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Aphids and soapy spray
Yesterday for the first time I tried spraying a big lupin with warm
water and washing up liquid. The plant was absolutely heaving with thousands of aphids and starting to look quite poorly and wilting. Today 99% of the aphids are black, shrivelled and dead. I'm really impressed how quick and effective it has been. I sprayed the plant in the full heat and blaze of yesterday afternoons sun which probably helped kill off the little buggers. I'll spray again this afternoon which also looks like being a scorcher to see if it will kill off the remainder. I used about twice the amount of washing up liquid as I'd use in a washing up bowl for washing dishes but this amount was only in one of those little plant sprayers. The concentration seems to have been good. I'm very impressed with this "non-toxic" approach. :-) -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
Aphids and soapy spray
"David in Normandy" wrote in message ... Yesterday for the first time I tried spraying a big lupin with warm water and washing up liquid. The plant was absolutely heaving with thousands of aphids and starting to look quite poorly and wilting. Today 99% of the aphids are black, shrivelled and dead. I'm really impressed how quick and effective it has been. I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested them when I did. There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that they were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs. It amused me. Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
Mary Fisher wrote:
I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested them when I did. There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that they were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs. It amused me. Mary Yes, there seems to be all sizes from tiny to Godzilla. I'm surprised the plant was still alive considering the amount of them sucking it's sap. It was wilting and looked really poorly yesterday. Today it has perked up and looking happy again. I noticed the aphids had a bluish tinge about them so wasn't 100% sure if they were aphids or blackfly. Are they a specific species that preys on lupins? -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
Aphids and soapy spray
In article , David in Normandy writes: | Mary Fisher wrote: | I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested them when | I did. | | There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that they | were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs. More nutritious than steak, too. | Yes, there seems to be all sizes from tiny to Godzilla. I'm surprised | the plant was still alive considering the amount of them sucking it's | sap. It was wilting and looked really poorly yesterday. Today it has | perked up and looking happy again. | | I noticed the aphids had a bluish tinge about them so wasn't 100% sure | if they were aphids or blackfly. Are they a specific species that preys | on lupins? Essentially, yes. There are dozens of species of aphid common in the UK (and France), and most are partially host-specific. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Aphids and soapy spray
On May 12, 12:42 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article , David in Normandy writes:| Mary Fisher wrote: | I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested them when | I did. | | There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that they | were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs. More nutritious than steak, too. | Yes, there seems to be all sizes from tiny to Godzilla. I'm surprised | the plant was still alive considering the amount of them sucking it's | sap. It was wilting and looked really poorly yesterday. Today it has | perked up and looking happy again. | | I noticed the aphids had a bluish tinge about them so wasn't 100% sure | if they were aphids or blackfly. Are they a specific species that preys | on lupins? Essentially, yes. There are dozens of species of aphid common in the UK (and France), and most are partially host-specific. Regards, Nick Maclaren. I remember informally seeing mention of "lupin aphids" and you certainly tend to see them on most lupin plants sooner or later and they are distinctive through sheer size but here is the lowdown as found by google: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...upin_aphid.asp |
Aphids and soapy spray
Des Higgins wrote:
I remember informally seeing mention of "lupin aphids" and you certainly tend to see them on most lupin plants sooner or later and they are distinctive through sheer size but here is the lowdown as found by google: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...upin_aphid.asp Interesting link, thanks Des. I notice they mention a list of chemical insecticides but surprisingly don't mention the substantially cheaper and less toxic method I used. I would have thought the RHS would be more supportive of such approaches. It's time to go and give the aphids their second shower in two days now :-) -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
Aphids and soapy spray
On May 12, 1:45*pm, David in Normandy
wrote: Des Higgins wrote: I remember informally seeing mention of "lupin aphids" and you certainly tend to see them on most lupin plants sooner or later and they are distinctive through sheer size but here is the lowdown as found by google: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...upin_aphid.asp Interesting link, thanks Des. I notice they mention a list of chemical insecticides but surprisingly don't mention the substantially cheaper and less toxic method I used. I would have thought the RHS would be more supportive of such approaches. They talk of "fatty acids". Isn't that the active ingredient in soap? Cat(h) |
Aphids and soapy spray
In article , "Cat(h)" writes: | | Interesting link, thanks Des. I notice they mention a list of chemical | insecticides but surprisingly don't mention the substantially cheaper | and less toxic method I used. I would have thought the RHS would be more | supportive of such approaches. | | They talk of "fatty acids". Isn't that the active ingredient in soap? Yes. The reason that they don't mention it is that our Lords and Masters in Whitehall have made it illegal to use detergent and methylated spirits, and imposed extra restrictions on horticultural soaps (such as Savona). A conspiracy theorist would suspect that was done in arrangement with the agrichemical companies. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Aphids and soapy spray
On May 12, 10:22*am, David in Normandy
wrote: Yesterday for the first time I tried spraying a big lupin with warm water and washing up liquid. The plant was absolutely heaving with thousands of aphids and starting to look quite poorly and wilting. Today 99% of the aphids are black, shrivelled and dead. I'm really impressed how quick and effective it has been. I sprayed the plant in the full heat and blaze of yesterday afternoons sun which probably helped kill off the little buggers. I'll spray again this afternoon which also looks like being a scorcher to see if it will kill off the remainder. I used about twice the amount of washing up liquid as I'd use in a washing up bowl for washing dishes but this amount was only in one of those little plant sprayers. The concentration seems to have been good. I'm very impressed with this "non-toxic" approach. :-) Ditto, and I am taking good note, having planted some broadbeans which always seem to attract large amounts of black aphids. I am just wondering just how non-toxic washing up liquid truly is, and would using something like Ecover's stuff be better than, say, Fairy Liquid? Cat(h) |
Aphids and soapy spray
In article , "Cat(h)" writes: | | I am just wondering just how non-toxic washing up liquid truly is, and | would using something like Ecover's stuff be better than, say, Fairy | Liquid? Very. It's more toxic than soap, but that's almost edible. The difference is in the adjuncts, and a less poncy one might well be better. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Aphids and soapy spray
"Des Higgins" wrote in message ... On May 12, 12:42 pm, (Nick Maclaren) wrote: In article , David in Normandy writes:| Mary Fisher wrote: | I don't grow lupins because of the huge blue aphids which infested them when | I did. | | There was a question on GQT about this yesterday. Someone said that they | were big enough to barbecue - as kebabs. More nutritious than steak, too. | Yes, there seems to be all sizes from tiny to Godzilla. I'm surprised | the plant was still alive considering the amount of them sucking it's | sap. It was wilting and looked really poorly yesterday. Today it has | perked up and looking happy again. | | I noticed the aphids had a bluish tinge about them so wasn't 100% sure | if they were aphids or blackfly. Are they a specific species that preys | on lupins? I've only seen them on lupins. Essentially, yes. There are dozens of species of aphid common in the UK (and France), and most are partially host-specific. Regards, Nick Maclaren. I remember informally seeing mention of "lupin aphids" and you certainly tend to see them on most lupin plants sooner or later and they are distinctive through sheer size but here is the lowdown as found by google: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...upin_aphid.asp But that site says: "This aphid is native to North America and was first detected in England in 1981" Well, sorry, but the ones in my garden were in the 1960s. We moved into this house in 1964 and lupins were already in the garden. I saw the aphids shortly after and pulled up the plants, never had them (lupins) since. Perhaps it was only defined as a different aphid from the ones already here in 1981 but the ones on our lupins were so distinctive that they were memorable. My mother was a great gardener and always had lupins, I never saw the aphids on hers but that was before we moved here. I'm not claiming to be a First ... Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message ... In article , "Cat(h)" writes: | | Interesting link, thanks Des. I notice they mention a list of chemical | insecticides but surprisingly don't mention the substantially cheaper | and less toxic method I used. I would have thought the RHS would be more | supportive of such approaches. | | They talk of "fatty acids". Isn't that the active ingredient in soap? Yes. The reason that they don't mention it is that our Lords and Masters in Whitehall have made it illegal to use detergent and methylated spirits, and imposed extra restrictions on horticultural soaps (such as Savona). A conspiracy theorist would suspect that was done in arrangement with the agrichemical companies. Well, that's not exactly true. It's not permitted to use any preparation which isn't licensed and soapy water and meths etc. haven't been licensed. I doubt that one would be banged up for using such things but it is illegal to unlicensed sell soapy water as a treatment for pests. Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
In article , "Mary Fisher" writes: | | The reason that they don't mention it is that our Lords and Masters | in Whitehall have made it illegal to use detergent and methylated | spirits, and imposed extra restrictions on horticultural soaps | (such as Savona). A conspiracy theorist would suspect that was | done in arrangement with the agrichemical companies. | | Well, that's not exactly true. It's not permitted to use any preparation | which isn't licensed and soapy water and meths etc. haven't been licensed. I | doubt that one would be banged up for using such things but it is illegal to | unlicensed sell soapy water as a treatment for pests. Can you explain why what I said isn't true? Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Aphids and soapy spray
On Mon, 12 May 2008 13:49:55 +0100, Charlie Pridham
wrote: Yes, Lupin aphids is what they are called! they came over from america in the 1980 and took hold in Cornwall because of the quantity of Tree lupins (they used to use them to stabilise the china clap waste tips) they quickly spread all over europe and unlike all the other aphids seem to actually kill the plant -- Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and Lapageria rosea They don't seem to have got to New Zealand yet. The masses of "wild" lupins we saw there were totally free of aphids. Pam in Bristol |
Aphids and soapy spray
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Aphids and soapy spray
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , "Cat(h)" writes: | | I am just wondering just how non-toxic washing up liquid truly is, and | would using something like Ecover's stuff be better than, say, Fairy | Liquid? Very. It's more toxic than soap, but that's almost edible. One plant I found that really did not like the wetting agent treatment at all was a bay tree (didn't want to use anything else since it was for culinary use). Very nearly killed it stone dead the leaves all dessicated within a week as the wax came off it as well as the pests. The difference is in the adjuncts, and a less poncy one might well be better. Simplest cheap one is probably as good as any. The fat based soft soaps are supposed to be better at gungin up insect breathing holes. Regards, Martin Brown ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com ** |
Aphids and soapy spray
"Pam Moore" wrote in message ... On 12 May 2008 13:18:20 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote: Can one still buy Fairy Soap Flakes. My father used to mix these with water to spray the aphids, before the days of detergents. Could one grate Fairy Soap and mix that? I remember using a spray of some supermarket's own brand washing up liquid once and it killed the aphids and the plants! I buy Soap Flakes from Waitrose but it's not Fairy, it's not Lux either :-( Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... Simplest cheap one is probably as good as any. The fat based soft soaps are supposed to be better at gungin up insect breathing holes. You could spray thin cooking oil, that would impede their respiration. Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
On Mon, 12 May 2008 16:20:29 +0100, Pam Moore
wrote: Can one still buy Fairy Soap Flakes. Correction. It was Lux soap flakes! Pam in Bristol |
Aphids and soapy spray
Mary Fisher wrote:
"Martin Brown" wrote in message ... Simplest cheap one is probably as good as any. The fat based soft soaps are supposed to be better at gungin up insect breathing holes. You could spray thin cooking oil, that would impede their respiration. Mary Still thinking about barbequing them? :-) Baste with cooking oil and turn until well done. -- David in Normandy. To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted by a filter and not reach my inbox. |
Aphids and soapy spray
"David in Normandy" wrote in message ... Mary Fisher wrote: "Martin Brown" wrote in message ... Simplest cheap one is probably as good as any. The fat based soft soaps are supposed to be better at gungin up insect breathing holes. You could spray thin cooking oil, that would impede their respiration. Mary Still thinking about barbequing them? :-) I don't barbeque. I barbecue :-) Baste with cooking oil and turn until well done. You forget, I got rid of my lupins :-) Oil is used as a biotechnical method of controlling mites in beehives by some beekeepers. I reckon it would work on lupin aphids - AND prepare them for the barbecue. I prefer even larger lumps of meat :-) Mary |
Aphids and soapy spray
Chris Hogg wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2008 17:08:42 +0100, "Mary Fisher" wrote: "Martin Brown" wrote in message ... Simplest cheap one is probably as good as any. The fat based soft soaps are supposed to be better at gungin up insect breathing holes. You could spray thin cooking oil, that would impede their respiration. Mary Many of the 'green' insecticides available are little more than that, except that they emulsify the oil to give a thick white gloop that you dilute. I'm sure if you took a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil of your choice, added a few drops of soap of your choice and whizzed the mix well in a pint of water in a liquidiser, you'd get the same thing for a fraction of the cost. That's assuming it didn't just fill the kitchen with froth! Might as well just use a cheap shampoo if that's all they are |
Aphids and soapy spray
David in Normandy wrote:
Yesterday for the first time I tried spraying a big lupin with warm water and washing up liquid. The plant was absolutely heaving with thousands of aphids and starting to look quite poorly and wilting. Today 99% of the aphids are black, shrivelled and dead. I'm really impressed how quick and effective it has been. I sprayed the plant in the full heat and blaze of yesterday afternoons sun which probably helped kill off the little buggers. I'll spray again this afternoon which also looks like being a scorcher to see if it will kill off the remainder. I used about twice the amount of washing up liquid as I'd use in a washing up bowl for washing dishes but this amount was only in one of those little plant sprayers. The concentration seems to have been good. I'm very impressed with this "non-toxic" approach. :-) The only question really is the "non-toxicity" of this non-toxic approach. I've heard that the soapy water treatment will kill any predators of the aphids as well as the aphids. Might be worth checking to make sure there's no ladybird or their larvae, or lacewing larvae around before spraying. Duncan |
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