From the beginning of May and throughout the summer, the life of flower growers is complicated by the appearance of pests on plants. How to treat roses when aphids appear, and how to prevent re-infestation - this question is becoming the most popular for flower owners. Before starting the fight, it is necessary to understand the reasons for the appearance of the pest, as well as the characteristics of its impact on the plant.
- Causes of aphids on roses
- Symptoms of parasite damage
- Ways to control insects
- Chemicals against aphids
- Aktara
- Spark bio
- Karbofos
- Fitoverm
- Inta-vir
- Folk remedies
- Soap solution
- Garlic infusion
- Iodine + milk
- Uses of Coca-Cola
- Use of kerosene
- Ammonia
- Citrus zest
- Vinegar
- Serum
- Copper sulfate
- Preventive actions
- Purchase of seedlings
- Neutralization of ants
- Use of biological “helpers”
Causes of aphids on roses
Aphids are small insects whose size does not exceed 2 millimeters. It feeds on plant sap, piercing the surface of shoots and leaves with the help of a special proboscis. The scientific name for aphids is green roseanna. Getting rid of this pest is not difficult. There are a huge number of chemicals. At home aphids on roses flower growers often eliminate it using folk remedies.
Basically, the causes of infection of a rose bush are the same factors that provoke the development of other diseases. These include:
- Incorrect care. With improper pruning and infrequent weeding, bushes are more susceptible to pests.
- Excess nitrogen in the soil. With excessive concentrations of nitrogen fertilizers, plant tissues become soft and lose density. It is these shoots that are most suitable for aphids.
- Ignoring preventive measures. You can reduce the risk of infection using preventive spraying.
Also, the frequency of plantings affects the resistance of roses to aphids. Planting bushes too close increases the risk of pest spread.
The cause of infection of a rose may be another plant that has been exposed to aphids. Ants carry the pest to a healthy plant. They feed on a dark, sticky substance that roseannas secrete. Therefore, they are happy to increase the area of their distribution.
Indoor roses can become infected in the following cases:
- the appearance of an infected plant in the neighborhood;
- bringing aphids into the house by ants;
- introduction of the pest onto human clothing and shoes.
Interesting! Insects have amazing fertility.One female is capable of giving birth to several thousand cubs. Their numbers increase every day and infect new bushes.
Symptoms of parasite damage
Aphids prefer to be localized on young plants. Since the basis of insect nutrition is juice, and it is more difficult to obtain it from old shoots, aphids attack the leaves and buds of young roses.
The first sign of flower infection is the activation of ants. If their number on the plant has increased significantly, this may indicate the presence of a substance secreted by pests on the stems.
Other symptoms of rose aphids include:
- curling and yellowing of leaves;
- deformation of buds and shoot tips;
- the presence of a liquid shiny coating on the leaves and stem;
- bud drop.
The same signs are observed in domestic roses when affected by aphids. At the initial stage, small white insects appear on indoor flowers. Later, their numbers increase, and larger green individuals appear.
Ways to control insects
The pest can be eliminated from the plant mechanically or using chemicals and folk remedies. Aphids are helpless against the pressure of water. Therefore, first of all, insects should be washed off the rose. In the garden, this can be done using a hose, and indoor flowers should be rinsed under running tap water.
Such a shower can be used to prevent infection. It is enough to wash the roses once a week.
Chemicals against aphids
It is better to remove single individuals on a flower manually, and then give it water treatments. The use of chemicals is justified when an aphid colony grows. The choice of insecticides should be approached with extreme caution. The toxicity level of some products may be too high.At home, roses should be treated with preparations with a low level of danger (within 3 or 4).
Aktara
Contact insecticide, available in powder form. One package of the drug is designed for 5 liters of water. When spraying, pay special attention to the inside of the foliage. Destroys the pest within 24 hours. The effect lasts for a month.
Spark bio
The active ingredients of the drug paralyze the insect. It can be used to treat both garden and indoor roses. Preparation of the solution involves dissolving 5 milliliters of insecticide in 1 liter of water.
Karbofos
The drug works well against aphids, but is toxic to humans. Therefore, you should wear rubber gloves and a mask during processing. To prepare the solution, you will need to dilute 75 grams of powder in 10 liters of water. The consumption of the prepared product is, on average, 0.5 liters per 1 bush.
Fitoverm
The basis of the drug is the waste products of soil bacteria. Its action is not as fast as previous chemical insecticides. But, thanks to the biological basis, insects do not develop resistance to this poison. To spray roses, you need to dissolve 4 milliliters of the product in 1 liter of water.
Inta-vir
The drug is a contact insecticide. Upon contact with the pest, it penetrates its shell and affects the nervous system, causing paralysis. It is also effective in destroying the companions of aphids - ants. Available in tablet form. Preparing a solution for treating flowers involves dissolving 1 tablet in 1 glass of water. Then the resulting concentrate should be diluted in 10 liters of liquid.If the treatment is carried out during the flowering period, then the blooming flowers and buds should be cut off first.
These drugs belong to the third class of danger, therefore, when using them, rubber gloves, a mask or a respirator should be used to eliminate aphids on roses.
Folk remedies
No less effective are home remedies to combat roseate. To treat indoor roses, it is better to use self-prepared solutions, as they are harmless to humans.
Soap solution
Grate 1 piece of laundry soap. Pour water (1:1) into the shavings and stir until completely dissolved. Dilute 1 tablespoon of the resulting soap slurry in 1 liter of water. Spraying should be repeated daily until the aphids disappear completely (about 2 weeks).
Garlic infusion
Peel 100 grams of garlic and add 3 liters of water. Leave for 3 hours, then strain and use as directed. Treatment of plants with this solution is necessary once a week. The duration of treatment is 2 months.
Iodine + milk
Dilute 0.5 liters of milk in 5 liters of water. Add 20 drops of iodine to the resulting solution. Stir and process the roses thoroughly.
Uses of Coca-Cola
Pour 1 bottle of soda (0.5 liter) into a bottle. Add 3 teaspoons of liquid soap. Shake the solution well. After the foam settles, pour the product into a spray bottle.
Use of kerosene
Dissolve 2.5 milliliters of kerosene in 10 liters of water. Grate laundry soap on a fine grater. The solution can be used when it becomes slightly sticky. Spraying is done before flowering begins. Every other day, the rose should be watered generously with a hose to wash away any remaining kerosene.
Ammonia
A solution of 10 milliliters of ammonia dissolved in 10 liters of water is used to treat the plants once a week. The procedure should be repeated until the pests completely disappear.
Citrus zest
Pour 300 grams of orange or lemon peels into 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 3 days. The product should only be used on outdoor roses.
Vinegar
Pour 200 milliliters of acid into 10 liters of warm water. The bushes can be sprayed with this product or watered from above from a watering can. Treatment is carried out at intervals of 3 days for 2 weeks.
Important! When preparing the solution, the proportions must be strictly observed. High concentrations of acetic acid can cause burns to young leaves and buds.
Serum
Whey is used undiluted in the fight against aphids on roses. The plant is watered from a watering can or thoroughly sprayed.
Copper sulfate
100 grams of the product are diluted in 10 liters of water. The solution can only be used once a month. It is also used as a fertilizer in the spring and as a preventive measure.
Preventive actions
Preventing aphid infestation of roses largely depends on proper care. Timely pruning, regular weed control, and control over the concentration of fertilizers are the key to plant health. But there are aspects that increase the chances of protecting flowers.
Purchase of seedlings
When choosing planting material, you should pay attention to varieties that are resistant to aphid attacks. These include:
- hybrid variety Leonardo da Vinci;
- polyanthus rose Fairy;
- hybrid tea variety Karina.
Their peculiarity lies in the dense structure of the leaves, which pests are not able to bite through.
Neutralization of ants
Ants are the main distributors of pests throughout the garden. Therefore, control measures should also be aimed at them. The following will help limit ants’ access to the bush:
- tilling the soil around the bush with semolina or millet;
- fencing the flower bed with sawdust soaked in lavender oil.
You can also destroy ants using special chemicals.
Use of biological “helpers”
You can fight aphids, as well as prevent their appearance on roses, with the help of plants that have a specific odor. A flower bed with roses should be supplemented with marigolds, mint, sage, garlic or dill. The aroma of these crops repels pests.
Among insects there are also representatives that actively destroy aphids. Ladybugs are considered the most useful in this matter. They are capable of destroying entire colonies of pests.
The health of a rose depends entirely on care. Paying close attention to your pet will prevent pests from appearing on it and reduce the risk of various diseases.