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Re: Aphids (Re: bark mulch)

But at least the ants are great for peonies.  I think I'd be happy if I could claim responsibility for peonies (or "pineys" as my mother and grandmother called them).

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From:   Bob Carter[SMTP:bcarter@AWINC.COM]
Sent:   Saturday, April 05, 1997 4:30 PM
To:     Multiple recipients of list SQFT
Subject:        Re: Aphids (Re: bark mulch)

Hi,

> Hi.  I keep Safer's around and use it a lot outside in the summer for aphids.
> I hesitated using it on the seedlings, though.  What dilution do you

I use the dilution recommended on the bottle and I haven't found any problems
with my seedlings having done that.  You can make it a little weaker if you want
too, it should still work.  You can spray with water afterwards to rinse it
off the seedlings.  This is the recommended practice, although I don't always
do this myself.

Safers Soap is a contact insecticide so try to spray all surfaces of your
seedlings as some of the spray must come in direct contact with an aphid to kill
it.  Pests tend to hang out on the undersides of leaves.  Even if you miss just
a few their numbers will rebound in a matter of days, they are so prodigious.
Best bet is to spray regularly for awhile, once every 4-5 days or so, until
their numbers are visibly reduced.  You can let up after that but keep your eyes
open for their attempts to re-establish themselves.   Keeping a charged sprayer
handy makes it easy to "spot spray" them whenever you see them, making it hard
for them to get out of control.

I don't really like spraying at all, but in early spring indoors the aphid
predator insects are few and far between.  Later in the spring when the warmer
conditions permit I open up my greenhouse to the great outdoors 24 hours a day
and stop all spraying.  Shortly thereafter the different insects that feed on
aphids start appearing and establishing themselves in the greenhouse.  The
aphids don't stand much of a chance getting out of control after that.  By
midsummer they're usually hard to find.

> recommend.  By the way, thanks for responding so quickly!  Unfortunately, I

You're welcome! :-)

> just found the little rascals on my morning glories and artichokes (giving
> them a shot this year - the seed catalogues finally seduced me with promises
> of artichokes in one season.  Thanks again.

Yeah, I've had the same aphid/artichoke experience.  My artichokes outside tend
to get these big black aphids on them, farmed like cows by herding ants.  I can
spray them off with the hose and within hours the ants have gone out and
collected them (or more from the coral I suppose) and have them all back in
place on the artichokes!  Isn't nature wonderful? ;-)

    ____________________
   |                    |
   |     Bob Carter     | Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada
   |  bcarter@awinc.com | Zone 6b
   |____________________|


Canadian DOS prompt: EH?\>

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