COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES
in the PNW
You can avoid most
pests and diseases by following some simple procedures:
Plant in
clean containers with soil that drains well. Repot when soil gets packed hard.
Clean up dead
leaves and other debris. Pests and fungus hide there.
Ventilate the
plants well.
Water, misted
or sprayed, will remove many pests. Water in the morning.
However, there are times
when keeping up is difficult and problems occur.
Outdoors, fuchsias are not
bothered by many pests or diseases. Rain and ventilation help keep them happy.
Rust can appear in spring or mostly in fall when it is unusually wet.
Indoors in greenhouses,
particularly in spring, aphids may line up on stems for the new, tender growth.
White flies can show up any time.
Over summer, root weevils can get into
containers, eat the roots and kill the plant, indoors or out.
For aphids, whitefly and many other pests,
use a strong spray of water as the first step. If that does not work
and for diseases such as rust or molds,
please contact your local garden center for advise on how to address
your situation (or concern).
Your local Master Gardeners will also be a
great help in identifying your pest or disease and can advise you
how to deal with it.
SAFETY FIRST - ALWAYS!
Make sure you have & wear protective
eyewear, rubber gloves and most importantly -
WEAR A MASK and
apply your chosen remedy to plants in a very well ventilated area.
Some products may
cause skin irritation, please wear rubber gloves and protective
clothing.
Wash your hands well when done.
For slugs
Remove them.
Look for babies and eggs as well
Get rid of them in
whatever manner you prefer. There are some good 'slug riddance' products
on the market.
Wear
rubber gloves, a mask and wash up after applying!
Please
use safety precautions around pets and small children when leaving
bait out
Put
your product of choice near moist, shady areas like where slugs can get
under wood, leaves...
For yellow leaves -
this is a deficiency
1 TBSP Epsom salts
1
Gallon water
Dissolve in
1 cup hot water taken from the gallon.
Once
dissolved, add to remaining water and pour into your watering can
and water the soil.
For cleaning pots, greenhouses, eliminating mold
and algae-
The best cleaner is
soap, water and good old elbow grease. Use a stiff bristle brush on benches and
rinse well when done.
For root weevil
(aka black vine weevil, rhododendron root weevil,
strawberry root weevil)-
The most effective controls have been found to be are… BENEFICIAL NEMATODES
Use as directed.
A watering can with a nozzle with small holes
works as well as spraying.
Apply again in August
Available in gardening centers,
locally and by mail order.
For removing water/mineral marks on
containers:
Soap, water
and good old elbow grease
For disinfecting tools and containers:
Wear gloves when
disinfecting your tools. Soap, water and good old elbow grease, as needed. Then rinse
well.
You can
ask your local Master Gardeners for further winterizing or storage
advise to keep from rusting.
RECOGNIZING PESTS AND DISEASES:
Aphids-
Curled leaves or sticky leaves- you can easily see them on stems with their
long 'beak'/ Not well-ventilated.
Botrytis- Damping off. Young stems
collapse./ Not well-ventilated.
Gray Mold- Fluffy gray mold on plants. /
Not well-ventilated.
Spider mites- Leaves get webbed, dappled and stripled with red or bronze areas, and drop. Tiny mites
can be seen under the leaves. / Too dry.
Root weevil - Plants collapse. Small white
grubs are found feeding on roots. Nearby rhodies show notched leaf margins- a warning.
Rust- Orangish, rusty areas
appear, usually under the leaves. /Not well-ventilated;
too moist.
Slugs - They love moist
greenhouses and tender growth to raise their young. Look under the pots as
well for both slugs and slug eggs.
Thrips- Small, narrow-bodied,
yellow, brown or black insects seem to be
smothering the plant.
Shoots and flower buds are damaged. / Too warm or too little
water, have become common in the PNW.
White Flies- Under the leaves, small white
eggs are laid- leaves become sticky. When the plant is touched, little, white flies scatter frantically into the air.
Yellow leaves- The plant is lacking magnesium.
