What's eating my calendula 'indian prince'?

Aphids are the main threat to Calendula 'Indian Prince', clustering on new growth and flower buds and secreting sticky honeydew that encourages sooty mold. Slugs devour young seedlings, whiteflies weaken foliage, and earwigs shred petals at night. Knock aphids off with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap.

Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew leads to sooty mold and stunted growth Blast off with a strong hose jet; apply insecticidal soap for heavy infestations; encourage ladybugs and lacewings

Ragged holes in leaves and stems, especially on seedlings; silvery slime trails left behind Hand-pick at night; reduce mulch depth; use copper tape barriers or iron phosphate pellets around young plants

Yellow spots and wilting foliage as sap is drained; sticky honeydew coating on leaves Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps to monitor populations

Ragged, scalloped petal and leaf edges; feeding occurs at night Set rolled damp newspaper or shallow oil traps near plants; collect and dispose of traps each morning