Plant Doctor Archive

Plague of aphids

MY indoor plants have recently become plagued with aphids. Being organics friendly, and because some of the plants in question are herbs, I'm reluctant to spray them. My housemates and I have started pulling off the stems with aphids attached, but it hasn't helped the health of the plants, nor has it stopped the problem. What other options do I have to get rid of these little bugs?

INDOOR plants can easily be infested by insects, as there are no predators to eat them. If you want to use organic sprays, try Yates Pyrethrum or Derris Dust.

The pyrethrum can be used on all types of plants and has no withholding period. Derris Dust has a withholding period of one day for food crops. When you apply any spray or dust, take the plant outside. For general health, it may pay to take the plants outside once a week to give them some fresh air, or put them outside when it rains to help wash off dust and insects. The plants will thank you for it!

If you have pulled the stems and leaves off the plant, it will also pay to feed with liquid fertiliser such as Yates Nitrosol or Lush Houseplant Food.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.