What's eating my clustered freesia?

Clustered Freesia (Freesia corymbosa) is susceptible to aphids on flower stems and thrips inside blooms. Bulb mites can destroy corms in poorly drained soil. Slugs and snails target tender new shoots in spring. Prevent bulb rot by ensuring good drainage and inspect regularly during the growing season.

Dense colonies on stems and buds cause wilting, honeydew deposits, and secondary sooty mold fungus Spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; introduce beneficial insects where possible

Pale streaks and distortion on petals; buds may fail to open or show brown scorched edges Cut off and bag affected flowers; apply spinosad-based spray; use yellow or blue sticky traps

Corms rot from the base upward; plants fail to sprout or emerge stunted; visible mite colonies on rotting tissue Remove and destroy infested corms; treat planting site with sulfur; improve drainage to discourage mites