Traditional methods of dealing with aphids
Aphids multiply very quickly. During the day, the aphid colony is replenished with 200 new individuals. She is able to destroy an adult plant in two weeks. Large colonies of aphids can be found on cucumbers and other vegetable crops. Due to the fact that these insects feed on the sap of the host plant, it does not produce a crop, stops its growth and, over time, may die.
Aphids, in the process of their vital activity, emit sweet honeydew, which ants feed on. It is the ants that carry the aphids to large fruit trees. This insect begins to reproduce during the flowering period of fruit crops, when bees fly out of the hives. Treatment with insecticidal preparations at this time is undesirable, therefore many people use traditional methods of fighting insect pests.
Hot pepper decoction
Contact treatment is a good way to get rid of aphids. This insect does not have a shell, so a decoction of hot pepper kills aphids. A few minutes after processing, individuals that get the broth stop feeding, and then die. To prepare the broth you will need:
- peel ten hot pepper pods;
- crush the pepper along with the seeds;
- boil it in a liter of water for 20 minutes, stirring;
- let the broth brew for two hours.
After that it will be possible to spray. In order to prolong the effect of the decoction, the plant can be covered with foil. Aphid will begin to fall on the lower leaves of the plant or into flowers, from where it must be washed off. After several daily spraying with such a burning broth, the aphid colony will significantly decrease.
If a live aphid falls to the ground near the plant, then the insect will climb back and continue to feed on its juice, therefore, it is necessary to wash off the remains of the colony from young shoots especially carefully, preferably into a container.
Processing the plant with infusion of garlic
Garlic decoction has a strong effect on aphids. From it, insects die faster than from processing a plant with a decoction of hot pepper. After using pepper broth, the aphid colony will significantly decrease, but you will not completely get rid of the pests. Decoction of garlic is much more effective against aphids. After two weeks of regular treatments, the aphid colony will be completely destroyed. You can prepare a decoction of garlic in the same way as a decoction of hot pepper, by boiling one head of garlic in a liter of water.