aphids in greenhouse

Itoero · January 30, 2014

Last year I had aphids in my greenhouse.
I read somewhere that nettle and kelp both destroy aphids.
I have an organic fertilizer with dried nettle, kelp and alfalfa.
If I put a layer of that on the ground, can it help against aphids?
And what about basalt/vulcanic rockdust?

**mdvpc** · January 30, 2014

I don't know about nettle and kelp-never used them on aphids.

But I gardened in a greenhouse for many years. When I got aphids, I got some beneficial insects-greenlacewings or ladybugs-both worked well without having to spray.

b54red · January 30, 2014

Whatever method you use make sure you bring them under control quickly or they will quickly become a severe problem for your young plants. Every year early in the spring they somehow get in my greenhouse and attack my very young pepper plants. I found that soapy water helps but it won't get rid of them so I now use soapy water and Permethrin as soon as I see them. Of course with the cold weather in my unheated greenhouse I have yet to have a pepper seed germinate.

Bill

AKmark · January 30, 2014

Aphids are bad in AK, I have had entire plants covered. Recently I started bringing in green lacewings and aphid killing wasps, not a single aphid last year. Another thing to do is keep grass away from the sides of the greenhouse.

Itoero · January 31, 2014

I can order larva of the ladybug.
But first I need to get rid of ants.
Last year I noticed first ants and later I noticed aphids in my greenhouse.
Ants attack the adalia.
What's the best way to get rid of ants?
I used a box with something sweet and poisonous in, but it did not work.

**mdvpc** · January 31, 2014

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) works for me. Spread it around the base of the plant-it has to stay dry to work.

guruofgardens · January 31, 2014

"Diatomaceous Earth (DE) works for me. Spread it around the base of the plant-it has to stay dry to work."

Ground cinnamon used the same way keeps ants away, but does not get rid of them.

Marcus1 · January 31, 2014

Some ants are aphid herders. I've seen them come out of there holes in the spring carrying little green aphids and depositing them on my melons. Maybe they are responsible for your outbreak. You might try a commercial ant poison, not on your plants but spread it around the entrance of their home so they take it back to their queen and destroy the whole colony.

NarnianGarden · February 1, 2014

I wonder is if any herb is potent enough to repel these rascals? Marigolds should help somewhat, but I saw no benefit in them last summer.
Mint is another one that is supposed to help repel unwanted attention.
Aphids is the reason I'm thinking of skipping peppers altogether this year.. unless there is a workable solution.
Ladybugs, yes, but there are too many 'baddies' for a couple of 'good guys'.

AKmark · February 1, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

I wonder is if any herb is potent enough to repel these rascals? Marigolds should help somewhat, but I saw no benefit in them last summer.
Mint is another one that is supposed to help repel unwanted attention.
Aphids is the reason I'm thinking of skipping peppers altogether this year.. unless there is a workable solution.
Ladybugs, yes, but there are too many 'baddies' for a couple of 'good guys'.

Put your peppers in hanging baskets in the rafters if you have a greenhouse. Ladybugs don't work very well for us, parasitic wasps and G.L'S work much better.

NarnianGarden · February 1, 2014

No greenhouse, just a balcony with containers... that is otherwise free of any harmful creeps. It's a shame if I must skip fresh organic peppers because of these green villains.

meadowyck · February 5, 2014

last year when my plants got them the neem didn't really get rid of them completely plus I didn't get it washed off good enough so many of the leaves were burned... So when the second attack came, I went and purchased the larges make up brush, then I took my powder DE and started brushing it on the underneath sides of the leaves as well as putting it on the top of the soil in the pots. No more aphids...... So now when I have plants this year, I'm going to apply the DE before those darn things attack.

I kinda felt like I was brushing for finger prints on CSI....LOL

Worth1 · February 6, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

No greenhouse, just a balcony with containers... that is otherwise free of any harmful creeps. It's a shame if I must skip fresh organic peppers because of these green villains.

If you start your seeds or bring in plants without them then something is bringing them to you.
It could be ants or it could be the wind.
Aphids can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind to land on your plants.

Keep an eye out for ants on your balcony and if you have a neighbor that is infested with then you will get them too.
One way to help keep them away is to put up screens to keep them out.
Some species are asexual so even just one aphid can be enough to spell doom.
Bringing new plants onto your property is one of the number one reasons people get them.

I have only had them once here and I burned the plant.
I haven't seen them since.

Worth

meadowyck · February 6, 2014

Worth, I love how you handle them critters....LOL

January 30, 2014	#1
Itoero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Belgium Posts: 186	aphids in greenhouse Last year I had aphids in my greenhouse. I read somewhere that nettle and kelp both destroy aphids. I have an organic fertilizer with dried nettle, kelp and alfalfa. If I put a layer of that on the ground, can it help against aphids? And what about basalt/vulcanic rockdust?

January 30, 2014	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I don't know about nettle and kelp-never used them on aphids. But I gardened in a greenhouse for many years. When I got aphids, I got some beneficial insects-greenlacewings or ladybugs-both worked well without having to spray. __________________ Michael

January 31, 2014	#6
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Diatomaceous Earth (DE) works for me. Spread it around the base of the plant-it has to stay dry to work. __________________ Michael

February 5, 2014	#12
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	last year when my plants got them the neem didn't really get rid of them completely plus I didn't get it washed off good enough so many of the leaves were burned... So when the second attack came, I went and purchased the larges make up brush, then I took my powder DE and started brushing it on the underneath sides of the leaves as well as putting it on the top of the soil in the pots. No more aphids...... So now when I have plants this year, I'm going to apply the DE before those darn things attack. I kinda felt like I was brushing for finger prints on CSI....LOL __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

February 6, 2014	#14
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	Worth, I love how you handle them critters....LOL __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

January 30, 2014	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Whatever method you use make sure you bring them under control quickly or they will quickly become a severe problem for your young plants. Every year early in the spring they somehow get in my greenhouse and attack my very young pepper plants. I found that soapy water helps but it won't get rid of them so I now use soapy water and Permethrin as soon as I see them. Of course with the cold weather in my unheated greenhouse I have yet to have a pepper seed germinate. Bill

January 30, 2014	#4
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Aphids are bad in AK, I have had entire plants covered. Recently I started bringing in green lacewings and aphid killing wasps, not a single aphid last year. Another thing to do is keep grass away from the sides of the greenhouse.

January 31, 2014	#7
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	"Diatomaceous Earth (DE) works for me. Spread it around the base of the plant-it has to stay dry to work." Ground cinnamon used the same way keeps ants away, but does not get rid of them.

January 31, 2014	#8
Marcus1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 124	Some ants are aphid herders. I've seen them come out of there holes in the spring carrying little green aphids and depositing them on my melons. Maybe they are responsible for your outbreak. You might try a commercial ant poison, not on your plants but spread it around the entrance of their home so they take it back to their queen and destroy the whole colony.

February 1, 2014	#9
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	I wonder is if any herb is potent enough to repel these rascals? Marigolds should help somewhat, but I saw no benefit in them last summer. Mint is another one that is supposed to help repel unwanted attention. Aphids is the reason I'm thinking of skipping peppers altogether this year.. unless there is a workable solution. Ladybugs, yes, but there are too many 'baddies' for a couple of 'good guys'.