4 Methods of Controlling Aphids Organically

[@loveneeshart]

MIgardener, I love your videos but notice that you don't have closed caption on most of them. Do you mind opening up your videos for community contribution (for captions), so that those of us who rely on them can have accurate ones? Auto-generated captions can be confusing and inaccurate. Thanks!

[@growinglongisland]

I’ve used tape to remove the aphids from my leaves it worked great

[@gloriaortiz2379]

How do you do this? turn tape backward and the aphids get stuck to it?

[@winterfae5403]

Did it rip the leaves?

[@growinglongisland]

Gloria Ortiz yes irs simple, the aphids stick in to the tape and the plant stays in perfect condition! I’ve actually used the sticky lint roller also and it worked great as well

[@growinglongisland]

winter fae not at all !

[@nikitachaytor453]

@@winterfae5403 I didn’t just squish and wipe if you’re worried about it tho

[@628DirtRooster]

My grandfather had a story about buying a box a lady bugs to get rid of aphids in his yard. He got the box in the mail, opened them and watched them all fly to his neighbor's yard.

[@davidweum9334]

NO ONE SOLD LADY BUGS THUS SORING IN CENRTAL ALBERTA. TOO COLD AND WET. AMAZON SHIPS LADY BUGS, IM TOLD.

[@zepherzepher1228]

my Life

[@lillyalfonso9816]

628DirtRooster Bees lol

[@thebullwhisperer916]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@annadavis6361]

lmbo, now that was funny.

[@cheesygal]

Thank you. I appreciate that you give the details and reasoning behind the methods. I did not know they die when washing them off, for example.

[@BigMrZ]

You can also make tobacco tea, 10g of tobacco with cup of warm, boiled water. After 24h just spray aphid colonies with it. It works fine with black ones.

[@lauraservey495]

I read in a gardening book a mixture of 1 tsp. garlic infused water and 1 tsp. dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water. I love neem oil, but it wasn't strong enough.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

neem oil has not been approved in Canada. I use pure soap and water (curtesy of rusted garden) in a pressurized sprayer. it has the effect of both high pressure water and insecticidal soap.

[@littleforestowl]

Thank you for all your videos, I’m learning so much!! 🙌🏽 I had aphids on my miniature daffodils, it happened just as it was starting to go to seed. I blasted it with water and then added seaweed water mix (blended and strained, no salt), to help neutralise some of the Nitrogen. It’s worked so far, the aphids haven’t come back. But I also gave it a throughout watering in case it’s too much fertiliser in the compost. Either way, it’s been a week and no aphids. But now I have whiteflies on my tomato plants 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@davesterchele2679]

This year I put a mixture of sugar, honey and borax into about 10 plastic drinking bottles. Capped the ends and cut tiny holes into the sides so ants could get in but the borax wouldn't leak out. Then I placed the traps in strategic areas by our egg plants and Fava beans. Control the ants and you reduce the aphids.

[@milliethemillinator3154]

The ants are there only because of the aphids. Not the other way around.

[@margaretdutkowski6187]

Thank you for this series! Your explanation of how to get rid of aphids (and ants) is easily understandable. I hope you will talk about Japanese beetles next. They are the bane of my gardening existence!

[@williamogle1046]

Thank you for this video. The next day after watching this I found Aphids on my okra. I used the water method and it worked well. Thanks again.

[@loris.8323]

Do they come back?

[@Bingobongo3]

so happy you made this series exited to see where it goes

[@thebullwhisperer916]

Oh & I like the variety of methods you provide because not all will be preferred

[@jeffbartha2788]

I have found that a mix of water/soap/baking soda/cayenne on my tomato plants and it has worked great!

[@MIgardener]

Cayenne won't affect aphids because capsaicin is a chemical that only reacts with mammals, aphids are unaffected.

[@hectorbrown656]

MIgardener thank you for telling us that we hear a lot about using cayenne for getting rid of aphid ,here in France a lot of people ( like me ) use black savon with water but not if there are ladybirds present

[@BociCreativeLiving]

I noticed flies being attracted to my plants that had a bad infestation of aphids. LOTS of flies!!!! My Arugula was the worst. I pulled out the oldest plants and sprayed water to dislodge the majority of the aphids on the rest. Kept using the water spray for a few more days and got them under control. But I did buy the Neem oil to have on hand if it gets bad again. You have great advice!

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

I'm glad he showed the spray method. That's all I've done and had no other issues.

[@ROlson-dx2jc]

I have done the water spray but I notice alot of live aphids in the soil around the plant. Will the aphids be able to climb back onto the plant? Are they causing a problem with the soil? I am now wiping the leaves with diluted castille/peppermint soap. That seems to be effective.

[@TristansMom10]

i really needed this video and I knew I could depend on Luke!!! I went away for 2 days, came back and my watermelon and cucumbers are infested with ants and aphids!!!! Im a pretty new gardener and I have never experienced this. At first i cut off the 2 leaves that had the most aphids but then suddenly I thought "what would Luke do? surely not cut all the leaves off!" lol! Thank you for all the knowledge you share with us new gardeners!!!!

[@MustardSeedish]

This is perfect. We're having a heck of a time with aphids this year.

[@bettyleung7244]

Most of the helps and suggestions show smaller plants and trees. I know crushing the aphids is effective but I am 5'4" trying to save my 8' plum tree. Can't reach every single leaf on the tree. I now mix soap with baking soda in a spray bottle (I don't have a powerful hose) . This does work but have to repeat the process often because new batch of aphids will come again. The mixture works very well with powdery zucchini leaves as well.

[@thymetosow4972]

Luke, Today I received the seeds I ordered from you on July 4th. Quick delivery and the packaging is beautiful! I am so excited to plant these seeds. I meant to order more Strike bean seeds so I will be placing another order today. Thank you so much!

[@stephaniedoan7114]

Hi, can you do a video to show how to make the borax mixture please?

[@Alex-bv6yg]

0:53 Geneva is in the background she is so cute!!!

[@AdevăruriIstoriceAscunse]

Thank you very much, dear friend! 💗 Greetings from London! 😉

[@palin131313]

Tanglefoot sticky barrier to stop ant on fruit tree. Lasts the whole summer

[@richardpokallus5834]

I have always used Lady Bugs to control aphids on my roses and other plants. I get mine at the local plant nursery or feed store.

[@anilkapur1584]

The video is to the point and all the correct methods, I can vouch because I have used them all. The only point that is missing is that the cold pressed neem oil should have azadirachtin between 1500 to 2000 ppm.

[@1forthepeople969]

@MiGardener: I really enjoyed your video tutorial on aphids. I learned a great deal on those pesky pests. Thank you for sharing.

[@wyyyve]

really dormant oil works fine, its a mixture of 99% water and 1% mineral oil and emulsifier only toxic on application and leaves no residual harmful substances to the large number of predatory insects you want to keep around.

[@davidweum9334]

It suffocates the Aphids in their winter cocoons or whatever.

[@michaelfowler3128]

What’s your recommendations about the soil after the aphids-infested vegetables are pulled out? I’d like to plant new vegetables in it without having to worry about aphids still living in that soil? Thank

[@carolparrish194]

Thanks for the information. I had not heard about the sugar and borax before. Have you had any trouble with Japanese Beetles? Every year they devastate my cherry tree. I have tried Milky Spore disease in the ground. It helped a little I tried spraying with tree when they are on the tree which only kills the bugs on contact. My cherry tree suffers a lot and looks like a lace tablecloth.

[@jumpoffa5011]

Carol, try this product: Japanese/Oriental Beetle Trap (3 PACK) by RESCUE! You can find it on Amazon. It is a pheromone that attracts the beetle and traps it in a plastic bag. You can dump the bugs or toss the bag.

[@FfejTball]

Milky spore only effects the grubs, not the adults, so when you miss an adult population (and you will), there's enough left behind to repopulate. The traps that jumpoff mentioned can be effective, but they can cause even more to show up than you had before. Buyer beware.

[@margaretdutkowski6187]

Jumpoff A I tried that but discovered that it attracted all the Japanese beetles in the neighborhood and nearby golf course! I have found physically removing them into a plastic tub of dishwasher soap water, then placing the tub with the dead beetles in it near the tree, seems to work better. The dead beetles give off a scent that dissuaded other beetles from coming. But it's very tedium and must be done daily, sometimes twice daily.

[@davesterchele2679]

We used to have a problem with Japanese Beetles until we planted wildflowers in one area of our yard downwind from the garden and just let it go. We also created a 6 foot area of wood chip mulch around the entire garden area. Beetle traps are also placed in the wildflowers and we spread the milky spore into the soil around the garden and in the wildflowers. The beetles are much fewer than they used to be and seem to be happy munching on the weeds and flower now.

[@jumpoffa5011]

Thanks for sharing, I didn't know that. :-)

[@feargodlorib4711]

Cold pressed neem oil hasn’t been working for me. I used 2 Tsp neem oil, 1 Tsp dish soap. Trying garlic spray now.

[@Batsnang]

Got through my first year of gardening without encountering aphids, just ants eating my strawberries and earwigs. With seedlings out, the earwigs are back. But the ants are pack, pre-berry. I'd been ignoring them... And then I saw one at the tip top of my current plant right next to a leaf and I checked the underside and, yep, little black dots 🤦🏻‍♀️ Gonna set up a borax trap for the ants, an oil trap for the earwigs, and I hope it's early enough I can simply physically squish the aphids. Time to go check every single plant 😫

[@pickettmonroe]

Can you give the ratio for the sugar/borax combo ? I noticed my Seckel pear tree getting lots of ants on trunk and production is down significantly since last year. Hate for it to spread to other pear tree. Thanks

[@benjaminmurphy498]

I hope you found your answer! If not I found: 1 part sugar to 1 part borax and enough water to make a thick paste

[@iampaulettetahan]

What about dawn soap and water spray

[@Lyfesreal]

My tomatoes have been getting the aphids for the past two years. Hand picking and water spraying seems to do the trick. They usually show up after my tomatoes leaves start to curl at the bottom and fruit has been set but not ripened (aka right now on the northeast). This is my main issue... I believe i may be giving my tomatoes too much sun, or i need to start mulching with straw/wood chips as i assume the curled inward leaves is a stress response to surface roots drying out/too much sun. Can aphids alone cause leaf curl?

[@grant1100]

what about spraying vinegar is that effective / safe for the plant?

[@matthewcollins4764]

Would spraying the leaves not cause leaf rot

[@bluesight_]

No, not if there is sun and wind.

[@CharSWells]

Nice one video. I learned a lot. I wondered if my ants were eating the aphids or if they were just buds. Now I know they are buds. And the thing about their mouths being ripped off was great.

[@Ari-gm9gk]

I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT YOU ARE EXTREMELY HELP FULL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HELP

[@sharonpreston2826]

You know what I did, that worked? I had aphids covering a potted Columbine. I put a white plastic trash bag over the whole plant and tied it off around the pot, tight. Left it for 24 hours in the hot sun. Took off the bag, didn't see any aphids. Then I sprayed the plant off. Worked. Why was only one plant in my whole yard covered and no where else?

[@fluffandstuff.6011]

Sunflowers are there favourites.

[@Mixeddrinkzombie]

I just pruned and sprayed my mini pumpkins and watermelons today. I tried the borax treatment with limited success but I think that I added a few drops of water too many.

[@stevenpope940]

I know this video is aphids, any tips for stink bugs? They are taking out my hot pepper plants!

[@dominicjones8180]

How do you get rid of Japanese beetles? They are eating alot of my plants

[@3moirai]

Have you ever tried using beauveria bassiana fungus (like Botanigard) to kill aphids? Pros & Cons if you have?

[@donnataylor4591]

Great video Luke. Could I ask where you got your apple tree. I want to plant that type of fruit tree.

[@gizmospazz]

Can you please do any updated video on the Cabbage Looper? I tried BT last year, and it really stressed my plants out. I have a big problem with the Cabbage Looper again this year. I've been manually picking them off the leaves everyday and crushing them, but it's a losing battle that takes hours every day. My poor broccoli and brussel sprouts are looking pretty sad.

[@MIgardener]

BT shouldn't stress your plants. BT is a bacteria that only affects caterpillars and should have zero affect on anything else.

[@gizmospazz]

MIgardener | Simple Organic Gardening & Sustainable Living That's what I thought, but all of my plants were very wilted after the spray for over a week. They were incredibly lush and green, thanks to Trifecta. They just had holes from the Cabbage Loopers prior to spraying. So I've been very hesitant to use BT again this year.

[@sweetiedubois560]

I have winter moth caterpillars eating my summer squash leaves. Ants are also laying eggs under my Okra plant leaves, and they're all over my squash. Idk what to do! This is my first garden.

[@margaritacastaneda287]

What is the difference between "Sweet Pototoe Vines's" purchased at Wal-Mart and "Sweet Pototoe" Shoots started from the eyes of the pototoe? Will the vine's from Wal-Mart produce the sweet Pototoe's?

[@amysantana7355]

Yes

[@pizzaicecreamOG]

Nice informative video. TYSM

[@WendyK656]

Can you help with Japanese Beetles? They have been very bad in our area again.

[@Lily_Samson]

Well....You taught me something I didn’t know! Else where I heard and read that the ants were eating the Aphids....looking at your garden...so lovely by the way, I make the above statement....How about the ladybugs I see on my 🔥Bush, are they my friend or foe? Thanks for the video, and answer!

[@MultiAmeoba]

RIP Leonard Neemoil

[@truefuschniken]

YESSSS!!!! I needed this one- AMAZING!!! Thank you!!!!

[@mitche499]

What about the effect on beneficial insects and bees with using Neem Oil? Could it do harm if sprayed during the day?

[@sweetirisfarm]

Jean Mitchell *Yes, it will harm them. I have bees so I can't use anything like that.*

[@mitche499]

Thank you sweetirisfarm! :-)

[@avanbhathena7788]

Thanks so very much! Great tips to control aphids!

[@delightful83]

Great video! I learned a lot!! Thank you for explaining it so well!

[@rmjames83]

Thanks again Luke!

[@daniastry8088]

Be aware that if it's hot outside need oil will suffocate your plants and also try some dishsoap and water I use a gallon sprayer with tablespoon dish soap to water ratio and spray my milkweed aphids leave on for about 2 hours then rinse off as to not damage the plants it works amazingly but if it's a heavy infestation repeat every 3 days for 2 weeks 😀

[@daniastry8088]

Neem oil I meant sorry

[@garydarel1322]

Aphids are indicators of too much nitrogen. Perhaps reducing the frequency of fertilizing, or choose a lower N value fertilizer.

[@pennisauer2121]

I haven't fertilized my soy been plants and yet there they are.

[@mccoy79productions66]

cool video!

[@krisk5627]

Will diatomaceous earth work on ant colonies?

[@thebullwhisperer916]

I used garlic oil water(drop or plant based dish soap) mix & Epsom salt mixer but they are still there

[@BrokenanklesFPV]

my grandfather used to use garlic water to get rid of aphids

[@MrClean-ix6jn]

Great Job, I watched a biology pest control vid where organic lettuce farm uses Asylum plants a pollinator to produces "hovering flies" which kills the Little aphids very effectively.

[@meddler69]

you missed getting ladybugs and i mix up dawn and epsom salt and spray those suckers

[@MIgardener]

well ladybugs are helpful, but not a "method" of control, they come in naturally at their own free will and if they show up then the more the merrier.

[@meddler69]

you can buy them on amazon i had them reproduce all summer when i got them at the end of may last yr lol infact today i threw a bunch of diatomaceous earth on all the ant hills and plants after watching this video i know thats not in this video but that also works but yeah the ants come with the aphids ive noticed

[@jgehbinv]

Where can I get neem oil?

[@shareenjakehibbard]

Diotamatious earth is a great option to stop the ants having access to the garden also.

[@thebullwhisperer916]

Thank you these aphids are driving me crazy! They are killing my tomato plants

[@ezrabrooks12]

Good Video.

[@winterfae5403]

Will neem affect beneficial bugs?

[@bluesight_]

Yes

[@angelawillis145]

I have tried all of these and nothing gets rid of them altogether.

[@sharlenegumpal-azcona8001]

Thank you so much!!!! You da bestt!!!!!

[@livingoutsidethebubble]

Apparently aphids are indicators that the soil has too much Nitrogen.

[@johnclark6571]

Good point, Caro! We used some store bought fertilizer that took my tomatoes from 90 lb weaklings to Charles Atlas in about 3 weeks. I’m sure there’s some steroid nitro going on. Aphids are now going num num on all my ‘maders’. Thanks!!

[@kimberlyd7848]

Aphids get my Lupine flowers every year. I started using Neem oil but it is temporary. If I don’t reapply often, they come right back. Im thinking I have the wrong kind of neem oil... I lose this beautiful plant every year. 😔

[@olsonlr]

Mine are bright orange

[@BroScience710]

I always thought spraying them just washed them away and would spread them. Thanks for the info, I tried killing some ants this year and so many it didn't stop them. The red ants lay eggs on my carrots.

[@Randomdude-i8x]

Borax is non toxic for humans, but it does kill yeasts.

[@clairebonnstetter5722]

Please do a video on Japanese Beetles!!!

[@yerneedsry]

why not amdro for killing ants?

[@CMZneu]

4:18 Not at all accurate, while some ant species will move aphids most aphids can move to other parts of the plants on their own just fine, especially baby aphids that are more mobile and have trouble penetrating plant tissue that isn't tender enough so they move to newer leaves... also aphids under the right conditions will molt into winged adults that can of course fly, that's how they get to new plants that are far away. The one thing ants will do is "defend" aphids and harras insects that eat them like ladybugs, consequently they will have a harder time controlling them... this is still a decent enough reason to control ants.

[@thebullwhisperer916]

I don't have sugar 😞

[@PinkChucky15]

These are all great :-)

[@lissagilmore620]

Thank you for explaining the aphids need the ants to carry them up the plants! This helps a great deal.

[@nornironniall]

Someone needs to show me super slo mo super up close blowing aphid heads off with water!

[@rlund3]

borax or boric acid?

[@checkersx3556]

I researched which to use and found either version of the chemical will work for pest control or slime.

[@rlund3]

Thank you for the response.

[@rogerrathbun444]

So what you're saying is that I need to buy a Ardvark and have it shipped to Michigan to eat the ants ??LOL

[@sethelrod9099]

I’ve always said that the ants herd the aphids. It’s pretty much what they do

[@jackiehorsley9263]

what if you see aunts on your plants but know aphids

[@birdscorner4874]

Jackie Horsley ants are OK as long as there aren't an overwhelming amount of them in that case it might be that u might be having a fungus gnat infestation or something else u might want to observe ur plants and their soil closely

[@wednesdaynotifications1460]

Jackie Horsley ants are fine for the garden. They usually don’t harm the plant. They actually work in the root zone providing air to the roots. Ants seem to love my potatoes. Potatoes are healthy though!

[@johnclark6571]

Well my wife’s Aunt Maggie got drunk and fell on my garden. She took out more tomatoes in one blow than any swarm of aphids has ever done. Know what I mean?

[@kierannandconnie]

Aphids don't lay eggs fyi. They lay small aphids :)

[@ktewin]

Wow. Like live birth? 😯🤣😂🤣

[@kimjohn7149]

Yeahhhh I am gonna spend my entire days crushing aphids on my plants....zzzzz

[@pauljackson9519]

I have aphids on the tenth floor of a condo, on my nasturtiums. I have no ants. So they got here otherwise.

[@bengriffiths3567]

Will aphids destroy my apple tree producing apples

[@jhort100]

Symbiosis

[@beware_the_moose]

Also I would recommend putting a glove on as you say to squish aphids because they do excrete a potentially irritant substance to some people.

[@salvinni3434]

Hmm... I was taught aphids could be an indicator of too much N, or an imbalance in nutrients.

[@beware_the_moose]

we had so many aphids they were flying around like clouds of gnats this year. Our car is thick with sap from the trees even a day after washing. But you know what? I just left them. I've had NO crop damage except where ants get involved (broad bean). The trick is to deal with the ants and leave the aphids to get parasitised and/or eaten. You see, ants defend the aphids against the predators which is why they thrive in that situation. But overall even doing absolutely nothing will not be much bother. Protect your ecosystem and it will keep pests in check. I've seen so many pirate bugs and parasitic wasps this year in the garden. I've even got a photo of a parasitic wasp doing its' thing, which is cool. People get all twisted up trying to solve things with chemicals it reminds me of the nursery rhyme about the old lady who swallowed a cat to catch the mouse ...just try leaving it. You might be surprised. Worst case you lose a crop, but with aphids, unlikely.

[@vipulvaghasiya651]

BASF SEFINA

[@RS-ov2st]

Who is watching that baby?

[@BroScience710]

You ever use lady bugs