APHIDS HELP !!!!!

Have tried that, thanks Balinbear, but I have way too many roses to individually kill them and the water doesn't dislodge them all and sometimes damages the young growth.

Sincere thanks to everyone for all their suggestions. I'm going to try one more lot of organic rose oil and if that doesn't cut it then ill get my husband to cover the pool and use more of the hard stuff. Thank you all so much for your suggestions, you're a great bunch

I accept cheques and credit cards.......

Rosy, when you are ready to cover the pool I will PM you with the name of the chemical to get off a pest exterminator.

"The volatile oils of many herbs contain chemical compounds that naturally repel insects. The oil of clove, for example, contains eugenol, a fast-acting insecticide agent that counters fleas, spiders, cockroaches, ants, flies, aphids, dust mites and several garden pests. Other essential oils that contain eugenol include cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, lemon balm and basil.

All-Natural Aphid Spray

Aphids, also known as plant lice or blackfly, can quickly destroy foliage and spread disease. However, the oils, salts, and acids found in this formula will send them packing just as fast.

1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup salt
¼ cup powdered citric acid
¼ cup baking soda
2 teaspoons aloe vera juice
2 teaspoons sesame seed oil
15 drops sage essential oil
10 drops grapefruit seed extract

Combine all ingredients into a large plastic spray bottle. Shake well before using and be sure to apply to the underside of the leaves where aphids love to hide."

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Jac - You are a LEGEND THANK YOU!!!!!

Rosy Teesh, I just ignore them and then after a bit they are gone, but in your climate or enviroment that might be different.

Rosy Teesh, sorry to hear about your troubles with aphids. I can't offer any advice re sprays because I just squish any that I find. I have found that aquilegia growing nearby attracts them because they often infest flower buds and in fact I think they prefer them to roses, in my garden anyway.
You have been wondering how they got into your place? They flew! The female is winged and lays her eggs quick smart, the nymphs can't fly, they crawl.
Jac, that sounds like a great recipe - well done!

Thanks silky! Solves the mystery of them on my pot plants. No aquilegia nearby though. I am going to try the natural mixture, fingers crossed it works because I really hate poison

Good luck Rosy. I hope Jac's natural remedy works for you, much better than poisons, especially with a pond. Aquatic life, frogs etc are very sensitive to chemicals.

Me too! The dogs are also a concern. They got too close to the organic fertilizer and are a bit sick So I didn't want to add sprays on top of that. And yes we have heaps of wildlife around like butterflies and dragonflies that we want to keep hanging around too!

If it is organic, how does it make animals crook.
I have had a bad day

how does it make them crook, sit down and eat a bowl of Dynamic Lifter then come back and tell me your OK

Warren

Jac , i'm going to try that recipe too , Rosy i have been squishing my aphids on a daily basis , but as i am going away for a week i gave the roses a go with eco-neem as i don't want to come home to a outbreak of aphids , this stuff usually works ........

Maree, I’ve no idea if it works, just went looking for it, because I knew it was out there somewhere and got lucky. It’s not a bad link with lots of other interesting info; have a look.

Seeing many positive responses to the organic approach, I though I might share a little tip from my new Organic Gardener Diary 2013 (ABC). It’s from the September Action Plan for gardeners in the subtropical climate zone (mine in Brisbane), but the into encourages us to experiment, and that means it could suite at any time, anywhere:

“Improve the vigor and flowering of citrus, as well as roses, gardenias and orchids, by adding one teaspoonful of Epson salts to 4.5 liters of water, then spray foliage.”

I got 1kg of Epson salts for about $6 or 7 at Woolies; can’t wait to see a marvelous improvement.

Roseman, unfortunately they are actually very sick from it. They are only little and have been sick for 2 days. Just because something is organic does not mean it is good for them.

I think it is part chicken manure and there must be something else in it that attracts them to it but makes them very ill. No idea how they got past the thorns in the pot but they did.

Maree, I have also tried a little bit of eucalyptus oil, I hear it can help too

Ozroz wrote:John Malathion is good but Rogor ( Dimethoate) is better, it kills on contact as Malathion and is systemic . I don't spray untill I know the lady birds are losing the battle.

Tried the Rogor this afternoon...will look for the results tomorrow....

Let me know how it goes Neptune would be interested

I have tried a natural mixture today and will report back.

It was also for caterpillars.

Warren

Reminds me of the time I left a bag of blood and bone out in the garden only to have our dog eat it all.

John when I spray with Rogor it is usually 1 ml / lt, results can be seen 1 hr after spraying as you wil see them moving in weird ways. Its cover will controll any thing that feeds on the plant for around 5 days or decides to in that period of time. Some years I will spray and others the lady birds will sort them out. I only have to spray twice, Spring and Autumn, only if it is necessary.

Ditto here Ozroz

Balinbear wrote:Warren

Reminds me of the time I left a bag of blood and bone out in the garden only to have our dog eat it all.

With 4 dogs here I only use B&B if it is buried. LOL Learnt that the hard way.

The downside of the wool mulch is the dogs having a fossick for the dags.

Ozroz wrote:John when I spray with Rogor it is usually 1 ml / lt, results can be seen 1 hr after spraying as you wil see them moving in weird ways. Its cover will controll any thing that feeds on the plant for around 5 days or decides to in that period of time. Some years I will spray and others the lady birds will sort them out. I only have to spray twice, Spring and Autumn, only if it is necessary.

ok Warren....went out to check your handy work and all but one bud(which I missed yesterday)......has taken the aphids to rose bud heaven. So now I have to question how good is this Rogor....i would have at least thought that the remaining aphids , having seen what happen to their counterparts, might have thought wisely to give up their piece of real estate to find least scarier abodes...need to think this one out.......

Update : My concoction of organic Eco Rose Oil, eucalyptus oil and dish washing liquid has worked a treat! I only spotted a couple of aphids and resprayed them again today. I have sprayed them with this 3 days in a row now and am very impressed that I didn't have to use any chemicals (they always give me a headache anyway even if I wear a mask).

Only now, I have a problem with caterpillars!! ARGH!! I keep getting rid of them (only a couple of the potted roses are affected), but they keep popping up.

Any suggestions?

I am definitely keeping you all busy lol.