Pest Control: Aphids

Pests are a natural part of Gardyning. Despite incorporating our suggested preventive measures, pests can happen, but it’s going to be okay!

If you're here because you're fairly confident you've identified aphids on your Gardyn, keep reading! Otherwise, review our pest identification guide here.

Aphid control

Aphids are by far one of the most commonly occurring pests Gardyners experience. 

At the first sign of aphids, trim any affected leaves, flowers or fruit. If hosing your plants outside is not an option, rinse them under the faucet, holding the plants upside down to remove as many pests as possible. Do not hesitate to use high pressure! Be sure to remove any dead leaves, and harvest any overgrown plants to make managing the infestation easier. 

Then, treat your plants with a knockdown spray. This can also be done preventatively when no pests are present or as an initial treatment for a light infestation.

What is a knockdown spray and how does it work? 

Knockdown sprays are usually emulsified essential oils that kill soft-bodied insects and their eggs on contact. Nothing is 100% effective so these sprays are typically not used as the end-all solution for pest control. However, they are an effective tool to rapidly reduce populations of existing infestations and can be useful to prevent smaller infestations from growing out of control.

You can either make your own homemade soap spray or purchase a ready-mix pesticide to use.

Option #1: Use a Homemade Soap Spray

1. Mix the following in a 32 oz. empty spray bottle. 

• • • • 1 Tbsp All Natural Soap (examples: African Black Soap and Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Soap)
        • Note: Don’t use detergents (which aren’t actually soaps), dish soaps, or any products with degreasers, skin moisturizers, or synthetic chemicals.
      • Optional: 1 tsp Baking Soda (suggested product), which also works well as a natural fungicide.

       2. Top off the bottle with tap water and shake well.

3. Thoroughly spray your plant, including the underside of leaves. Or, dunk your plant in the solution 

Option #2: Purchase a Ready-to-Use Pesticide

• You can buy an organic and safe insecticide online that requires no mixing and is ready to use. Sierra Natural Science makes pesticides perfect for home use. 

How do I use a knockdown spray?

1. Turn off the Gardyn’s lights before spraying and leave them off for at least 1 hour after the treatment is complete. After mixing a new spray, test a small leaf before applying it to the whole plant to be sure the spray isn’t too strong. Wait 30 minutes, then check the test area for signs of burning or yellowing.
2. Spray both the top and bottom of the leaves (apply liberally to simulate a rainstorm). Alternatively, pour the knockdown spray into a large cup or small bucket, and completely submerge your plant's stalks and leaves to ensure 100% coverage.
3. Wipe down or rinse plants after treatment to remove any heavy soap residue. Be sure to leave the spray on the foliage for at least 15 minutes.
4. Re-apply every third day.
5. Check for pests regularly as they can be attracted to the powerful flavors and aromas of certain plants. If you see pests return, spray immediately. Don’t wait for them to multiply and don’t hesitate to discard the most affected plants to protect your entire Gardyn system.

How often should I spray my plants? 

The most important thing to remember is that knockdown sprays need to be applied every third day (spray one day, wait two full days before spraying again). This schedule maximizes treatment effectiveness by disrupting the pest’s natural lifecycle. Remember to turn your Gardyn’s  lights off before spraying and leave them off for at least 1 hour to avoid burning the leaves. 

• If using the knockdown spray preventatively, we recommend spraying your knockdown spray of choice 1x per week indefinitely. 
• If you’re treating an existing infestation, apply the knock-down spray for every third day for two weeks and assess if the infestation has been controlled. If the infestation is growing, it may be a good idea to start germinating replacement ycubes away from your Gardyn in the event you need to replace severely affected plants. 

One last tip from our Plant Expert

Develop a control system that works best for you. A combination of treatments will be most effective.

For best results, be proactive! Applying preventative measures can help prevent infestations from taking hold in the first place and will encourage would-be pests to search for less stressful options.

If you decide you'd rather start fresh with a set of all-new yCubes on your Gardyn rather than fighting your current pest problem, be sure to do a Light Cleaning first to sterilize your device and help you avoid a repeat pest problem.

Questions? Reach us at [e-mail], or chat with us! We're here to help.