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Pests and Diseases Aphids or ‘green fly’ are tiny greenish sap sucking insects, which attack flower stems and young leaves. • remove aphids with a squirt from a hose or running your finger along the shoot to squash them • ladybirds are natural predators so encourage them in the garden • Malathion or a Pyrethrum spray can be used for bad infestations • Confidor is a systemic insecticide, which is useful for white fly and aphids. • Spray only when necessary remember the more you spray the more you will have to spray as you will kill beneficial insects as well as the ‘nasties’ Other Problems Other Problems: • yellowing of old leaves usually means the plant needs food but do not over fertilize • if the plant drops flowers and leaves. It has ‘had a shock’ usually very hot or cold weather /it has been moved or transported/ leave it alone to recover • holes in leaves: usually caterpillars/pick off by hand or spray with Dipel • wilting leaves/ leaf drop mix may have dried out due to soil repelling moisture./ dunk in a bucket of water/ remove when bubbles stop coming to the surface / drain well. Sprinkle Wettasoil on top of soil • remember more plants die from overwatering than anything else Rust Rust is a highly contagious fungal disease which is hard to control once it takes hold. It is found as yellow /orange dust on the back of the leaves. It is spread by spores left on hands, tools, ground , dead leaves in pots etc. • Hygiene is the best preventative • Always sterilize pots, tools, wash hands etc, in bleach & water solution • Remove all affected leaves from plants, place in a plastic bag, bin it and wash hands thoroughly • Remove debris from the base of the plants and pots regularly, bin the debris • Do not overcrowd plants/ provide plenty of air around them • Inspect the back of leaves regularly especially in wet weather • if you find an affected plant isolate it away from other plants • spray with Mancozeb Plus , Baycor or Rose Shield for a bad case of rust. White Fly White Fly: is a sap sucking tiny insect, which is found under the leaves. The insects ‘fly up’ whenever you touch the plants • the best prevention is healthy plants • a light misting with a weak solution of Seasol will help to strengthen the leaves against insects and diseases • in a mild infestation separate plants from each other: pests and diseases will always be attracted to a ‘monoculture’ • ‘sticky’ yellow traps can be made with yellow cardboard smeared with Vaseline • severe infestations may need plants to be sprayed with Confidor or RoseShield • remember to thoroughly wet the top and bottom of the leaves. |