Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'illumination orange'?
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, distorted buds and young leaves; honeydew promotes black sooty mold on petals and foliage.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days. Remove heavily infested tips by hand.
Vine weevil
Signs: Adult notching on leaf margins; larval feeding kills the tuber causing plant to collapse mid-season.
Control: Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist compost in late summer; inspect tubers when lifting in autumn.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Holes in low leaves and petals; slime trails on pots and compost surface.
Control: Set iron phosphate pellets around the container; check undersides of pot and remove by hand at dusk.
Keep begonia 'illumination orange' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia 'Illumination Orange' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'illumination orange'?
As a tuberous begonia grown in containers or hanging baskets, 'Illumination Orange' is most vulnerable to vine weevil larvae destroying the tuber and aphids swarming flower buds. Powdery mildew and botrytis can follow stress, but aphids remain the single most damaging pest to watch for on this ornamental flowering begonia.
How do I get rid of aphids on begonia 'illumination orange'?
Sticky, distorted buds and young leaves; honeydew promotes black sooty mold on petals and foliage. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days. Remove heavily infested tips by hand.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on begonia 'illumination orange'?
Adult notching on leaf margins; larval feeding kills the tuber causing plant to collapse mid-season. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist compost in late summer; inspect tubers when lifting in autumn.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on begonia 'illumination orange'?
Holes in low leaves and petals; slime trails on pots and compost surface. Set iron phosphate pellets around the container; check undersides of pot and remove by hand at dusk.