Question: How common are pests in the indoor garden? Do you think I can spray preventatively?
Answer: There aren’t any sprays that prevent indoor pests. However, the good news is that pests indoors are easy to manage!
Indoor Tower Gardens need to be prepared for aphids. Typically green, yellow, or black, aphids are tiny, sap-sucking, soft-bodied insects.
If you have aphids, you’ll likely find them on plant stems and leaf undersides. There, they feed on tender, young growth, causing plants to appear puckered or deformed. Scout for aphids daily; if you see them, remove the plant and rinse them off in the sink. Leave that plant in a water bowl next to your sink and rinse twice daily for three days until all aphids are gone. Replace the plant.
What’s An Aphid?
Indoor Tower Gardens aren’t exposed to elements like outdoor systems but can still get bugs. Indoor growers need to be prepared for aphids. Typically green, yellow, or black, aphids are tiny, sap-sucking, soft-bodied insects. If you have aphids, you’ll likely find them on plant stems and leaf undersides. There, they feed on tender, young growth, causing plants to appear puckered or deformed.
First, what are aphids?
This video by Koppert explains the basics of the aphid life cycle:
(If you want a kiddo-friendly resource to help your kids learn about aphids, this critter catalog by Bio Kids is fantastic!)
How Do I Deal With Aphids?
SCOUT 'EM: The best course of action with an indoor Tower Garden is to scout for aphids daily; if you see them, remove the plant (pictured below) and rinse them off in the sink. Leave that plant in a water bowl next to your sink and rinse twice daily for three days until all aphids are gone. Replace the plant.
DON'T OVERFEED: over feeding can attract aphids. Try using half strength nutrients and see how your garden does. It the plant leaves are uniformally green, you don’t need to add more nutrients. Stick with half strength unless you see signs of deficiency.
TRAP 'EM: Another excellent, non-toxic, non-pesticide way to prevent pest issues that helps keep aphids away is insect cards from Amazon. These cards are very helpful in capturing flying insects before they can lay eggs and reproduce.
KILL 'EM: in a 1 L spray bottle, ad:
🌱 1 tsp. Cold Pressed Neem
🌱1 tsp. of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds or other natural dish soap
Shake well.
Lay towels around the base of the Tower Garden.
Spray the top and bottom of the leaves thoroughly, letting the water run down to the floor.
This will dry out the existing aphids and any that hatch will be affected by the Neem.
Do not use more than 1 tsp. of Neem & soap or you risk burning the plant leaves.
Happy Planting!
Feel free to contact me by clicking here with any questions or concerns!
~ Leah Brooks
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