Organic insecticides: Vitax organic 2 in 1 or Pest off

[mapcr77]

I'm a newbie, so don't know which one is better. I want to use them against aphids. Both products are made of plant extracts, and vitax has also fish oils. Which one would you reccommend?

Many thanks!

[mandyballantyne]

Hi,

I have tried a spray for the first time this year, it is garlic based spray and not harmful to pets, wildlife etc so far I am really please with it.

Mandy

[Vegmonkey]

We use ecover - the plant based washing up liquid, in a squirter to kill the aphids. It's no more xpensive than the dedicated killers, and you can use it for the washing up too!

[Katie B]

I asked this question of someone in the garden centre. He said that it's not worth spending �4 on a spray when you can just use washing up liquid (i use ecover too and it seems to work ok)! Guess he didn't have shares in the business.....

[mapcr77]

Thanks a lot everybody! I guess I'll be keeping an extra bottle of ecover in the shed then (Good news as Pest off is at least �15!)

[Flummery]

I don't use it neat incidentally (does anyone else?) I put a squirt in a hand-sprayer and top up with water.

[Katie B]

Definitely dilute with water first so it goes foamy. You can get hand-sprayers cheapo from Wilkinsons and the like.

[syanide]

Do you just spray it onto the leaves and leave it there? I have three tomaot plants and three aubergine plants in the conservatory (only about 3-4" tall at the mo) and one of the Aubs has whitfly and aphids on them. The other 5 plants are ok, even though they are next to each other.

Squashed the aphids this morning and sparyed the leaves with plain water and will see in the evening how they are.

A noddy's guide to the ecover would be helpful please...(does it not affect the taste of the fruit/veg??)

Thanks
Sy

[crichmond]

We use ecover - the plant based washing up liquid, in a squirter to kill the aphids. It's no more xpensive than the dedicated killers, and you can use it for the washing up too!

Not entirely green although it is pretty cheap, Simplyfair Bulk & Professional Cleaning here is the ingredient list:

Complete ingredients list:
The list below displays ingredients in descending order, with those present in highest quantities first.

Water
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate
Alkyl Poly Glycoside C10-16
Sodium Chloride
Whey
Citric Acid
Perfume
Limonene
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
Marigold extract
Camomile extract

[smallblueplanet]

I use the Lemon & Aloe Vera Ecover.

Its safe for septic tanks and Vegans! (It doesn't have cows milk whey in it like the one above).

Environmental Benefits:
quick and complete biodegradability
(OECD-test 301F, full product)
minimum impact on aquatic life
(OECD-test 201&202, full product)
against animal testing
suitable for septic tanks

Ingredients:
Water
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate
Alkyl Poly Glycoside C10-16
Sodium Chloride
Citric Acid
Perfume
Limonene
Protein Hydrolysate
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Citral
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol

We have the cleanest acers in the Vale I reckon! One squirt of WUL in a sprayer full of water.

[syanide]

But my question(s) are:
1. Can i use normal washing up liquid to get rid of the white/green pests?
2. Do i just spray the leaves and watch them die?

Thanks

Sy

[smallblueplanet]

Do you just spray it onto the leaves and leave it there?

1. Meh, suppose so, but I don't use it cos its a bit too 'inorganic' for me.
2. Onto the bugs, yes.