You’re not the only one who likes to eat your basil, tomatoes and mints – aphids, spider mites and whiteflies are all pests that can take up residence in your home’s herbs. When they’re outdoors, the essential oils and strong flavors we love in our herbs typically reduce bugs — but when you pests are indoors (and they have fewer options), they’re much less demanding.
Since your ultimate goal is to eat your delicious herbs, you need to get rid of the pests using a non-toxic natural solution. See below for the best way to remove pests from your herbs and keep them safe to eat.
How to identify pests in your herbs
spider mites
They resemble small moving dots on leaves. It can also leave visible webs when present in large numbers.
aphids
They look like a small bump surrounded by a white, waxy ring and usually live on the underside of leaves.
White fly
Small white waxy insects that live on the underside of leaves.
slugs
They can be found in damp places and reproduce very quickly. In addition to being a problem for your garden, they can also be a problem for your pets.
pest removal methods
water spray
Your first line of pest control defense is the simplest – simply spray it down with a hard jet of water. In fact, this is the preferred method of removing whiteflies, as they can resist garlic and soap spray methods. Your hose or a hose spray nozzle works well for this purpose. You may need to repeat once or twice to fully remove the bugs.
garlic spray
In addition to being recognized as a vampire repellent, garlic can also be an ally in the care of your garden. Make a puree of approximately 15 cloves of garlic and mix it in 1 liter of water. Filter through cheesecloth and place in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on your plants for a few days and they will be bug free.
Homemade Insecticidal Soap
Grate 50 g of coconut soap and dissolve in 5 liters of water. Let it cool and apply to the plants with a sprayer. Remember that soap can damage the plant, so it’s best to test it on a few leaves before spraying the entire plant.
Beer
Bury a container so that the rim is about 2 cm above the ground. This can be a disposable cup, just be careful that it’s deep enough that the slugs can’t crawl out. Fill the pot halfway with beer, and for an even better result, add baker’s yeast to the trap.
The larger your garden, the more pots you’ll need to spread out, 1 meter apart. Every three days or in case of rain, renew the traps.
*Via bloomscape