I need help with two plant problems ...
+5
#1) The aphids are back on my rudbeckias again this year. Or, at least I think they are aphids. Is there any way to prevent them from coming at all? They only hang on those plants but they are so thick ... ICK! Now that I have them, what works best to get rid of them? I live in Minnesota. #2) My lilies of the valley developed these ugly brown, almost rectangular, spots on the leaves soon after they bloomed. Happened to the neighbor's plants, too. They called the extension agent who told them to dig them out and dispose of them. I thought that sounded a little extreme. There should be some way to treat them. Any ideas? Thank you!
I think these plants are rudbeckias? And, I think these pesky things clinging to them are aphids? What works best to get rid of them or prevent them?
Why are my Lilies of the Valley doing this after blooming? The extension agent said we should dig them up and get rid of them. I think there should be some way to treat them. Any ideas?
8 answers
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I found this a while back and it work if they are aphids: Mix together a few tbsps of hot pepper sauce--whatever you have in the refrigerator will do--with a few drops of biodegradable dish soap in a quart of water. If you don't have hot pepper sauce at home, purchase some at the store. Don't worry about buying the most expensive one or the hottest one, if it's made of peppers, it will work. Let the solution that you have created sit over night. Using a cheap, plastic spray bottle, which can be purchased at most discount stores, spray the solution onto the area where the aphids are infecting the plant. The capsaicin (the same thing that is used to relieve muscle pain in humans) in the peppers, which is the ingredient that causes the heat, will annoy the aphids and cause them to leave. Not only will the capsaicin annoy the pests, but the dish washing soap will dissolve the outer shells of the aphids, usually causing them to die.
Luis
on Jul 06, 2013
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Thanks Luis! Looking at the picture you attached, I don't think I'm dealing with aphids. My little critters are dark red. But, I already have everything you suggested to use so I'm going to give it a try and see if it works with whatever these are. thanks again!
Nadine Ferrier Schnettler
on Jul 06, 2013
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Aphids come in a lot of colors! Almost anything will kill them. They just reproduce so crazy fast! Your Lillie of the Valley looks like it has a fungus.
Caley's Culinaries
on Jul 06, 2013
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Nadine as Caleys mentioned they do come in many colors, here is and orange-red one
Luis
on Jul 06, 2013
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The only disease I know of that would be reason to remove Lily of the Valley would be Southern Blight, and it does not look like your plants have that.
Douglas Hunt
on Jul 07, 2013
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Thanks Douglas and Caley's Culinaries! I'm going to visit my local farmers' seed and nursery and bring in a leaf and see what they suggest to treat them. I mixed up my hot sauce spray yesterday, Luis, and I'm going out to spray the aphids now ... thanks again!
Nadine Ferrier Schnettler
on Jul 07, 2013
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Make a mild ( 1 tbsp or less) solution of dish soap & H2O (1 gal.) & spray over your plants - even on the undersides of the leaves. This will kill the aphids.
Rosemary N
on Jul 08, 2013
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Order some lady bugs off line, takes a couple days. Natural they eat up the aphids and its quick!
Lisa Case
on Jul 08, 2013
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