
Both control agents have a purely organic effect and are washed out before consumption. As an immediate measure, a vigorous showering of the pests is possible, provided the basil plant can then dry quickly in an airy place.
Scarefully scare away ants
Lice on basil excrete honeydew, which ants are crazy about. To ensure that this sweet source does not run dry, the clever crawling creatures defend aphids vehemently. If necessary, they even drag the beasts to the nearest plant to 'milk' them there.
So lay out lemon slices studded with cloves. In this way you disrupt the ants' sense of direction so that they can no longer find the way to the aphids.
Tips & Tricks
Aphids on basil have a bad hand in natural gardens. Where there are enough refuges for birds, ladybirds, ground beetles or parasitic wasps, the pests are destroyed immediately. Even a hollow tree trunk, a pile of brushwood, a dry stone wall or a hedge invite the beneficial insects to linger.
