“ IF AN INFESTATION IS LEFT LONG ENOUGH ,
YOUR PLANTS CAN WILT , TURN YELLOW ,
AND DIE DUE TO EXCESSIVE STRESS .”
HOW TO TACKLE APHIDS 1 . Wipe or Spray Off as Many as Possible
If you have a severe infestation , you need to eliminate as many bugs as possible . If your plant is quite robust , one way to do this might be to spray as many bugs off as possible with a powerful hose or sprayer . It ’ s also advisable to remove leaves and buds that are heavily infected . Take the infected plants out of the growing environment or risk re-infestation . You could try wiping most of the bugs off the leaves on more delicate plants . It may be quite time consuming , but it will make a good dent in the scale of your infestation .
2 . Insecticidal Soaps
Insecticidal soaps are specially formulated to kill insects and not damage plants . These soaps will weaken the outer shell of aphids , eventually killing them . You can also use them frequently until you get the problem under control . Getting full coverage of your plant is essential with soap as it does not stay on the plant long ; however , this can be tricky .
3 . Horticultural Oil
Highly refined oils and horticultural oils are also very useful in controlling aphids . The oil suffocates the insects . They are highly refined and , under the proper conditions , can be applied to plant foliage without risk of any damage . Always check the label , however , in case of specific species sensitivity . Refined oils are also considered nontoxic , so they are less likely to harm beneficial insects . If spraying indoors , protect any surfaces that oil may damage .
4 . Plant-Derived Insecticides
Many insecticides are registered for use indoors . Plant-derived insecticides are practical and more gentle than chemical pesticides . One very safe product , Neem , is made from tropical tree seeds . Other sprays contain a substance called Pyrethrin .
5 . Spinosad
Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from specific soil bacteria . It kills aphids via contact by disrupting the insect ’ s nervous system . Spinosad is very toxic to aphids but is less harmful to many beneficial insects and spiders . Although less potent than some of the harsher insecticides , it works , and is very safe for plants , animals , and humans . Spray liberally anywhere you see aphids , especially under the leaves .
6 . Limit Future Infestations
You should quarantine newly acquired plants for two to three weeks to prevent introducing pests to your indoor plants . Same with plants you may bring inside in the autumn / winter as this is another way of introducing insects indoors . Buy bug barriers to cover your growroom extraction vents . Have a set of growroom clothes to change in and out of when tending to your plants . This will stop any pests from getting transferred via your clothes .
You will inevitably suffer from insect pests in your growroom . Suppose you are prepared and know how to tackle them . In that case , you can hopefully avoid a severe infestation that could ultimately destroy your plants .
44 Maximum Yield