Re: Aphids, Cats & Foliar Feedling

Jan and Gordon Hueller wrote:

:   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?

A colony of ladybugs.  They not only control aphids and similar pests, but
entertain garden visitors.

and Donald Mosser wrote:

:  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?

Here, foliar feeding is quite effective.  I believe that some is absorbed
through the leaves, but the part that soaks into the ground is readily taken up
by the roots.  

The dehydrated aphids may also be victims of a beneficial parasitic wasp.  These
moved in after I stopped using chemicals and the ladybug colony got established.

Sharon McAllister (7372.1745@compuserve.com)
Southern New Mexico
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