Aphids
Aphids
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Green/Black/Orange bug clusters, Stickiness on Plants, White Dead Bugs
Rarity:
Uncommon
Warning Signs:
Hoya, Purple Passion Plant
Common Plants:
Squishing, Spraying Water
Easy Treatments:
Warning Signs
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Aphids aren’t as common a pest, but they do still sneak in sometimes. And they can get overwhelming very, very quickly.
Aphids can reproduce asexually, and they are very quick at it. Even if one bug is left, they can still multiply. They can also develop wings and fly to new plants. A small number of Aphids can rapidly turn into a big problem.
The biggest sign a plant is struggling with Aphids is if you see some on the plant. They can come in many colors. They most common is bright green, but they can also be orange or even black.
They are most commonly on new growth. They love the succulent new leaves and stem because they are the easiest to tap into.
Another big sign of Aphids is their dead skeletons. If there are a whole bunch of papery, white bits (it looks a bit like dandruff) on your plant, it may be Aphids and you should check the plant thoroughly.
Treatments
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Aphids do not hold on to the plant very well. So they can be pretty easily washed away with an intense jets of water.
However, because of their ability to reproduce asexually I recommend roving the plant and squishing every Aphid that you see before washing off the plant. I find it easiest to use my fingers or tweezers to do this because it is less likely they will escape. Because Aphids do not hold on well they will fall into the soil when they are disturbed. If any of them are left behind they will come back again.
Note: This approach is easiest when there are only a few bugs. It is still the most effective on larger infestations, but it will take a lot longer to clear them out this way and is much more tedious.
For larger infestations, you can dip sections into Isopropyl Alcohol for a few seconds. Just make sure to rinse the plant off thoroughly afterward.
You can also use insecticidal sprays like Captain Jack’s Insecticidal Soap or All-Season’s Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil mixtures to clear out larger infestations. Please READ the DIRECTIONS on these to make sure to use them properly. These methods work best if alcohol is sprayed first to stun the pests. The alcohol also compromises their skin, making the insecticides much more effective.
It is best to stay on top of Aphids, as they are much easier to manage if there are only a few of them.
Note: When applying just insecticides, you may have to use them multiple times before they are fully effective.
Side Note: Check out my Pest Page for more tips on how to manage pests!
For more Basic Care Tips:
Visit my General Care Tips page. It can give more basic tips for:
Discovering Light Levels - Watering Frequency - Fertilizing - and More!