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How to Get Rid of Aphids with Toothpaste: An Unexpected Rescue for Your Garden
19.08.2024 04:10
Aphids are a real scourge for gardeners and vegetable growers.
These small insects can cause serious damage to plants by sucking out their juices and spreading viral diseases.
However, there is an unexpected and affordable way to combat these pests - ordinary toothpaste.
How toothpaste works against aphids
Toothpaste contains a number of components that make it effective in combating aphids.
The main active ingredient is mint oil or menthol, which have a strong smell that repels insects. In addition, the abrasive particles in the paste can damage the soft skin of aphids, which leads to their death.
Preparation of the solution
To prepare a solution to combat aphids, you need to mix one tablespoon of toothpaste with a liter of warm water.
Choose a paste without whitening elements and gel additives. The best choice is regular white paste with mint flavor. After adding the paste, stir the solution well until it dissolves completely.
Directions for use
The resulting solution should be poured into a spray bottle for easy application. Plants should be treated in the evening or in cloudy weather to avoid sunburn of the leaves.
It is important to thoroughly spray not only the top, but also the underside of the leaves, where aphids most often accumulate.
Frequency of processing
For best results, treat plants with toothpaste solution every 3-4 days for two weeks.
This will not only destroy existing pests, but also prevent the emergence of new individuals that may hatch from eggs.
Advantages of the method
Using toothpaste to control aphids has several benefits.
Firstly, it is an affordable and safe product that is always at hand.
Secondly, unlike chemical insecticides, the paste does not harm beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs.
In addition, this method is absolutely safe for humans and pets.
Additional effects
In addition to fighting aphids, toothpaste solution can have a beneficial effect on plants. The fluoride contained in the paste strengthens the cell walls of plants, making them more resistant to diseases.
Calcium, also present in many toothpastes, helps strengthen stems and leaves.
Combination with other methods
To increase the effectiveness of aphid control, toothpaste solution can be combined with other folk remedies.
For example, adding a small amount of laundry soap to the solution will increase the adhesion of the product to the leaves and improve its penetration into the tissues of insects.
Precautionary measures
Despite the safety of the method, some precautions should be taken. It is not recommended to use the solution on young seedlings and delicate flowers that are sensitive to external influences.
Before mass treatment, it is better to conduct a test on a small area of the plant and make sure there is no negative reaction.
Alternative Uses for Toothpaste in the Garden
Interestingly, toothpaste can be useful in the garden for more than just aphids.
It can be used to clean rust from garden tools, as well as to heal small wounds on tree bark after pruning.
Thus, this familiar hygiene item becomes a universal assistant for the gardener.
