CRITTERS IN MY SEDUMS

By Dee Bishop

   This spring has been typical ‘Texas’, cold one day hot the next with a frost or two thrown in for good measure.  Our poor plants want to grow so badly and are determined to do so regardless of the weather.  My sedums, especially the Autumn Joy hybrids became covered with zillions of aphids in what seemed like overnight.  The tender new leaves were all puckered and maimed and totally ugly—–so what to do?

I washed them off with a strong jet of water, but there are so many little crevices and pockets that that was nearly useless.  On some of the larger ones, I pinched them back so new growth will come out later hopefully when aphids aren’t so bad.  On the smaller ones, I wrapped the pot with a cloth and dipped the plant head in a mixture of 1 part alcohol and 4 parts water.  Then I rinsed them off with water.  I have been doing this for years with success.

I have read you can use ammonia, vinegar, and of course insecticidal soap.  I expect any of these ways would work fine.  I do it with alcohol because a dear old friend of mine (40 years ago) told me to do it that way.   I sometimes use the alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spray them well, then rinse them off.    Just get the little critters off before they completely ruin those beautiful little sedums and succulents.