Pests can become a real problem for gardeners if they’re not dealt with quickly. Insects such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, whiteflies and beetles can weaken plants by eating leaves and stems.
Pests can also spread bacterial and fungal diseases to plants which make them weaker and more vulnerable. The issue facing gardeners is that many pests reproduce quickly and can be hard to eliminate fully. However, experts have revealed a hack involving a common kitchen item to get rid of pests.
According to Chowhound, washing up liquid is one of the most effective ways to deter pests from your plants. Gardeners are advised to dilute a small amount of soap in water before spraying it on plants.
Lucie Bradley said: “The detergents in dishwashing soap…affect insects, washing off any protective coating on their bodies so they dry out. This is why creating a spray of soapy water to spray onto any soft-bodied insects like aphids, thrips, mites, and whiteflies works well.”
People are recommended to spray their infested plants every few days. They can do so more regularly if it’s particularly hot or windy.
However, gardeners should never let the soap build up on plants between applications. This can cause the leaf or stem of the plant to burn and become damaged.
They should also look out for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and ladybugs. Unlike pests, these insects are beneficial for plants and should not be harmed.
Taking to social platform Reddit, one gardener asked for “any advice for getting rid of aphids?” A number of people replied to the question, with many agreeing that washing up liquid could be the answer.
Briglin said: “A weak solution of washing up liquid and water can kill aphids on contact when sprayed directly on the plant. The general consensus is to use a teaspoon of washing up liquid diluted in three liters of water. The soap in the washing up liquid suffocates the aphids, causing them to lose their grip on the stem and fall off.”
Legitimate_View_3277 added: “I second washing up liquid. Last year I had a horrendous aphid issue on my pepper plants, and as they were still relatively small I washed the entire plant.
“I took it out it’s pot, (gently) hosed the soil off the roots and plonked the whole thing in a bucket of soapy water. Once they were aphid free I potted them up as if nothing had happened. Yes, they shocked for a few days but after a week they were back to normal and no more aphids.”
JaBe68 wrote: “I tried everything, and nothing worked until I used Fairy Liquid and water. Shook it up, gave the garlic chives a good squirt and have not seen an aphid since.”