Aphid insects are small insects that extract the sap from plants. Depending upon the specie, they measure up to 3mm in size. Aphids are often found on or under leaves, on soft stems or in crevices between leaves. Despite their status Read more…
Aphid predators are awesome insects that we should encourage into our gardens. We do this by learning about our gardens and trusting nature. To learn more about aphids, read this blog. Aphid predators include: Lady beetles and their larvae. Note Read more…
If you want to grow Graptophyllum ilicifolium (aka Holly leaved fuchsia) you’ve come to the right place! Within months of propagating this plant, you’ll be rewarded with these lovely magenta coloured flowers. Graptophyllum ilicifolium has holly shaped leaves that are Read more…
A leafminer is the larvae (baby) of the adult moth who lays eggs underneath young leaves. When they hatch the larvae burrow into the leaf and start feeding between the lower and upper leaf surfaces. Their feeding habits make trailing marks on Read more…
What is aerobic soil and how to create it? Aerobic soil has air circulating through it. Anaerobic soil has a lack of air circulating and tends to be water logged. Therefore, at a simple level, creating aerobic soil Read more…
There are five ways insecticides affect insects. This category is one of the five. It’s always interesting to look at the unknowns and how they’re used. In contravention of the precautionary principle using a chemical with an unknown action is Read more…
Stomach and midgut insecticides are one of five classes of insecticides. They come from microbes. Some microbes release toxic compounds. When some insects eat these microbes, they get poisoned. Their stomach is the part of their body affected. Bt or Read more…
Respiratory disrupting insecticides Respiratory disrupting insecticides are one of five ways insecticides work. The lungs and respiratory system are targets of respiratory disrupting insecticides. Many of these insecticides are based on microbes or microbial compounds. They can be fast acting. One Read more…
Growth inhibitors are one of five groups of insecticides. Growth inhibitors affect the growth and development of insects. There are applied at a particular stage of an insects development. Growth inhibitors are designed to prevent metamorphosis thereby preventing maturity and Read more…
Muscle and nerve affecting insecticides The most common insecticides are those that affect the muscles and nerves. This is one of five ways insecticides work. Muscle and nerve affecting insecticides tend to be fast acting. Technically, systemic insecticides refer to Read more…
It’s important we know how insecticides work. If we don’t know how insecticides work we may be contributing to global insecticide resistance. Insecticides are a subclass of pesticides aimed to kill insects. Pesticides is a class of chemicals that also Read more…
Immediate effect of insecticides The effect of insecticides can be immediate and seen as soon as we use them. Whether we use a natural substance or a synthetic one, there are immediate effects. Read my blog called ‘How insecticides work’ Read more…
What does ‘trusting nature’ mean? Trusting nature from a gardeners perspective means that we have come to an understanding that nature is our best ally and teacher. We trust nature to provide microbes to breakdown our compost making nutrients available to Read more…
When we talk about companion planting we’re talking about a set of techniques. I’ve written a blog on effective companion planting techniques so I won’t repeat myself here. How plants communicate with microbes – the basics! All plants communicate Read more…
What are soil nematodes? Soil nematodes are one of many different types of microbes found in soil. There are here are many different morphological groups or types of nematodes in soil. Soil microbiologists say that nematodes generally are so abundant on Read more…