How to Control Root Aphids

Root aphids are a significant pest that can affect indoor farmers if they are not careful.

One main driver of root aphids is temperature. In environments with high temperature, often generated by grow lights without proper airflow, aphids can have an opportunity to thrive.

One especially hard characteristics of root aphids is the speed that they can strike, these small white insects (which can fly), can significantly damage your crops in less than 24 hours! 

Even more frustrating? 

Root aphids can burrow into grow media such as rockwool and cococoir, media that are often used as a soil substitute for hydroponic farmers.

So how do you identify and then eventually manage root aphids? 

We will provide some tips in this section.

Source

Below are some potential solutions for root aphids: 

  • If the root aphids have been attracted by a nutritional deficiency in the plant, then supplements to correct any deficiencies can be helpful. Examples of micronutrients are: chlorine, molybdenum, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and boron
  • For small infestations, lady bugs can be a very fast and effective biological control. Lady bugs will even remove aphids deeply entrenched in grow media
  • For more widespread infestations, try Azadirachtin, Pyrethrum, or Lemongrass Oil

A Note on Application

  • Simply spraying the plants with any of the above treatments will most likely not be sufficient
  • A better method that will get you better results is root drenching
  • Root drenching entails submerging the roots of plants in the solution, for example, Lemongrass oil, shaking or agitating the container

For more info on root drenching, check out this helpful article

Did you like this article? 

Be sure to subscribe below to get more articles like this straight to your inbox! 

Asia Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"For a target audience that is trying to understand the basics of vertical farming, this is a quality newsletter to subscribe to"

- James Pateras, CEO, Modular Farms Australia

North America Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download The Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"The North America Vertical Farming Companies Report 2023 aggregates many sources of public information on many different companies so that you don't have to do the research yourself, it's worth the money and saves a lot of time"

- John Ireland, CEO, NTP Technologies

Europe Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Helen Andrew Spare Harvest

"As a business development manager supporting the indoor agriculture, CEA, and food tech industries, I can say Urban Vine guides and their insider newsletter provide detailed information often difficult to find online."

- Irena Lundberg, CleanTech Invest Stockholm

Middle East Vertical Farming Companies: The 2023 Report

Download the Free Sample Report

Mark-Horler

"As a marketing professional in the indoor agriculture industry, Urban Vine's newsletters, reports and guides are an excellent resource for keeping up-to-date with news and developments in vertical farming."

- Steven Mitchell, Product Manager, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) UK

All Indoor Farming Company Interviews

OMARFRA

May 1, 2024

This interview details OMARFRA, a company based in Canada. The interview is with Fadi Al-Daoud, Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist of OMARFRA. To learn more about OMARFRA and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Libra Design

April 24, 2024

This interview details Libra Design, an indoor farming technology company based in the United States. The interview is with Travis Williams, Co-Founder & CEO of Libra Design. To learn more about Libra Design and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

BioSafe Systems

April 23, 2024

This interview details BioSafe Systems, a company based in the United States. The interview is with Eric Smith, National Sales Manager (Horticulture Division) at BioSafe Systems. To learn more about BioSafe Systems and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

McNabb MicroFarm

April 23, 2024

This interview details McNabb MicroFarm, an indoor farming company based in the United States. The interview is with Lauren McNabb, Head of Marketing at McNabb MicroFarm. To learn more about McNabb MicroFarm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Griffin Greenhouse Supplies

April 22, 2024

This interview details Griffin, an indoor farming company based in the United States. The interview is with Tami Van Gaal, Director of Vendor Relations at Griffin. To learn more about Griffin and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Virgo Global Inc.

April 22, 2024

This interview details Virgo Global Inc., a company based in Canada. The interview is with Guillaume Paquet, Director R&D at Virgo Global Inc. To learn more about Virgo Global Inc. and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Corridor Farmers

April 25, 2024

This interview details Corridor Farmers, an indoor farming company based in Singapore. The interview is with Roc Koh, CEO of Corridor Farmers. To learn more about Corridor Farmers and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Affinor Growers

April 19, 2024

This interview details Affinor Growers, an indoor farming technology company based in Canada. The interview is with Nick Brusatore, CEO of Affinor Growers. To learn more about Affinor Growers and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Ina Plastics

April 18, 2024

This interview details Ina Plastics, a company based in Greece. The interview is with Jacob Tsonakis, Founder and CEO of Ina Plastics. To learn more about Ina Plastics and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview

Funga Farm

April 12, 2024

This interview details Funga Farm, an indoor farming company based in Denmark. The interview is with Thomas Kyle Cometta, Owner of Funga Farm. To learn more about Funga Farm and other indoor farming companies, click on this link!

View Full Interview