I have a small container willow tree, "golden curls willow' on my balcony and the past week it had been heavily infested with aphids and spider mites. The tree is in a protected corner of the balcony and we planted a passion fruit vine with it in the container. Today I found many ladybug larvae munching on whatever aphids were around, I reckon they are still very young larvae (2-6 days?). My concern is that because the willow tree isn't exactly massive, at 4.5 feet tall the food supply for the larvae is dropping fast. It looks like the aphid population has been visibly reduced. When these fellows run out of a steady supply of mature aphids, is there anything I can substitute in? I have scented geraniums, strawberry plants, dahlia that I can place next to the tree. I just hope the aphids have enough food to last them until adulthood, then they can go wherever but it would be nice if they stuck around :) Any advice appreciated!
