Petunia pests

Petunia is a very tough and hardy plant that produces excellent variegated inflorescences. But, if you suddenly make any mistake in agricultural technology or subsequent care, then this can simply lead to the fact that the plant will cease to function normally. The same mistakes, of course, lead to the fact that the plant can be attacked by various bacteria and pests. The gardener needs to be very careful about the plant, constantly inspect it for damage or for traces of insects in order to identify any problems in time and give the plant a full treatment. Aphids, spider mites, midges - these pests of petunias do not mind eating the most delicate leaves and flowers.

At the same time, the plant completely loses its decorative properties. And therefore, preventive measures should be taken and the plant should be given a full treatment. In this article, we will take a closer look at which pests are the most dangerous for petunias. And what drugs and means are the most effective if we are talking about the fight against such dangerous pests. The article will be useful both for gardeners who do not yet have any experience in growing and caring for petunias, and for those who have already grown petunias, but at the same time may receive some new information within the framework of these plants, their properties and features of caring for them. ...

Features of the growth of petunia. Petunia pests

There are several features of the growth of petunias that we must definitely mention in this article. Especially when planting petunias, you need to pay attention to the illumination. The importance of daylight hours does not diminish at various stages of petunias' development.

If the plant does not receive enough sunlight, then this leads to the fact that it loses its decorative features and characteristics. Here, the main task of the gardener himself is to additionally highlight the bushes using phytolamps. In this case, the plant will be able to start flowering early enough and, most importantly, the flowering will be longer.

Petunia is a very thermophilic flower. In this regard, of course, she needs to create all the maximum conditions so that the plant is always warm. It should be emphasized that the temperature should not rise above +24 degrees and temperatures below +15 degrees.

Only within such limits will petunia feel as comfortable and good as possible. And it will also give abundant flowering, which will allow the bush to remain as decorative. As for watering, it should be very abundant in the summer. But at the same time, it is in the winter period that watering should be slightly reduced, because in winter, in principle, not only the state of nature changes, but also the state of the entire plant. Therefore, it is worth changing the irrigation schedule to some extent.

In principle, observing all these conditions, you can create the most comfortable conditions for the plant, and it will be less likely to be exposed to a wide variety of attacks from pests. But it is still worth paying close attention to the plants and this problem, even when, in principle, care is carried out in full.

There are some circumstances and reasons that are completely independent of the person. But at the same time, they can have a negative effect on the plant.

Petunia pests and diseases. Types of dangerous insects and the fight against them

This article is about petunia pests.Let's take a closer look at what pests of petunias are, and how to deal with them.

Thrips - pests of petunia

These are the pests most commonly found on petunias. Thrips are small, literally tiny insect pests that very quickly eat petunia, its green part and flowers. At the same time, thrips are very easily transferred along with tools that gardeners practically do not process when working with various plants, whether they are infected or healthy.

Therefore, it is recommended to treat the instruments with an alcohol solution. And in this case, it will be possible to use the tools without fear of the fact that infections and insects will be transferred and infect even more extensive areas.

Aphid. How to treat petunia from pests

It is a tiny insect that is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. The color of aphids can vary, depending on what type this insect belongs to. Aphids can be black. The body can be colored green or gray.

Mostly aphids like to settle on the lower parts of the plant. And when she eats the lower leaves, she begins to gradually migrate to higher branches and flower buds.

The principle of damage from aphids is that the aphids are absorbed into the soft and juicy part of the plant, sucking out all the juices from there. At the same time, the plant begins to look much more painful. It gradually dries up, and then dies altogether. It is very difficult to revive a plant, as a rule, after attacks from aphids.

Most often, the florist initially acquires damaged plants. And then he brings them to the house, where aphids multiply very quickly in rather favorable conditions. Also, a bouquet, leaves or branches, which are used to decorate bouquets and flower arrangements, can be infected.

Sometimes the florist is rather careless about disinfecting plants and soil before planting. And in it there are already deposits of aphid eggs, which then give large colonies of aphids.

Signs of aphid infestation there may be the following:

• petunia leaves are quickly deformed, acquire an appearance that is atypical for this type of culture;
• When a grower examines a plant in daylight, he can immediately notice some signs that the plant is not healthy, infected with bacteria. And all this can be determined, in principle, by external signs;
• an atypical white skin appears on the leaves. Which also suggests that the plant can be affected by pests, in particular - aphids;
• when the edges of the leaves dry up, this indicates that the plant does not have enough iron. So it is worth using some iron-containing components that could give the plant a second life;
• if shiny dew is visible on the leaves, which more resembles sweet syrup, then this just indicates that the petunia was affected by aphids;
• a large number of ants can appear on the plant, which perfectly coexist with aphids;
• young buds gradually wither, which also indicates that the plant is out of order and needs additional protection.

With aphids you can fight with the help of various folk remedies. As a rule, if the gardener already has experience in combating various diseases and pests, then he knows that next to the pot where the petunia grows, you can put something that exudes a pungent odor.

It can be an onion, garlic or hot pepper. If there are pots in the house in which fragrant mint grows, then these pots can also be placed near petunias. But there is still a more effective way - it is to spray petunias with soapy water, as it is great for fighting aphids.

Some insecticidal and pesticide formulations that are high in fatty acids can also be used. For example, it can be the drug Decis, Aktaru, which are great for processing petunias.

One has only to adhere to the instructions for use, and then the plant can be completely protected from possible attacks from pests.

Petunia pests spider mites

Spider mites are very difficult to detect if we are talking directly about petunias. They are very microscopic in size, sucking from the leaves of plants and from their stems. If you do not have time to detect the tick in time, do not carry out timely processing, then it is almost impossible to get rid of the tick in the future.

Only in the autumn period the gardener can notice changes on the petunia bushes, which just indicate that the bush has been attacked by ticks. For example, the color of the body of a tick changes. He himself becomes much brighter. In addition, by autumn, the size of the tick itself may increase significantly. And then it is easier to find it, and the fight against it can become a little more effective.

There are several reasons why ticks can appear.

• The first reason is that the air in the room is too dry or hot. And ticks can reproduce well and carry out their vital functions in such an environment.
• Secondly, if the gardener uses not the most suitable fertilizers for feeding petunias, then mites can also develop faster and more actively from this, creating an even more unfavorable environment for the plants themselves.
• The third reason is that the grower cannot provide timely watering to the plant. Or this amount of moisture is completely insufficient for the plant to develop normally.

There are some symptoms, by which you can understand that the plant is under stress, and that pests in the form of mites have bred on it.

• Quite atypical red spots begin to appear on the leaves. They can also turn yellow and silver. And this may be the first sign that the plants are affected by mites.
• The second sign is that if you examine the leaves more closely, especially from the bottom side, you can see small white dots. By the way, these are not ordinary spots at all. These are eggs that the parasite lays in order to then actively reproduce.
• White membranes may also appear between the stem and the leaf, which also indicate that the tick is active. And that it is necessary to immediately take certain measures to save the plant from infection.

IN fight with spider mites, folk remedies are more effective. Usually gardeners can take 95% alcohol, it is best for them to wipe the leaves. Processing allows you to almost immediately destroy the pest. But at the same time, even more pests can hatch from the eggs. And therefore, sometimes this measure is completely insufficient to maintain the vital activity of the plant and get rid of ticks.

Garlic tincture is effective, as it exudes an unpleasant odor. It can also disinfect plant leaves. Insecticides are also used in the fight. But practice shows that they are completely ineffective in this regard.

At the same time, spider mites are afraid of drugs that belong to the group of acaricides, as well as to the group of insectoacaricides. Aktellik, Fitoverm or Neoron are perfect for this. These drugs can be purchased at specialized stores.

They can kill ticks on the spot. But here you must adhere to the instructions for use. Only in this case can it be said that the plant will receive a sufficient amount of protection and that the tick will no longer continue its destructive effect on petunia.

White midges pests of petunias, prevention and control of them

In other words, they are also called pores. These are insects that are also microscopic pests. They can quickly move throughout the plant, and can also hide from the grower himself on the back surface of the leaf.

However, they are still quite easy to notice.This happens either in the autumn or in the spring, if rainy weather is observed. And midges show themselves in all their glory. There are some reasons, according to which they actively reproduce and infect petunias, which belong to different color types:

• in case the gardener provides excessive watering and moisture to the plant and the soil around it. Also, midges can multiply due to the fact that there is excessive precipitation. Excess moisture, in principle, is the most favorable environment. And midges multiply in it several times faster. Which, of course, can negatively affect the condition of plants and their subsequent life;
• open spaces, open windows. Especially if petunias grow on windowsills or loggias. It is through the open windows that mosquitoes enter the plant. And there they already understand that they can reproduce in the future, lay eggs and lead an active life.
• the use of soil that has not been disinfected before, and has not undergone any heat treatment by high temperatures or freezing.

From white midges you can get rid ofif you find them in time. For this, aerosol preparations of the Raptor or Combat type are usually used. You can also spray with special anti-midges drugs called Grom-2 or Fitoverm.

They are quite effective. Especially if the gardener follows all the rules and instructions for use. Be sure to also pay attention to your own precautions. Since these are chemicals, so the gardener must definitely work with gloves, to protect the mucous membranes - mouth, nose, eyes.

Even if not the first time, some folk remedies and drugs can also help. You can use them not to eliminate white midges, but rather to prevention... For this, the soil can be sprinkled with wood ash. And the soil can be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate. The main thing is not to make it too concentrated.

Thus, you can not only fight the midges. But it is imperative to carry out some preventive measures that are important for the plant and its health.

Whitefly

Whitefly is the most dangerous pest that can destroy a plant in a short time. The insect looks more like a moth. Moreover, it has a large size - up to two centimeters. Therefore, it is very easy to find it in a plant.

Whitefly feeds on sap, which is contained in the green part of the plant. But when the whitefly deals with one plant, completely sucking all the power out of it, it immediately spreads to other plants. And she does it very quickly.

There are some reasons, along which whiteflies can appear on the site and spread so quickly among petunias.

• This is the fact that another plant was brought into the house, and whiteflies were already growing and developing in it.
• The second reason is that excessively warm and very humid air is present.

Insecticides are great fight with whiteflies. Since the preparations contain a sufficient amount of substances that will help fight this pest. In this case, you can use Actellic or Verticillin J. But it is worth noting that when using these drugs, all precautions should be taken into account. You must use special protective equipment, clothing.

There are also several common preventive measures, thanks to which you can protect petunia from attack by various pests. To do this, it is necessary to establish moderate watering in accordance with the irrigation schedule, as well as taking into account climatic conditions and temperature.

It is important to monitor the abundance of watering and their timeliness. Also, the plant needs to be watered with warm, settled water. This will make it even more comfortable.The leaves should be inspected regularly for damage and signs that the plant has been attacked by any pests.

Also, coffee or tea water should not be used in watering. And also meat water - it must be clean and settled, without sediment. In this case, the plant will also receive all the necessary substances and components through moisture.

After watering, you can periodically loosen the soil. This will prevent soil rotting. As well as excessive compaction of the upper layer, where the roots and the general root system are located.

Loosening is a way by which you can perfectly saturate the soil with oxygen, which will play an extremely important role in the life of the plant. Of course, much in principle depends on how the grower looks after the plants. How he monitors the state of the green part and what measures he can take to ensure that the petunia receives maximum care. And all the necessary conditions for the growth and development of these decorative flowering bushes were created around.

We can say that timely inspections, timely prevention or measures are what will save the life of the plant. It will also help him maintain his specific decorative features and characteristics. Of course, the life of petunias depends not only on this. But still, we must assign most of the responsibility to the gardener, to his measures, capabilities and desire to preserve the decorative features of petunias.