Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Home-made spray for blackfly

HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
in Problem solving
Not sure if I read it on here or if I'm just making it up - horticultural soap and neem oil for blackfly? Does horticultural soap actually exist, or does washing up liquid do the job? Can't deal with all that wiping off by hand, can't even squish greenfly, makes me heave 🤢. Plus they're on the underside of my Rheum Palmatum and a pain in the a*** to get at. 
It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost

Posts

  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    I add baking soda and wash up liquid to water to make the spray. And use a toothbrush to brush off the aphids. And water hose to blast it. Worked for my Fatsia.
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    edited June 2022
    I find a pump up water spray, just with water, works really well to get rid of blackfly - just lift the leaves and blast away - I usually have to do it 2, maybe 3 times in a season.
    But check for ladybird larvae first - they will often do the job for you.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    The main things to be aware of are that you use the right type of soap and don't use it on plants that are very sensitive to soap sprays. Of course if they're doing little long-term damage to the plant then you're better off leaving them be and natural predators will benefit from them and this in turn boosts the predator population and reduces future infestations of pests.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @wild edges I try hard not to squish them as it is food for other things.  When the white shells appear you are winning. As leaves get tougher they are also less prone. I do remove them from hellebores but found that removing the old flowers cut back the population. I grow alot of hellbores and I was concerned about virus?
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Sign In or Register to comment.