How to deal with aphids on petunias using chemical, biological methods and folk methods

Beautiful, bright and fragrant flowers are the dream and goal of any grower, but aphids on petunias can destroy this beauty. For the flowers to be healthy, proper care is necessary - watering, feeding, replanting and, of course, pest control.

Signs of plant damage

The appearance of pests on stems and leaves can lead not only to a deterioration in appearance, but also to the death of a flower. Aphids on petunias cause ugly overgrowth of parts of the plant - twisting, thickening, wrinkling, bending. Flower development slows down.

Aphids belong to the order of Homoptera, the herbivorous superfamily. Body length ranges from 0.5 to 6 mm. The mouth organs of the insect are piercing-sucking. These insects live in colonies, capable of giving 20 generations a year. It is important to identify the danger in a timely manner and start pest control.

Aphids are tiny insects that are green, black or gray in color. Colonies of several tens, hundreds, or even thousands of individuals are located on plants, sucking moisture out of them. Eggs are laid in autumn, and the next year, with the onset of warm days, a rapid reproduction process begins.

Signs of aphid infestation in petunia:

• curvature of the stems;
• retardation of plant growth;
• the appearance of white skins of aphids;
• drying of the edges of the sheet;
• cessation of development of ovaries and buds;
• the appearance of honeydew - a thick liquid that resembles a syrup;
• a large number of honeydew-eating ants on and around the plant.

Initially, insects are located on the lower surface of the leaves, then they spread throughout the plant. Aphids are very fertile, their colonies quickly capture all flowers. The insect easily penetrates the room, damaging house plants. Pests are visible on flowers with the naked eye.

There are more than a hundred species of aphids in nature, but the methods of dealing with them are the same.

Deadlines for the destruction of harmful insects

For pest control to be effective, the insect cycle must be considered:

1. In the fall, an adult female lays eggs on the branches and on the bark of trees and shrubs closer to the ground, so that in winter they are covered with snow. In this case, almost all eggs survive. Most of the masonry is taken by ants and stored in their anthill, and with the onset of heat they are brought to the surface.
2. From April to July, from 2 to 8 generations of wingless females develop, which are able to reproduce without the participation of males. By the middle of summer, winged forms of pests appear that can spread over considerable distances.
3. In the fall, the process is repeated.

The maximum effect will be brought by pest control in strictly defined lines - in the fall (garden cleaning), during the appearance of wingless females and the emergence of winged forms. During this period, insects inflict maximum harm on petunias; mandatory processing of plants is necessary.

Ways to combat aphids

Several methods have been developed for the destruction of an insect; when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the number of pests, the possibility and necessity of using chemicals.

Mechanical

You can get rid of an insect colony as follows:

• tear off and burn parts of a plant that is almost completely inhabited by insects;
• wash off aphids with a strong jet of water;
• manually remove insects.

Unfortunately, the second method is not very effective, since the pest remains alive and continues to multiply further.

Biological

This safe method of control consists in planting plants next to the petunia, the aroma of which does not tolerate aphids, and attracting birds and insects to the flower garden - the enemies of aphids. The pest does not tolerate strong persistent odors. Strong-smelling plants planted near petunias will help fight pests.

The list of plants that experienced florists recommend planting near a flower garden with petunias:

• daisies;
• tansy;
• sagebrush;
• calendula;
• peppermint.

This task is also handled well by:

• onion;
• garlic;
• parsley;
• mustard;
• horseradish.

It must be remembered that aphids love certain garden crops. For example, cosmos and begonia attract pests. For the same reason, it is not recommended to plant petunias near linden, viburnum, plum.

Many insects are beneficial, they protect flowers from pest extermination. If you do not want to use chemicals, call upon the natural enemies of aphids.

Insects for which aphids and eggs are the main food:

• The ladybug familiar from childhood is a small bright red beetle with black round spots on the back. These insects live in almost all regions of the country and feed on aphids. The maximum activity of ladybirds occurs in the period from spring to late autumn. Beetles and larvae are very voracious, they destroy a large number of not only aphids, but also other harmful insects. To attract a ladybug into your garden, plant daisies, tansy, sweet clover, and yarrow.
• Most species of golden eyes feed on vegetation, but their larvae and the genus Chrysopa are predators. Most of their diet is aphids. Laceworms are attracted to areas where tansy and caraway grow.
• The subfamily Pemphredoninae of sand wasps is rarely used to control aphids, but insects readily eat them.
• Earwigs and crickets actively destroy aphids, but because of their gluttony, gardeners are trying to get rid of these omnivorous insects.
• Spiders get mainly flying pests, but they can also feast on insects located in the leaves and on the ground.

Small birds and hoverflies treat aphids as food to help the grower get rid of pests.

To keep beneficial insects in your area, feed them periodically. If food is scarce, they may leave your area. For artificial feeding, Wheast is used, produced in the form of a dry powder. It contains all the substances necessary for the growth and reproduction of ladybirds and other beneficial insects. To prepare a solution, the powder is mixed with sugar and water, and the plants are sprayed with the resulting composition. You can use other baits, including those containing pheromones.

Popular ways of fighting

If you do not want to resort to the help of pesticides, use folk advice.

Spraying solutions:

• The soap solution helps effectively get rid of aphids on flowers... Combine the soap crushed with a grater with an equal amount of water, mix well, use a spray bottle to spray the petunia bushes. Some gardeners recommend using only dark laundry soap, others are sure that any detergent will do - dishwashing gel, liquid soap. Spraying should be done after sunset for two weeks.
• Pale pink potassium permanganate solution.
• A solution of 0.5 ml of iodine in 100 ml of milk is effective. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed, diluted in a liter of water, sprayed on the plants.
• 5% solution of baking soda in water.
• American-made Coca Cola contains phosphoric acid, which can kill aphids. You can use the finished product, you can dilute it 1: 1 with water.
• Dissolve 100 g of mustard in 10 liters of water.
• 1.5 tablespoons of vinegar in 1 liter of water. Higher concentration can damage flowers and leaves!
• Whisk a mixture of vegetable oil (100 ml) and water (300 ml), gently apply to the leaves and stems. A thin film will make it difficult for insects to breathe, prevent them from destroying leaves.
• Pour the tomato tops with water for several hours, strain the solution.
• Mix 500 grams of tobacco with 100 ml of liquid soap, pour into a bucket of hot water. Use after complete cooling.
• Pour boiling water over 500-600 g of potato tops, let it brew for 4 hours. Add a glass of liquid soap, stir, process the flowers.
• Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 3 cloves of chopped garlic to 500 ml of hot water, leave the mixture for 2 hours.

For folk remedies to be effective, listen to the advice of experienced florists:

• Use a chilled solution for processing so as not to burn the petunias.
• Spray not only flowers, but also the ground around them.
• The frequency of processing is once every 7-10 days.
• Monitor spray efficiency - if the product doesn't work, try another one.
• Before treating petunia for aphids, apply a small amount of the solution to one leaf. If a burn occurs, replace the product.

Folk remedies are widely popular, as they are harmless, affordable and inexpensive. But, unfortunately, they are inferior in efficiency to industrial chemistry.

Chemical methods of aphid control

Chemical preparations for aphids are highly effective, but they need to be used only with a massive defeat of petunias, if other methods do not work.

Manufacturers offer several groups of drugs for the destruction of aphids on flowers:

• contact substances penetrate the body through the skin and destroy pests;
• intestinal agents enter the digestive tract, are absorbed into the bloodstream, causing paralysis of the pest;
• systemic substances are absorbed by plants.

The last group of drugs is the most effective. The active substance is stored in petunia for 2-3 weeks. Aphids feed on poisoned leaves and die. The insecticide is not washed off by rain or watering.

Range of plant protection products:

• "Aktara";
• "Commander";
• Corado;
• "Confidor";
• "Fufanon";
• "Spark".

All these products destroy not only aphids, but also other pests.

When using chemicals, follow 5 main rules:

1. Spray petunias in dry weather in the morning or evening.
2. Use personal protective equipment - gloves, mask.
3. It is most convenient to spray the products with a spray bottle.
4. Spray plants in the spring to kill overwintered pests.
5. Apply the preparation to the back of the leaves, as this is where the main aphid colonies are located.

If you use the same drug for several years, its effectiveness will decrease, it is recommended to change the product.

Glue traps have proven themselves well - they can be used both on flower beds and on the balcony. The traps do not contain toxic substances, are safe, do not harm people and pets.

Manufacturers also offer complex fertilizers containing substances that nourish flowers and destroy insect pests. The funds are released in the form of sticks, which must be placed in the soil in a flower bed or in a flower pot. The active substance retains its effect for 1.5–2 months. When watering, the top layer of the stick dissolves, releasing the necessary trace elements into the soil.

Prevention methods

To protect petunias from pest damage, you need to know the main methods of prevention:

• When purchasing petunia cuttings, carefully examine them so as not to bring harmful insects into your flower garden or apartment.
• Inspect the plants regularly, especially the underside of the leaves. Start processing at the first signs of the disease.
• Fertilize and feed flowers in a timely manner.Healthy plants are less at risk of infection.
• Plant aphid repellent plants near the petunias.
• Try to get rid of ants in your garden.
• Use safe insect pest control products. It is worth resorting to chemicals only if other methods of struggle do not help.

Proper care, timely feeding and watering will allow you to grow strong fragrant petunias in your flower garden.