How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally: Identification & Treatment

September 20, 2014

Aphids are tiny sap-feeding insects that can multiply quickly on vegetables, herbs and other garden plants. They often gather on tender new growth and underneath leaves, where they can cause curling, yellowing, distorted growth and sticky residue.

Aphids can find their way onto outdoor Tower Gardens, screened patios and even indoor plants. Fortunately, catching them early makes them much easier to control.

How Do You Get Rid of Aphids Naturally?

For a small aphid infestation, start by physically removing the insects or spraying them off with water. If they return or the infestation is larger, insecticidal soap or a labeled neem oil product can help control them. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs can also help outdoors.

Whichever method you use, check the undersides of leaves and new growth repeatedly. Aphids reproduce quickly, so follow-up inspections are an important part of getting them under control.

What Are Aphids?

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed by sucking sap from plants. Depending on the species, they may be green, yellow, black, brown, pink or other colors.

They are particularly attracted to tender new growth, which is why infestations are often easiest to spot around new leaves, stems and flower buds.

Aphids on cilantro growing indoors in a Tower Garden

Aphids can reproduce very quickly under favorable conditions, so a few insects can turn into a noticeable infestation surprisingly fast. This is why regular plant inspections are one of the easiest ways to prevent a small aphid problem from becoming a large one.

What Do Aphids Look Like?

Aphids are tiny and can easily be missed at first. Look closely at the undersides of leaves and around tender new growth.

Small, Soft-Bodied Insects

Aphids are usually tiny with soft, somewhat pear-shaped bodies and may appear in clusters.

Different Colors

Depending on the species, aphids may be green, yellow, black, brown or other colors.

Clusters on New Growth

Check young leaves, stems, buds and growing tips where aphids often congregate.

Undersides of Leaves

Turn leaves over when inspecting your plants. Aphids frequently feed where they're less noticeable.

Signs You May Have Aphids

Sometimes you'll notice the damage before you notice the insects themselves. Common signs include:

Curled, distorted or yellowing leaves
Clusters of tiny insects on stems or underneath leaves
Sticky residue known as honeydew
Black sooty mold growing on honeydew-coated surfaces
White shed skins around the plant
Damaged or distorted new growth and flower buds

Seeing sticky residue? Inspect the plant directly above it. Aphids feeding higher on the plant may be producing honeydew that drips onto lower leaves or your Tower Garden.

Which Plants Do Aphids Attack?

Aphids can feed on many different plants. In a vegetable or Tower Garden, you may find them on crops such as peppers, kale, cabbage, squash, herbs and other tender leafy growth.

Don't assume nearby plants are aphid-free just because they still look healthy. Once you find aphids on one plant, inspect the surrounding plants as well, paying particular attention to new growth and the undersides of leaves.

How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally

Start with the least aggressive option that makes sense for the size of the infestation, then continue checking your plants for new aphids.

1. Remove or Spray Off the Aphids

For a small infestation, aphids can often be removed by hand or knocked from sturdy plants with a stream of water. Pay particular attention to the undersides of leaves and new growth.

Recheck the plant over the following days because you may not remove every aphid during the first treatment.

2. Use Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is another option for controlling aphids. It works through direct contact, so thorough coverage of the insects is important.

Follow the product label for mixing, application and repeat-treatment instructions. Test treatments on a small area first if you're concerned about a sensitive crop.

3. Use Neem Oil or Another Labeled Aphid Treatment

Neem oil and other products labeled for aphid control can be useful when physical removal isn't enough. Always follow the label directions, including application rates, timing and precautions.

Avoid spraying flowers when pollinators are actively visiting them, and follow the product label regarding use around beneficial insects.

You can browse our pest control products for options suitable for common Tower Garden pests.

4. Encourage Beneficial Insects

Outdoors, ladybugs and other beneficial insects are natural predators of aphids and can help keep populations under control.

Beneficial insects are best thought of as part of an overall pest management strategy rather than a guaranteed one-time solution to a large infestation.

5. Keep Checking the Plants

Aphid control usually isn't a one-and-done job. Inspect affected and nearby plants regularly, remove heavily damaged leaves when appropriate, and repeat your chosen treatment according to its label directions if aphids remain.

Aphids in Florida Gardens

Florida's long growing season means gardeners can encounter aphids at many different times of year. At Living Towers in the Florida Keys, we regularly inspect new growth and the undersides of leaves so small pest problems can be caught before they spread throughout a Tower Garden.

Warm conditions can allow pest populations to build quickly, so regular inspection is especially useful when you're growing crops that aphids favor.

Quick habit: Whenever you add water, harvest or prune your Tower Garden, take a few seconds to turn over several leaves and inspect the newest growth. Finding aphids early makes them much easier to manage.