Aphids in the greenhouse multiply very quickly under favorable conditions. When it comes to fighting the disease, every day counts so that the destructive infestation does not spread over a large area. Regular checks of the plants and the use of proven home remedies help in the fight against aphids.
How can you control aphids in the greenhouse?
To effectively combat aphids in the greenhouse, regular checks, optimal choice of location, adjusted fertilization and the use of home remedies such as nettle broth, horsetail decoction, soap nuts or neem oil are helpful. In addition, beneficial insects such as hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds should be encouraged.
Detecting these invaders on beloved plants has driven many a recreational gardener to despair. The infestation can usually only be recognized when the intruders have already started their plant-destroying work. So the situation in the greenhouse is difficult, but it is far from hopeless. If action is taken immediately, definitely not!
The battle begins with the leaf check
Once the very agile green, red and black leaf invaders have found their victims, limiting the damage to the plants is very difficult. Because after the leaves, the eating fun continues on the stems, so that the conductive pathways are destroyed until the plants finally die completely. This makes it all the more important for every recreational gardener to combat aphids in the greenhouse in good time, i.e. when only individual specimens of the pests orthe characteristic black coating became visible. By the way: Where there are aphids, there are often ants nearby.
Damage of the Leaf Vampires
Sitting under juicy leaves, aphids in the greenhouse also love to attack young shoots of roses, cucumbers, spinach, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes and various types of fruit. In addition to depriving the affected plants of nutrients, they transmit viruses, which in turn cause increased colonization of fungi. A little later, the shoot tips and leaves curl and begin to become stunted.
Because prevention is better than cure
Protect your plants in good time from aphid infestation in the greenhouse. Here's what to do:
- Careful breaking of young leaves for regular inspection;
- Checking the optimal location of the affected plants (ideal: lavender with roses or savory with beans)
- Adjust the fertilization exactly to the respective plant species;
- Promote beneficial insects, i.e. enemies of aphids (hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds)
Get rid of the aphids in the greenhouse, but how?
If the infestation is really only light, showering the plants still makes sense. The success will be visible if the leaves are carefully wiped off afterwards. Before you resort to chemical control agents (insect sprays or granules and sticks containing insecticides) if you notice failure, just try your luck with this:
- Nettle broth (leave on for 12 hours, then shower off);
- Brew from boiled field horsetails (mixing ratio 1:5 with water);
- Soapnuts from the he alth food store (boil them in water and spray the broth on the plants);
- Neem oil (from the garden center), dilute sufficiently and ideally spray on the plants early in the morning;
Tip
If aphids have infested individual plants too heavily in the greenhouse, destroy them in good time, as the animals multiply explosively.
