How to Identify & Get Rid of Aphids
What are Aphids?
Aphids, also commonly referred to as greenflies, are sap-sucking houseplant pests that are very difficult to get rid of. Aphids are apart of the Aphididae family containing over 32,000 species. This type of pest gets its nutrients by sucking on a houseplants sap, which causes bad discoloration in a plants leaves and promote’s stunted growth. This pest and disease treatment guide will walk you through getting rid of Aphid off your houseplants for good.
Identifying Aphids
Due to the size of aphids, it’s very difficult to see their pear shaped bodies with the naked eye. They vary in size (generally adults are under ¼-inch) and color (white, pink, black, brown, gray, yellow, and green). Aphids have long antennae, and have two short cornicles coming from their behind.
Accessing Plant Health For Aphid Damage
There are a few notable points to look for when assessing potential aphid damage on your houseplants. Follow this step-by-step diagnosis process for identifying plant damage.
Leaf Damage: Aphids can be highly destructive to houseplants, causing significant damage to leaves, stems, and buds.
Pest infestations: Aphid infestations on houseplants can quickly escalate, resulting in a higher susceptibility to further pest attacks.
Stunted growth: Aphids feed on plant sap, which can hinder the growth and development of houseplants, leading to stunted growth.
Leaf curling and discoloration: The presence of aphids can cause leaves to curl, distort, and exhibit yellowing or browning, affecting the aesthetic appeal of houseplants.
Spread of plant diseases: Aphids can act as vectors for various plant diseases, facilitating the transmission of pathogens and compromising the overall health of houseplants.
Methods to Getting Rid of Aphids
Strong Watering Method
This one only works for small infestations of aphids. Take your plant into the shower or outside near a hose (depending on the weather) and give it a strong rinse or submerge the plant completely under water 1-2 times. Make sure to get under each of the leaves and down all of the stems. Once an aphid leaves a plant they are normally unable to make it back to the same plant. Once watered keep your infected plant separate from any other plants to avoid the transmission of any pests or viruses. If you notice the infection comes back after a few days follow the next steps.
The Dish Soap Method
Grab a spray bottle and fill it with 95% water and 5% dish soap (2-3 drops). First, spray the mixture on both sides of the leaves and stems. Take some clean paper towels and gently wipe off the mixture from the plant. Continue this process every 2-3 days for a few weeks. During these few weeks, keep your plant away from any other plants to avoid transmission of diseases or pests. Once you stop the spraying process make sure to keep checking for reinfestation and repeat if needed.
The Diatomaceous Earth Method
Non-toxic natural way to get rid of aphids. This is a fine powder composed of sedimentary rocks that are deadly to insects. Be mindful that diatomaceous earth will also kill healthy pollinators. Use an old makeup brush or sponge and apply on the undersides of leaves and stems. Reapply every few days to make sure it lacerates and dehydrates the aphids.
The Cotton Ball Alcohol Method
Grab some Isopropyl alcohol with a 70-95 percent strength and a spray bottle. Mix a 50/50 combination of alcohol and water in the spray bottle. Some plants do not react well to alcohol so make sure to always do a patch test a few days before treatment. Grab some cotton balls or q-tips (for more accurate precision) and wipe the infected areas. Over the next couple weeks, do this process every 2-3 days until the infestation goes away completely. Never spray the entire plant, only spray the infested areas where aphids may be living.
WARNING: some pesticides are known to be toxic if ingested, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. It may cause moderate eye or skin irritation. Always read labels of the products you are using the proper safety equipment.
The Insecticide Method
If nothing else has worked, it may be time to use some chemicals. Things such as Neem oil, insecticidal soaps, and oils may help rid aphid infestations. Each insecticide is different so make sure to follow the step by step instructions on the back of each chemical for optimal success.
Killing Aphids With Lady Bugs
You can buy ladybugs from your local garden centers and release them into your garden. Lady bugs love to feed on aphids, so you do not need to worry about harming them.
You could also release them into your home, but I don’t know of anyone that would ever want to do that.
Preventing Aphids
There are a few steps you can follow to prevent an aphid infestation.
Check your plants often: specifically during hotter climates. Do routine checks for pests and diseases. Look under the leaves and around the stems for any aphids infestations.
Check for ants: aphids tend to follow ants and vise-versa. If you see ants, it may be time to do a deep rinse of all your plants. Completely submerging a plant in water is a great preventative measure for pests.
Take care of your plants: if your plant looks like it needs to be re-potted, re-pot it. If you notice the quality of the soil is not as nutritious as it used to be, change it. If you have yellowing or wilting leaves, check the watering and humidity requirements for your plants. Avoiding unwanted pests and diseases starts with a healthy living environment.
Frequently Asked Question’s
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Generally yes, depending on the season aphids are born with wings and can fly.
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Some of the natural killers of aphids include lacewings, lady bugs. Some other ways to kill aphids is to plant mint, dandelions, and fennel near any plants that are susceptible to aphids.
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Aphids are unable to bite people or pets. They do not have mouths or teeth. They use their sharp mouth parts to suck the sap out of plants. They may use their sharp like projections on human skin if they feel in danger.
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Poor living conditions attract aphids to your plants. Some of these issues include poor soil, overcrowding, or drought. Do more frequent checks during the late spring and summer as aphids are mostly active when temperatures are hot.