Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 09:34:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Andrew Marshall <andrewm@eskimo.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2932$foo@default> Subject: effective aphid control
Hi All,
>
> > I've got aphids attaching the underside of my sundew
> > plants and the new tender leaves of my flytraps.
> >
> > How do I kill them without killing my plants?
I have had plants experiancing this problem many times and have
perfected a way to deal with it that can be risky, depending on the
species, but always works. It is a spray (some may shudder but I assure
you that basically it is harmless, until I get ahold of it).
For the stock solution, that which the actual spray is made from.
In a screw top jar put 1 tablespoon of lemon scented dishwashing liquid
(NOT dishwasher, DISHWASHING, you know, washing up liquid) and 1 cup of
vegetable oil. Shake to mix thoroughly.
In your spray bottle for Drosera species EXCEPT Dd. regia
prolifera, schizandra and the tuberous/pygmy types use the following
solution.
1 teaspoon of stock solution to 1 cup of water.
Shake your sprayer vigourously and spray heavily on both sides of
the leaf. If used in conjunction with a well aimed cotton swab that
removes the visible aphids, you will not have much if any re-infestation.
Used as is this recipe is harmless to most Drosera except those listed.
They don't like it at all and may die.
If you want to juice up the spray I suggest using a 1/4 teaspoon
of orthene per cup of spray solution. This is now NOT safe to spray on
hands etc.. so be careful!
This spray is NOT a systemic and must come into contact with the
offending insects to smother/poison them to death. Re-examine your plant
in a week to 10 days and re-spray if need be.
>
> Lance, you might try submerging the plants in a bucket of rain or
> distilled water for a day or two or three. Anything over a day the
> plants might not be thrilled about, but the aphids should be even less
> impressed.
>
> I've only read about this method of pest control, I haven't tried it
> myself. Maybe someone with more experience can vouch for this method's
> efficacy (or lack thereof) against aphids?
I have tried this method and found it worthless unless you want to
drown plants. I don't know how but the aphids seem to survive even after
several days submerged. Sorry to wet blanket the idea. In principle it
should work but you know those aphids. Scale are even worse in case you
ask. The above spray works well for them also.
All the best
Andrew
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