Using dish detergent

marito001 · May 9, 2011

Hi everybody!!! I was wondering. Does spraying my plants with some dish liquid detergent for killing the aphids, affect the flowers from the plant?? I mean will the flowers die if sprayed with the solution??? Thank you !!!

OldManNinja1912 · May 9, 2011

I use it all the time bro

Oziam · May 9, 2011

marito001 said:
Hi everybody!!! I was wondering. Does spraying my plants with some dish liquid detergent for killing the aphids, affect the flowers from the plant?? I mean will the flowers die if sprayed with the solution??? Thank you !!!

You have to be very careful when using dish detergents on plants as they can contain harsh chemicals that may kill your plant, use a liquid soap that contains potassium salts of fatty acids like Safer's or Natrasoap.

capsidadburn · May 9, 2011

Cascade brand. I mix it with listerine, garlic barrier, and pyrethrin concentrate.

Not heavy duty effective but helpful. I failed to mention Neem oil.

Mike

marito001 · May 9, 2011

My concern is that the flowers would fall of if using liquid soap even the good soap.

Oziam · May 9, 2011

marito001 said:
My concern is that the flowers would fall of if using liquid soap even the good soap.

Nope, if anything they perk up and look lush

trwoolsey07 · May 9, 2011

Just checked online for ya and the home depot carries the safer soap that oziam is talking about for about 10 bucks a jug.

Nova · May 9, 2011

Hippy uses it, if it's good enough for him....

marito001 · May 9, 2011

Great reply s thanks guys!!!!

salsalady · May 10, 2011

here's a couple other home remedies posted around here-
http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/20048-homemade-bug-sprays/page__p__420619__hl__remedy__fromsearch__1#entry420619

We went all last year with nary a one aphid. This year~ AAARRRRGHH! both on the overwinter plants and on the new sprouts.

We will be trying this real soon. Hope it helps... because we definitely need it this year. :eek:

HawaiiAl · May 10, 2011

Do not use detergents they will burn your plants, use only dish soap Ivory,Murphy's and some others, I use 1 tbsp to the qt of water with neem oil aphids gone. does not hurt blossoms

salsalady · May 10, 2011

Good Point HawaiiAl. Maligator suffered some last year after making that mistake on his plants.

After some little "suckers" showed up I went looking for Ivory soap and the only thing our local store carried was- IVORY Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid.

Anyone care to venture an opinion of whether it's the original Ivory Soap (concentrated) or a detergent?

HawaiiAl · May 10, 2011

Have not had any problems with the concentrated stuff

Darkside · May 10, 2011

I've used liquid glycerine soap diluted with water and found it to be fairly effective.

cowboy bhuts · May 10, 2011

nope, it never hurt my plants. i shade the plants before soaping them down. i soaped this plant with flowers one week before i noticed some pods.