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Gardeners often feel disheartened when their lush, healthy plants suddenly become weak and stunted. If you spot tiny, slender insects on the leaves, branches, or soil, you’re likely dealing with thrips. These harmful pests feed on plant tissues, depriving the plants of essential nutrients. Fortunately, there are ways to eliminate thrips without resorting to toxic chemicals. This article will guide you through natural and effective solutions to eradicate thrips from your garden.
Steps
Dislodge thrips using water.
Use a garden hose to spray both sides of the leaves and branches. The force of the water alone can knock off the tiny thrips clinging to the plants. Spray three times a day for several consecutive days until you no longer see any thrips.
- For potted plants, you can place them in a bathtub while spraying to avoid making a mess.
Spray soapy water on the plants.
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid soap with 1 liter of water in a spray bottle. Combine liquid soap, such as Castile soap, with water and spray the solution on the leaves, branches, and soil every three days for two weeks. The soapy water will break down the thrips' exoskeleton.
- Choose a liquid soap without additives like fragrances, moisturizers, or other chemicals. Avoid using dishwashing liquid as it contains harsh chemicals that can harm plants.
Try adding neem oil to the soapy water.
Mix neem oil into the soapy water to dehydrate and kill thrips. If soapy water alone isn’t enough to eliminate thrips, you can add neem oil to the soap solution and shake it well. Spray the mixture on both sides of the leaves, branches, and soil. The thrips will dehydrate and die.
- Neem oil is a plant-based oil extracted from the neem tree, available at most gardening stores, supermarkets, or online.
- Inspect the plants and spray the neem oil and soap mixture every two weeks if thrips are still present.
Use a lint roller to remove thrips from plant leaves.
A lint roller (commonly used to remove dust and lint from clothes) can help you capture thrips and their eggs. Hold the leaf in your palm and gently roll the lint roller over the surface, then repeat on the underside of the leaf.
- Discard the used lint roller sheet in an outdoor trash bin to prevent thrips from escaping and infesting indoor plants.
Prune plants infested with thrips.
If soapy water doesn’t work, it’s time to prune the affected plants. Use sterilized scissors to cut away branches and leaves infested with thrips. For severe infestations, you may need to prune extensively. While this might seem drastic, remember that damaged foliage won’t recover, and removing it will help the plant regain its health.
- Avoid composting the pruned branches and leaves, as compost piles don’t generate enough heat to kill thrips.
Create an essential oil solution.
Cinnamon and orange essential oils can protect your plants. Mix a simple solution of about 240 ml of water with 2 drops of cinnamon oil and 2 drops of orange oil. Spray the mixture on both sides of the leaves, branches, and soil. Apply weekly until the thrips are gone.
- If you prefer not to make your own solution, you can purchase natural cinnamon and orange oil-based pesticides from garden stores or online. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application frequency.
Try applying diluted isopropyl alcohol to the leaves.
Use a diluted alcohol solution to break down the thrips' exoskeleton. Pour some isopropyl alcohol into a dish and mix it with water. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and gently rub it on areas where you see thrips on the plant. They will quickly dehydrate and die. Don’t forget to check the undersides of the leaves.
- Dilute 70% isopropyl alcohol with 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol. For 91% isopropyl alcohol, use 5 parts water to 1 part alcohol.
Lay aluminum foil on the ground.
The reflective surface of aluminum foil can disorient thrips and prevent them from landing on the plants. If potted plants are infested, cut the foil into circles and place them around the base of the plant. For garden plants, lay long sheets of foil and secure the edges with rocks to prevent them from blowing away.
- Experiment with other reflective surfaces. Old CDs cut into pieces and placed around the base of the plant can also be effective!
Hang blue sticky traps.
Blue sticky traps are highly effective at attracting adult thrips that can fly. When thrips come into contact with the trap, their wings get stuck, preventing them from escaping. While these traps won't eliminate thrips larvae, they are excellent for controlling the population of adult thrips.
- Yellow sticky traps can also catch thrips, but blue traps tend to be more appealing to them.
Release natural predators that hunt thrips.
Thrips are preyed upon by pirate bugs and lacewings. You can purchase these beneficial insects from gardening stores and release them onto your plants or directly into your garden.
- Planting a variety of species in your garden can attract insects that naturally control thrips. This way, predators like ladybugs and hunting spiders are more likely to visit your garden.
Use spinosad spray for challenging infestations.
Spinosad is a natural substance produced by soil bacteria and is toxic to thrips. You can find garden-safe spinosad at most gardening stores or online. Generally, it is applied by spraying it on areas infested with thrips, but always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for frequency of use.
- Spinosad works by paralyzing the nervous system of thrips, causing them to die within 1-2 days.
- While spinosad is safe to use, it has mild toxicity, so avoid contact with skin or eyes.
