Pollution-free control methods for pests and diseases in flowers, trees and bonsai

Alcohol swabbing method: gently swab the leaves of orchids infested with scale insects using disinfecting alcohol; this can kill the scale insects, and in the following year there will rarely be any scale insect damage.

Vinegar swabbing method: soak a cotton ball in edible vinegar (rice vinegar), then gently swab the leaves of camellias; this not only kills scale insects but also restores the damaged leaves to a green, glossy condition.

Iodine swabbing method: when dry rot is found on the trunk of a stump bonsai, immediately use a blade wiped with iodine to scrape away all the rotted parts, reaching down to the xylem, then apply iodine to the main trunk, and apply it once more after one week. In this way, not only can the rot be completely cured, but over time the prominent scars on the main trunk will also enhance its ornamental appeal.

Plant ash soaking method: after soaking plant ash for a day and a night, take the clear liquid and spray it on plants such as Chinese roses, plum blossoms, pomegranates and Shouxing peach; this can effectively control aphids. Regularly scattering plant ash on flowers, trees and bonsai can both increase potassium fertilizer and promote thick, sturdy flowering branches, and also control gray mold, achieving two benefits at once.

Baking soda spraying method: spray a 0.1% baking soda solution on flowers such as Chinese roses, chrysanthemums, garden balsam and cineraria; this can control powdery mildew, with a control rate of over 80%.

Urea foliar spraying method: if aphids, red spiders, thrips and other pests are found on flowers and nursery stock, spray a 20% urea solution once every 10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprayings; this can kill the above pests and promote lush green, glossy foliage.

Scallion (garlic) extract insect removal method: mash scallions and garlic, soak them in 20 times their volume of water, then filter out the residue; spray the filtrate on both sides of the flowers and leaves, and it can effectively kill aphids, red spiders, leaf miners and other pests. Pouring the filtrate at the root of the plant can also control nematode disease in bonsai.

Plant decoction insect removal method: mash chili peppers and oleander, add 20 times their volume of water, boil in a pot for about 20 minutes, take the overflow liquid, and after cooling, water the flowers with it or spray it on the plants; the insect removal effect is fairly good. This liquid must be used up in one go, to avoid accidental ingestion and poisoning.

Silicon-calcium fertilizer insect control method: silicon-calcium fertilizer is a new type of fertilizer; mixing a small amount of silicon-calcium fertilizer into the fertilizer before application can increase the hardness of the epidermal cells of flowers and trees and strengthen their ability to resist the invasion of pests and diseases.

Ammonia injection method: the main trunks of stump bonsai are often damaged by borers such as longhorn beetles, jewel beetles and large carpenter moths; during the larval hatching period, before adult emergence or when larvae overwinter, inject about 25 ml of 20% ammonia water from the entrance hole (opening) of the borer, then seal the borer hole with clay or wax for about 40 minutes; this can kill over 95% of the pest larvae or pupae.