Whitefly and aphids. Alternative to soap.

[Marb67]

I have infestations of aphids on my honeysuckle buds which are causing them to fall off before they flower. I also have them in the base of my compost, as well as whitefly on my salad leaves. I spray with soapy warm water from washing up liquid until they are covered but when it eventually clears they are pretty much still there. Even after repeat doeses they are never gone.

Is there another, more effective organic alternative ?

[Jay-ell]

Chilli and garlic spray is supposed to be good.

I've got a couple of plants of soapwort growing which I plan to make infusions of to use instead of soap.

[Marb67]

Tried all kinds of garlic mixes, chives and has no effect. Basil does not deter whitefly either. In fact, i have had whitefly cover basil plants in the past.

[starloc]

All soap does is work as a wetting agent to alter the surface tension of the water, allowing it to spread out, the most you will do with soapy water is knock them off or if enough drown the insects

In commercial growing of fruit in many countries the only thing used is horticultural oil, different eights of mineral oils or vegetable oils....such as `baby oil` (mineral oil) , not really natural though or organic ( mineral oil )

for organic growing sunflower oil works , emulsify it with tiny drop of dish wash liquid or soap, it suffocates the insects as it leaves a residue

Neem oil works the same, but is a very poerfull ntural insecticide as well, stops them breeding or eating and also kills them as a poison, but also suffocates them, the smell also scares them away from your plants

Mix the same way, bit of oil, bit of detergant, mix with water and spray tree, regular treatment as you need to break the infestation cycle and kill the lhatching insects before they lay eggs,

with neem its easier as they tend to sit there and not eat if there is neem residue on the plant, cooking oil needs to be sprayed on them to work

Another fairly natural.... thing , works very well but it can sometimes scorch leaves is n,limonene ( distilled citrus oil ) one of the best things for whitefly, used the same way in water solution 1 or 3 teaspoons to a lire of water


Products like Bayers provado ( kills bees....would not use it! ) have as well as the active ingredient an awfull lot of sunflower oil that kills the greenflys etc, the sunflower oil bit is safe and much cheaper

I mix neem and sunflower oil

[Jungle Jane]

I spray with soapy warm water from washing up liquid until they are covered but when it eventually clears they are pretty much still there.

Is your hand squirter on weak spray or full power shoot? The shooting at full power should knock aphids off. Whitefly are attracted to yellow,you could make some sticky yellow traps to put near them? Have you checked under leaves for whitefly nymphs,they don't fly for about a week or so,so easier to squirt,it is a daily battle. I would plant French marigolds all around the lettuce as an attempt to put them off,it's always helped me. I'd be worried oil would leave a residue on lettuce when eating?

[Penellype]

Import some ladybirds and hoverflies.

[Zelenina]

I've read in various places that the soapy spray for battling whitefly and aphids works much better if it's made from actual soap, and not washing up liquid which is detergent. But I haven't tried it yet so I don't know if that info is good.

[brownfingers]

I always thought that he soap spray worked by clogging up the insects pores and bits and bobs, effectively suffocating them?

[fishpond]

Spend a day squashing them with your fingers, very cheap and it works, or, has as been said, some form of cooking oil or similar-detergent-water.
Also check for Ants, if you have Ants you will not win the battle with Aphids without getting rid of the Ants.
Aphids give birth to live young, they do not lay eggs.
I just live with White fly and wash them off when I see them and squash the eggs.

[Jay-ell]

An interesting read
Insect Control: Soaps and Detergents

[Rocketron]

If you're lucky enough, Sparrows.
Having recently moved to Grays in Essex, I am pleasantly surprised to see Sparows hanging every which way to get at aphids.

[rary]

I had a problem with whitefly and greenfly recently, so I used 1 full large garlic added to some hot water and blended, I then made the solution up to 2lts. once cooled I sprayed some onto my plants which after a couple of days had no change I then put a squirt of antiback. handwash into what was in the sprayer gave it a shake and sprayed the plants, lettuce, rocket, tomatoes and various bedding plants and all seem ok and clear (or should that be clean) I am not recommending that you try this soution, perhaps if I had more patience, to give my first solution time to work or left it for a time after blending to strengthen it would have worked just the same. I still have some of the original blend left so can try it out if I have the problem again.