What's eating my begonia 'nonstop joy salmon'?

As a tuberous begonia, 'Nonstop Joy Salmon' is most at risk from vine weevil grubs destroying the tuber, aphids on buds, and thrips marking petals with silver streaks. Slugs can also attack young plants in outdoor beds. Inspect container roots whenever plants wilt without obvious cause.

Crescent-shaped leaf notches from adults; grubs hollow out or completely destroy the tuber underground. Use nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; lift tubers in autumn and discard any with grub damage.

Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower stems; sticky residue and distorted growth. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem solution, ensuring coverage under leaves.

Fine silver stippling and streaking on petals and upper leaf surfaces; flowers may fail to open fully. Remove affected blooms promptly; apply spinosad-based spray; introduce Amblyseius cucumeris predatory mites under cover.