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» Willy World » Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2004 » aphids, spiders, and ants..oh my

   
Author Garden: aphids, spiders, and ants..oh my
Tempest
Great Gardener
Member # 2652

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I am growing yellow foxgloves. They are still baby plants and were doing very well for a while, but then they became populated with aphids. I have tried the dishsoap method as a regular application, and though that seemed to be working at first, it's not any more. What's worse is that the aphids are attracting ants, who seeem to be eating the enemies of the aphids and making it easier for them to populate. I tried using malt-o-meal for the ants, and it dropped the population down a little but has not deterred them from the aphids. (strangely enough- the day after putting the malt-o-meal out, I found 6 of the exact same species of spider hanging out in fairly open spots in my garden. They were all brown striped, w/ white butts & about the size of a dime- (quartar if you count leg-span.) I have no idea what type they are or why they would be attracted to malt-o-meal???) I abhor the use of chemical sprays, and though I don't like killing poor little bugs and spiders, I tend to be rather territorial about my green babies. Is there anything else besides dish soap I can use? And does the bug lady or anyone else know what those spiders might be? [thinker]
tempest
Plants: 48 | From: Arizona | Registered: Jun 2004  |  Seeded: 68.230.117.236
dllfb
Gardener
Member # 2763

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Sprinkling some borax laundry detergent around
ant infested areas kills off a lot of them...when
they clean themselves (like a cat) they swallow the soap and it kills them. Have you tried the hot pepper sauce diluted with some water sprayed on the plant..not sure of the part to part quantity right now...but I hear that does wonders in getting rid of the aphids.
Plants: 6 | From: Guelph Ontario | Registered: Jun 2004  |  Seeded: 66.207.124.106
Tempest
Great Gardener
Member # 2652

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tried the hot pepper sauce...1 ts in a spray bottle full of water, shaken well. It worked for three days, then the aphids started to come back. This time I tried Grapefruit scented dishsoap and it not only worked on the first try (no aphids or ants coming back yet) but my foxgloves loved it. They are greener than ever. [muggs]
thanks-
Tempest
Plants: 48 | From: Arizona | Registered: Jun 2004  |  Seeded: 68.230.117.236
weezie13
Compost Queen!
Member # 772

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Tempest,
Where did you find Grapefruit scented dishsoap,
and who makes it???????????????????

Weezie

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
Plants: 29299 | From: N.Y. | Registered: Apr 2003  |  Seeded: 24.49.111.30
   

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