DEALING WITH
APHIDS
IN THE GROWROOM
Aphids are a common pest affecting outdoor and indoor growers everywhere . Read on for a detailed look at what they are , how to spot them , control them , and how to avoid an infestation in the first place .
by Rich Hamilton
WHAT ARE APHIDS ?
A typical garden pest everywhere , aphids are soft-bodied insects that can be many colours , including black , white , yellow , green , red , brown , and black . The bigger , rounder bugs are adult aphids whilst young aphids or ‘ nymphs ’ are much smaller , thinner , and paler . If you notice tiny flies on your plants , these could still be aphids , but with wings . The body shape is similar whether the aphids have wings or not .
WHAT DO APHIDS DO ?
If a plant becomes heavily infested with aphids , its leaves can turn yellow and wilt due to excessive stress and leaf damage . Aphids usually congregate on the undersides of stems and leaves . They pierce the surface of the leaves with their mouths to feed on the juices inside . If an infestation is left long enough , your plants can wilt , turn yellow , and die due to excessive stress .
“ HONEYDEW ” AND BLACK SOOTY MOULD
Aphids also produce large amounts of a substance known as “ honeydew ,” a sugary liquid waste . In turn , the honeydew attracts a variety of fungus called sooty mould . Sooty mould grows on the honeydew deposits , amassing on your plant ’ s leaves and branches , eventually turning them black . Along with discolouring the plants , the mould can disrupt normal plant processes . If this is not enough of a problem , the honeydew can also attract other insects such as ants .
WHAT CAUSES AN APHID INFESTATION ?
The conditions in a growroom are very desirable to aphids . Warm , humid , and full of plants . Just a handful of aphids is all it takes to start an infestation . In indoor conditions , you will find that most aphids do not lay eggs .
The females can give birth to live young without mating . A female can reproduce three to six new nymphs per day for several weeks . You can understand how populations can increase so rapidly . The young aphids ( or nymphs ) begin feeding right after birth ; feeding on plant sap while they slowly increase in size . They take seven to 10 days to mature , after which they shed their skin , leaving silvery exoskeletons behind . After reaching adult status , they continue the cycle . Each one can potentially produce dozens of offspring . Because of how quick aphids reproduce , a few “ colonisers ” can soon lead to thousands of aphids feasting on your plants in just a few weeks . Aphids are one of the most common indoor plant pests . Left untreated , they will often keep reproducing until the plant becomes so stressed and overcrowded it can no longer support their insatiable appetites . At this point , some of the winged aphids will fly off in search of a new host . Do not underestimate your plants ’ chances of becoming infested with aphids just because you grow indoors . They can easily be transferred into your growroom via infested plants , attached to clothing , or by the wind through an open window .
PREVENTION IS KEY : Check Your Plants Regularly
It is vital to examine your plants weekly to guarantee they don ’ t become infected while you are not paying attention . When checking , inspect the undersides of new leaves first for clusters of aphids . Dependent on the life stage and colour , aphids will look different . They may look like regular tiny bugs or just like tiny , coloured specks at first . You may see little white dots that aren ’ t moving as well . This is the skin they shed when the nymphs change into adult aphids .
42 Maximum Yield