Troubled by Pests on Your Flowers and Plants- Q & A to Help Rid Pests
Are you having trouble with pests on your Hibiscus Plants or other flowering plants?
The spring and summer brings warm weather, lots of sunshine and of course more pests who like munching on your plants. Read further if you are having problems. Are you looking for Solutions without having to purchase harsh chemicals?
What are some of the signs?
The plant is blooming beautifully and then all of a sudden the blooms and buds start falling off plus the leave had holes in them. Yes, something is eating on your plants.
Are you inspecting the plants for pests daily or weekly?
Yes, you need to make sure to “nip it in the bud” once you see something on the leaves or blooms.
Can you narrow it down to one or two insects? If you check daily, you will typically see tiny white bugs, black spots, ants or maybe a flying bug or two. It is important to know what is eating on your plants.
What kinds of bugs and what do they look like?
a. Aphids are tiny almost clear and they will cover the buds while sucking the life out of the flower. White
b. Whiteflies will show up as tiny with spots and leave black spots underneath which is a fungus. C. Mealy bugs hang out in clumps are small and suck the life out of your plant. Ants will not eat on your plants but they like to eat the mealy bugs so if you notice ants hanging around, this is a good indicator if they haven’t shown interest before.
c. Beetles- Tiny black or iridescent beetles will also eat on your plant and eventually kill them.
d. Spider Mites- Tiny black, clear or brown-red spiders who like to make webs on your plants. They will also kill the plant is not eradicated soon.
e. Grasshoppers- And then the dreaded “Grasshopper” who camouflages themselves amidst the leaves while making holes and having a snack.
So what can I do without buying chemicals which may pollute the environment and harm the pets and birds nearby?
Here are some simple solutions:
a. Just washing your plants with a strong nozzle spray which rids many pests and you will know in a few days if this works. I have never been lucky enough to get rid of them this easy.
b. Spray Bottle with a mixture of Water and Dishwashing liquid which will dry up the bugs and make them sticky and unable to move.
c. Same as above but try using oil instead in the spray bottle with water.
Any other natural solutions?
a. What type of insects? Whitefly, Aphids, Hibiscus Beetle,
b. Lady Bugs or Wasps-They will eat the pests within a few days.
How will you know it is working?
Keeping a close eye on your plants will let you know as the pests will disappear a little by little until you cannot see them anymore. But be careful to keep up the washing once a week as they are very small and hard to see. The pests will start up again if you do not totally get rid of them.
What do yellow leaves on the plant tell you?
Your plant is stressed or they are just ridding themselves of the dried up leaf. Sometimes the plant does not like the soap and will reject the leaf sooner than usual. It is better to have yellow leaves for a few weeks than to have these dreaded pests sucking the life out of the plants.
Are there any special rules about spraying and trimming the plant?
Spray the leaves, top and bottom, and remove the infected blooms. Spray about 1 hour before the sprinklers come on and preferably early in the morning while it is cool and cloudy.
Have you ever tried this yourself?
Yes, I am glad to say my plants are almost insect-free and the leaves and blooms are coming back healthy and full. The soap caused some of the leaves to turn yellow but the new leaves are again green and healthy. I am going to keep a closer eye on them to keep the pests away.
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