This is my first hibiscus flower in a while (the red one; the white flower is from a Christmas/Thanksgiving/Holiday cactus that decided to flower in March). I was incredibly excited to see a bud-- until I noticed it was covered in aphids.
 |
| Photo via https://plantura.garden/uk/trees-shrubs/hibiscus/hibiscus-overview |
Disgusting, right?
Luckily there was some insecticidal soap on hand, and a few sprays seemed to take care of them, allowing the flower to open. But they could still be in there, dormant, waiting...
I'm going to have to stay vigilant.
Tips on Dealing with Aphids on Houseplants
- Aphids can weaken plants, stunt their growth, or even kill plants. They also reproduce quickly. Take steps to deal with them as soon as you spot them.
- Aphids can be green, black, or white, and are easy to see with the naked eye.
- On hibiscus, aphids will congregate on flower buds, or at the tops of stems, to feed on sap. They excrete a sticky substance called "honeydew" that falls on the leaves underneath and causes something called sooty black mold. Sticky leaves and sooty mold are other signs that you have an aphid problem.
 |
| Photo via https://gardeninggroot.com/black-spots-on-hibiscus-leaves/ |
- You can control an aphid infestation a few ways: pick insects off by hand and drop in a bowl of soapy water; knock the insects off the plant with a blast of water (then collect and kill them); use insecticidal soap or another pesticide designed for aphids.
Make Your Own Insecticidal Soap
1 Tbs (15 mL) Castile soap
2 cups (500 mL) water
Mix and pour into a clean spray bottle.
Spray plant thoroughly, including the underside of leaves. Keep applying every few days or weekly until all the insects are gone.
If you're unlucky enough to have aphids or another insect infestation on your plants, you have my sympathy. I wish you much luck getting rid of them.
Aphids are like the vampires of the insect world, sucking the lifeblood (sap) of the plant. Distract yourself by reading about actual vampires (they're a lot more fun and far less gross)-- check out my books (links follow)!
Do you have any other tips for dealing with aphids? Share in the comments...
My Books
(Links take you to all available stores. Love Lies Bleeding and Bleeding Heart are also available in paperback.)
Cheers,
Aspasia
PS: Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com.
All photos by Whimsy Bower/Aspasia S. Bissas unless otherwise noted.
2 comments:
I agree that your vampires are less gross than aphids! I've only ever had aphids outside, usually on roses. (My indoor plants are ones that rarely flower). If the aphids are bad, I usually snip the buds off. But sometimes I use diluted washing up liquid in a spray that is quite effective!
Ha-- thank you! :) A good treatment for outdoor aphids is to douse them in wood ashes (from the fireplace or a fire pit). There's something so repulsive about an insect infestation.
Post a Comment