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Aphids are one of the most common and “omnivorous” pests, capable of attacking almost any plant in the garden - fruit-bearing or ornamental. In most cases, they get rid of it with the help of insecticides - drugs of chemical or biological origin. But sometimes gardeners also use “non-traditional” folk remedies. Among them is Coca-Cola against aphids.
Does Coca-Cola help against aphids?
In an effort to get rid of pests, gardeners are finding “non-trivial” uses even for food and drinks. It is unknown who and when it came to the idea of using Coca-Cola to destroy aphids, but this, at first glance, very strange method turned out to be surprisingly effective.
Folk remedies for controlling aphids are used very widely; Coca-Cola is one of the well-proven methods
The main ingredient of the drink is water. Carbon dioxide is responsible for the presence of bubbles in Coca-Cola, sugar for sweetness, dye for the characteristic color, and flavorings for taste. All these components are harmless to both human health and aphids.
However, Coca-Cola also contains an acidity regulator - phosphoric acid (international code - E338).Its content is minimal; the use of this substance as an ingredient in drinks and food products is officially permitted (including in Russia) subject to compliance with the maximum permissible standards. However, even in low concentrations, orthophosphoric acid is harmful to aphids. What finally “finishes off” it is caffeine, which is also minimal in Coca-Cola.
Unlike aphids, for which phosphoric acid is harmful, sugar in Coca-Cola is most dangerous for humans.
The effect of Coca-Cola on aphids
Unlike many insects, aphids do not have a durable chitinous shell. Essentially, her body is a thin-walled “bag” that swells when she sucks out plant juice. Therefore, even phosphoric acid contained in Coca-Cola in a very low concentration provides chemical burns to aphids, literally “burning through” the outer integument. Caffeine only enhances this effect.
After spraying plants, the sugar contained in Coca-Cola almost instantly “sticks” aphids to the leaves, depriving the insects of the opportunity to hide and avoid the action of the chemical that kills them.
The caffeine contained in Coca-Cola is too strong a stimulant for aphids and disrupts all vital processes in the insect’s body.
How to spray plants with Coca-Cola against aphids
Using Coca-Cola in the fight against aphids, gardeners prepare “cocktails” from the drink:
- With water. Soda, after allowing carbon dioxide to escape, is mixed with it in a ratio of 2:7. In the event of mass attacks of aphids and ants on plants, the concentration of Coca-Cola is doubled. The prepared liquid is poured into a fine spray bottle and the plantings are thoroughly sprayed, paying special attention to the places where pests accumulate most often.
- With soap foam. It is advisable to use soap without additives - laundry soap, tar soap, green potassium soap. For a liter of Coca-Cola diluted with water 2:7 without gas, take 8-10 g of small shavings, beat the liquid until it becomes a thick foam.
- With herbs. Aphids cannot tolerate any strong odors. If you mix Coca-Cola with an infusion of wormwood, tansy, marigold, onion or garlic feathers in approximately equal proportions, you can not only destroy a significant part of the insects on plants, but also scare away the individuals that were not “distributed”. Infusions are prepared by pouring hot water over the chopped herbs in a ratio of approximately 1:5 and leaving in a dark, warm place for at least a day. They are filtered before use.
- With vodka. Alcohol enhances the effect of phosphoric acid contained in Coca-Cola, also corroding the outer integument of aphids. Vodka is mixed with soda diluted with water in a ratio of approximately 1:4. You can also use ammonia or table vinegar (about 30 ml per liter of Coca-Cola).
When soap gets on an aphid, it forms an airtight film on its body and clogs its spiracles.
Tips for using Coca-Cola against aphids
To use Coca-Cola against aphids with maximum effectiveness, you need to take into account several important nuances:
- To combat insects, use the “classic” version of soda. Coca-Cola without sugar will not be able to “stick” aphids to the plant. And the additional flavorings and flavoring additives contained in the drink reduce the effectiveness of phosphoric acid.
- Before spraying plants, you need to release the gas from Coca-Cola. Otherwise, the bubbles will not allow the liquid to be evenly applied to the leaves and shoots.
- Plantings against aphids are treated early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent sunburn on the plants. The most suitable weather is cloudy and windless.
- After each rain, spraying plants with Coca-Cola against aphids will have to be repeated.
- You cannot use the undiluted drink. It contains sugar in a very high concentration - while fighting aphids, the gardener simultaneously attracts other insects.
- It is not recommended to spray with Coca-Cola during flowering and the formation of fruit ovaries. The sweet liquid “sticks” the petals together, preventing normal pollination. For the same reason, some gardeners refuse to use Coca-Cola against aphids on roses and other flowering plants - after treatment they greatly lose their decorative properties.
Instability to precipitation and short duration of action are the main disadvantages of all folk remedies
Conclusion
Coca-Cola for aphids is a “non-standard” but effective remedy that allows you to get rid of not only them, but also the ants with which they form a stable symbiosis in a relatively short time. It can be considered a worthy alternative to store-bought insecticides.If you follow the “dosage” and general rules for processing plants, the drink is completely safe for them, the future harvest and the environment.
Reviews of the destruction of aphids with Coca-Cola
The producers of Coca Cola never dreamed that their products had a completely different use. This will give them another impetus to increase sales. Joke. Seriously, I'm also going to spray cola on young fruit trees. Ants and aphids literally attacked us. There will be serious pest control ahead.