Regarding the soaping of Aphids...

huntsman · October 17, 2009

I learned on my pepper forum that after spraying soapy water onto the underside of the leaf to prevent aphids, one should always rinse the area thoroughly.

I take it the same applies when treating tomato plants? Also, does time of day matter, and how long should you leave the soapy solution on before removal?

Thanks

**mdvpc** · October 17, 2009

Hunt-You should leave on for a minute or two only. The aphids die very quickly after the soap hits them. I spray in the morning before its hot, or in the early evening. You dont want to burn your plants.

Actually, spraying is not the best solution for me, at least. I rarely spray anymore. I buy green lacewings, they hatch, and are voracious eaters of aphids. Once you establish them, you only have to supplement with some more once a year or so. They love aphids. Here is a link to read about using them.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/1110001.html

http://www.thebeneficialinsectco.com...ing-larvae.htm

Blueaussi · October 17, 2009

What kind of soap were you planning on using? Most don't need to be washed off either tomatoes or peppers. All that spraying and washing would mechanically remove the aphids, anyway.

**mdvpc** · October 17, 2009

Blue-Gotta disagree with you.

"
Aphids remove sap from the plant with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Tomato plants can tolerate large numbers of aphids without suffering yield loss. However, severe infestations can cause leaves to curl and may stunt plants. Decreased leaf area can increase sun scald to the fruit. Aphids are also vectors of certain plant viruses. However, there are many predators and parasitoids that can aid in controlling aphid populations. These include lady beetles, syrphid fly larvae, damsel bugs, and tiny wasps."

Plus I hate to see aphid infestation on my plants, even if they werent bad for the plants.

mjc · October 17, 2009

I think Blue was meaning the soap spray didn't need to be washed off...

As for types of soap...use a 'real' soap. Something like bar Ivory, Kirk's Castille, homemade lye soap or Murphy's Oil Soap...

Blueaussi · October 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjc

I think Blue was meaning the soap spray didn't need to be washed off...

Oh yeah, that would be what Blue meant.

Aphids are the enemy and should be terminated with extreme prejudice! Take no prisoners! Nuke 'em from orbit! By the power of Greyskull...!

Quote:

As for types of soap...use a 'real' soap. Something like bar Ivory, Kirk's Castille, homemade lye soap or Murphy's Oil Soap...

Smells like...victory.

**mdvpc** · October 17, 2009

Blue-Sorry about that-I completely misread your post-glad you are in the anti-aphid group! But I wouldnt leave the soap on where I live-we have almost no rainfall and sustained 100 degree days with lots and lots of sun.

mjc · October 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdvpc

Blue-Sorry about that-I completely misread your post-glad you are in the anit-aphid group! But I wouldnt leave the soap on where I live-we have almost no rainfall and sustained 100 degree days with lots and lots of sun.

I wouldn't leave what little dew you'd get on the leaves, either...anything 'wet' that sits on the leaves as the sun gets higher in the sky could burn.

huntsman · October 18, 2009

I'm using liquid dishwasher diluted in a backpack-type sprayer. I spray from below in a fine mist, but I was advised to spray during the hotter time of the day as the pores are closed. Is this wrong?

Wi-sunflower · October 18, 2009

Good Grief, yes that info is so totally wrong. You will burn the heck out of your plants.

I have used a backpack type sprayer with a bit of Dawn detergent and sometimes some 'sun oil', a fine oil meant for spraying on plants. But I usually do it around sunset in the dim light. I will usually let the spray dry before I wash it off. Because it can take over an hour to dry depending on the humidity, I often wait til early the next morning to just spray with my watering wand to get the soap/oil mix off the plants.

I want to second the use of lacewings for aphids, especially in the greenhouse. The problem Huntsman may have tho is the fact that he is in S Africa and may not be able to import lacewings. He will have to check with his Ag dept to see if the are allowed or if there is something similar in his country.

Carol

Blueaussi · October 18, 2009

Unless you're using some sort of harsh detergent, a little soap in the plant pores isn't going to hurt them.

And, honestly, *glances around and lowers voice* if I'm using a mild dish soap or a commercial product like Safer Soap, I don't bother to wash it off. We have plenty of hot and harsh sunlight around here in the summer, and my plants don't get burned. If I use Murphy's Oil soap or mix a few drops of oil in the regular soap, I rinse it off.

I'll third using a beneficial insect to control them, though. Aphids will keep coming back otherwise. I prefer ladybugs, but you should look into what's recommended in South Africa.

**mdvpc** · October 18, 2009

Blue-Thanks for mentioning ladybugs-They are great. I have trouble keeping them at home. Dont know if that is just my experience. Ladybugs go to work right away, while the green lacewings have to hatch. I used ladybugs once in my greenhouse, and they cleaned up the aphids in a very few days.

Wi-sunflower · October 18, 2009

I forgot to mention in my above post that my experiences with soap on the plants is on the young plants in the greenhouse. And I did burn some when I didn't spray it off. But young plants can be so much more tender than mature outside plants.

Carol

huntsman · October 21, 2009

Folks ~

Thank you very much!

We actually have lacewings and ladybugs here (though I don't know which strain), but incredibly, no one is breeding them commercially. I have enquired with suppliers in the US, who bluntly informed me that ladybugs would never last the journey, but I too, would love to go that route...

In the meantime, it's soap on in the evening, and off in the morning....;-)

How often do you guys and gals do this? Obviously when you see aphids, but is it a weekly thing or more like monthly?

**mdvpc** · October 21, 2009

Hunt-That is hard to believe that no-one is breeding them. When I did soap, I would soap in the am, then usually go back at dusk to do it again. Do it maybe every other day for a couple of times. I think Grub in Australia was using soap and pyrethrin.

October 17, 2009	#1
huntsman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa - GrowZone 9 Posts: 595	Regarding the soaping of Aphids... I learned on my pepper forum that after spraying soapy water onto the underside of the leaf to prevent aphids, one should always rinse the area thoroughly. I take it the same applies when treating tomato plants? Also, does time of day matter, and how long should you leave the soapy solution on before removal? Thanks

October 17, 2009	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Hunt-You should leave on for a minute or two only. The aphids die very quickly after the soap hits them. I spray in the morning before its hot, or in the early evening. You dont want to burn your plants. Actually, spraying is not the best solution for me, at least. I rarely spray anymore. I buy green lacewings, they hatch, and are voracious eaters of aphids. Once you establish them, you only have to supplement with some more once a year or so. They love aphids. Here is a link to read about using them. http://www.arbico-organics.com/1110001.html http://www.thebeneficialinsectco.com...ing-larvae.htm __________________ Michael

October 17, 2009	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Blue-Gotta disagree with you. " Aphids remove sap from the plant with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Tomato plants can tolerate large numbers of aphids without suffering yield loss. However, severe infestations can cause leaves to curl and may stunt plants. Decreased leaf area can increase sun scald to the fruit. Aphids are also vectors of certain plant viruses. However, there are many predators and parasitoids that can aid in controlling aphid populations. These include lady beetles, syrphid fly larvae, damsel bugs, and tiny wasps." Plus I hate to see aphid infestation on my plants, even if they werent bad for the plants. __________________ Michael

October 17, 2009	#7
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Blue-Sorry about that-I completely misread your post-glad you are in the anti-aphid group! But I wouldnt leave the soap on where I live-we have almost no rainfall and sustained 100 degree days with lots and lots of sun. __________________ Michael

October 18, 2009	#12
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Blue-Thanks for mentioning ladybugs-They are great. I have trouble keeping them at home. Dont know if that is just my experience. Ladybugs go to work right away, while the green lacewings have to hatch. I used ladybugs once in my greenhouse, and they cleaned up the aphids in a very few days. __________________ Michael

October 17, 2009	#3
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	What kind of soap were you planning on using? Most don't need to be washed off either tomatoes or peppers. All that spraying and washing would mechanically remove the aphids, anyway.

October 17, 2009	#5
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	I think Blue was meaning the soap spray didn't need to be washed off... As for types of soap...use a 'real' soap. Something like bar Ivory, Kirk's Castille, homemade lye soap or Murphy's Oil Soap...

October 18, 2009	#10
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Good Grief, yes that info is so totally wrong. You will burn the heck out of your plants. I have used a backpack type sprayer with a bit of Dawn detergent and sometimes some 'sun oil', a fine oil meant for spraying on plants. But I usually do it around sunset in the dim light. I will usually let the spray dry before I wash it off. Because it can take over an hour to dry depending on the humidity, I often wait til early the next morning to just spray with my watering wand to get the soap/oil mix off the plants. I want to second the use of lacewings for aphids, especially in the greenhouse. The problem Huntsman may have tho is the fact that he is in S Africa and may not be able to import lacewings. He will have to check with his Ag dept to see if the are allowed or if there is something similar in his country. Carol

October 21, 2009	#14
huntsman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa - GrowZone 9 Posts: 595	Folks ~ Thank you very much! We actually have lacewings and ladybugs here (though I don't know which strain), but incredibly, no one is breeding them commercially. I have enquired with suppliers in the US, who bluntly informed me that ladybugs would never last the journey, but I too, would love to go that route... In the meantime, it's soap on in the evening, and off in the morning....;-) How often do you guys and gals do this? Obviously when you see aphids, but is it a weekly thing or more like monthly?