Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So it trains them to eat spinach... Can you spray it on kids..?

I think it is controlling the aphids, certainly making the spinach nice and green

rhubarb spray worked for me, boil some rhubarb leaves in water and use that in a spray bottle. Warning it can be bad for some folks. You do not need very much at all.
I wonder now if I have those black aphids on my cuc flowers as I see blackspots aplenty. Figured it was a fungus or something.

I've never heard of seasol killing aphids. The traditional way to get rid of them is to spray them with a jet of water. This must be done morning and night though. You can also squash them you with fingers as they tend to group together.

Nick, seasol isn't an insecticide, it's seaweed concentrate.

There has been a few mentioned using seasol as an aphid deterrent so giving it a trial...only been dosing/drowning them on a weekly basis atm

Maybe they smell so bad that they repell the opposite sex and can no longer breed, effectively ending the life cycle.......................maybe;)

I don’t know if Oz has places where you can buy ladybugs for your self.

Look at the directions; they have a lot of hard to find info.

http://www.organiccontrol.com/products.html#

-df

Ps. I bought there worm castings, they look really good.

This is what is available in Aus DF
http://www.goodbugs.org.au/suppliers.htm

Pyrethrum;
from the daisy Tanacetum cinerariifolium or the painted daisy Tanacetum coccineum
Perennial. Plant produces beautiful daisy flowers. Used to make safest insecticide. It acts directly on the nervous system of aphids, mites, leafhoppers, cabbageworms, and other insects. Will not harm fish, mammals, or plants. To make the insecticide spray, mix 1 tablespoon of freshly ground dried flowers with 2 quarts of hot water. Add a little soap and let sit for a while.

the soap will kill the fish though

RE the lady bugs - will they actually stay around or just fly off?

ours seem to hang about, there is plenty of food

omg goodness is this true ? i used pyrethryum last year it worked really well i was impressed cause its supposed to break down in like 12 hrs

I am not sure Delgrade just wanted to pass it on if so. As Jaymie pointed out the soap would be harmful to the fish IMO. I was just surprised that pyrethrum was derived from the daisy.

I think the soap is to adhere the sauce to the bugs-- probably could use a drop or two of veggie oil instead.