Re: aphids(&cats) + question on foliar feeding

At 01:32 AM 3/16/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi All, we have a friend who gets adopted by stray cats, and wants to
>know if there is anything that she can use to kill the aphids on her
>iris that won't be harmful to the cats that keep resting in her iris
>patch. Any suggestions?
>Jan & Gordon Hueller, Tucson AZ, <hueller@worldnet.att.net>

Jan and Gordon,

A good strong force of water should do the trick for these aphids, but if
it doesn't you may want to try something called insecticidal soap, which is
of very low toxicity to humans and I assume pets as well.  It's a
particular formulation of soap which when it comes in contact with the
aphids it literally dries them out.  I purchased a small spray bottle of it
at LOWE's hardware several years ago and have only used it when aphids
attack a bloomstalk.(The brand was called "Concern", but it's also
available under the trade name "Safer Soap").  I try to garden as
organically as possible and I haven't used this yet this year.

This year I've been foliar feeding my irises with a mixture of liquid
fertilizer with dishwashing liquid thrown in as a surfactant.  I also think
the dishwashing liquid helps the fertilizer adhere to the leaves a little
longer.  This dishwashing liquid may also be having some effect on the
aphids.  I've found a few dehydrated aphids on my iris fans.

Anyone care to comment on foliar feeding of irises and how effective it is
with the various types?  Does anyone know if fertilizer is actually
absorbed through iris leaves in appreciable amounts or am I wasting my time
spraying the leaves?
Any speculation welcomed!

-Donald


Donald Mosser
Member of AIS, HIPS, SIGNA, SSI, SLI, SPCNI, and IRIS-L
dmosser@southconn.com
http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/5570

North Augusta, South Carolina, USA
On the South Carolina and Georgia Border
USDA Zone 7b-8
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