On Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:58:14 +0100, Sacha wrote:

I was just talking to Matthew about some people using washing up liquid
to spray whitefly and he's adamant that it has to be Fairy Liquid! He
commented that 'all that eco-friendly stuff is no good' and the
constituents cause leaf scorch. So, for what it's worth I pass it on.
Not that I'm suggesting for one second that anyone should use a washing
up liquid for anything other than its intended purpose but we know how
some people like to bend the rules.....

Specific brand is a new one on me though I've read that the water used
for the mix needs to be warm, that the solution needs to be weak, that
it's best to wash off with plain water after a few hours, that you
need to reapply every 4-5 days and that fuchsias and some other plants
may be harmed by the soap. Oh, and ladybird larvae, which are the most
voracious consumers of aphids, are also killed by the soap solution.

SB Plant Invigorator is good against white-, green- and black-fly and
it also seems to control lily beetle. The instructions seem a lot less
complicated than those for soapy water.

After a year with high ladybird and lacewing populations and no aphids
found, this year I have yet to see a ladybird or lacewing (hoverflies
are in abundance) and I have only found greenfly on one rose bush
(and few enough to allow finger squishing). No whitefly yet.

Badger having departed, hedgehogs have returned.

Right! Tea break over.....


--
Cheers, Jake
=======================================
URGling from the other end of Swansea Bay where it's
unusually just like Dave's end, only better