Get rid of aphids in a greenhouse

Added on 19 February 2020

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Left alone, with no natural predators, aphids -- soft-bodied bugs that suck sap from plants -- can quickly become a problem in a greenhouse; they reproduce rapidly and are resistant to numerous pesticides. Preventing an infestation is the easiest course of action; however, they can still be removed once discovered.

1 Check the greenhouse plants weekly for signs of aphids, which include curling leaves, a sticky secretion or mold. Aphids typically hide on the undersides of leaves.

2 Prune off infested stems when the damage is minor, using a pair of pruning shears or scissors and removing the aphid-covered stems from the greenhouse.

3Spray the greenhouse plants with an insecticidal soap that targets aphids; these can be purchased at garden centers. Follow the manufacturer's directions for mixing the concentrate with water and applying it to the greenhouse plants' leaves.

4 Purchase natural predators of aphids and release them into the greenhouse. Ladybugs and lacewings can remove the aphid population, with no harm to your plants.

5 Position companion plants that repel aphids around the greenhouse. Examples include garlic, chives, nasturtiums, petunias, mint, dill and coriander. Intersperse pots of these plants around the greenhouse plants to encourage aphids to look elsewhere for food.

Things You Will Need

§ Pruning shears or scissors

§ Insecticidal soap

Tips

§ Chemical insecticides should be used as a last resort if organic methods of control are not managing the aphid problem.

§ Prevention is the easiest way to protect the greenhouse from a fresh outbreak of aphids. Check all perennials for aphids as they are brought in from cold frames, and suppress or pull any weeds as they grow up under the plant benches to remove hiding spots for aphids.

Source: Homeguides