From: Snag_one@msn.com   
      
   On 6/23/2024 11:58 AM, cshenk wrote:   
   > Snag wrote:   
   >   
   >> On 6/23/2024 10:47 AM, Wilson wrote:   
   >>> On 6/23/2024 11:22 AM, Wilson wrote:   
   >>>> On 6/21/2024 5:16 PM, T wrote:   
   >>>>> On 6/21/24 12:23, Wilson wrote:   
   >>>>>> I know this isn't an actual garden question, but I have some   
   >>>>>> beautiful Coral Honeysuckle that for the past 3 years has   
   >>>>>> been  getting ravaged with aphids. Just as soon as the   
   >>>>>> blossoms come on,  these critters kill them.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> I've tried making some spray with rhubarb leaves, but that   
   >>>>>> didn't  work - certainly not fast enough.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> Any organic suggestions I can use?   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Hi Wilson,   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Yes there are.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Two things you have to do.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> 1) power wash them with soapy (detergent) water.  Seventh   
   >>>>> Generation Dish liquid Free and Clear is what I use.  It   
   >>>>> is completely biodegradable.  Get one of those hose   
   >>>>> attachment bottles for spraying things on your lawn.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> 2) kill off the ants that are farming the aphids.   
   >>>>> Mix borax washing soda (Walmart) with hot water   
   >>>>> and really cheap honey (Walmart).  Make a gooey   
   >>>>> paste.  Apply all over the place.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Optional, after you kill off the ants: unleash lady bugs   
   >>>>> on them.  Apply in the cool of the morning so they won't   
   >>>>> just fly off.  But the ants must go first as they will kill   
   >>>>> the lady bugs to protect the aphids.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Death to aphids!   
   >>>>> Death to squash bugs!   
   >>>>> Death to earwigs!   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> -T   
   >>>> Thanks, T. I'll have to try the power wash thing with the hose. I   
   >>>> have  used Safer's Soap without any real success.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> There are some ants and I've heard of them farming aphids, but   
   >>>> not  really noticing them getting together. I have a hummingbird   
   >>>> feeder up  that attracts some ants. I use Boraxo & sugar and it   
   >>>> does work.  Mentioned honey to the wife and she immediately   
   >>>> thought of some old  corn syrup which we think would work.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I'm thinking that after I power spray the plant, I'll put some   
   >>>> Boraxo  & sugar underneath the plant. I'm going to check on it's   
   >>>> effect on  plants first, but I've seen not die-off where I've put   
   >>>> it along the  boarder of my garage for wood ants.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Funny thing with lady bugs, we were inundated with them all   
   >>>> winter  long in our house. Mostly those Japanese ones with the   
   >>>> 'M' or 'W' on  their heads, depending on which way your looking.   
   >>>> Now, very few if any  around.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> The neighbors have some of the same honeysuckle, but no aphids   
   >>>> that I  can see.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Thanks!   
   >>> I mentioned BORAXO, but really meant BORAX.   
   >>   
   >>   Add some diatomaceous earth to the mix , it abrades the waxy coating   
   >> on hard shell insects and they dry to death .   
   >   
   > i don't know about degrading but it's tiny chips of sharp silicon and   
   > cuts the carapace then they die of dehydration as you say.  Dust the   
   > plant all over with it dry and it works best.  Also kills fleas and   
   > bedbugs.   
   >   
   > Harmless unless you breathe a lot in. (causes silicosis of the lungs).   
   > Just dig out a covid mask and wear it properly!  No gaps...   
   >   
      
      I said "abrade , to scrape or wear away by friction or erosion" , not   
   "degrade" . Close enough to get the message across I guess .   
   --   
   Snag   
     It's great to be straight !   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)