Pest identification
What's eating my crocosmia masoniorum?
Thrips
Signs: Silver streaks and bleached patches on large orange flowers and strap-like leaves in dry summers.
Control: Increase watering in drought; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap in the morning; remove damaged blooms.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and premature bronzing of foliage, with faint webbing on the undersides of leaves.
Control: Raise humidity by watering and misting; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis; apply neem oil spray.
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on shoot tips and flower stems in spring; honeydew and sooty mold.
Control: Knock off with a water jet; apply insecticidal soap; foster ladybirds and lacewings nearby.
Rabbits
Signs: Leaves and stems cleanly browsed, particularly on newly emerging growth in spring.
Control: Use wire mesh guards around clumps; apply rabbit repellent spray; fence the border if pressure is high.
Keep crocosmia masoniorum pest-free
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Crocosmia masoniorum pests — FAQ
What is eating my crocosmia masoniorum?
Crocosmia masoniorum is a vigorous, upright species with large funnel-shaped flowers. Thrips scar the orange blooms and foliage in dry summers. Spider mites cause stippling and early leaf bronzing in warm seasons. Aphids cluster on spring growth, and rabbits may browse the foliage in exposed gardens. Thrips are the most damaging pest during the flowering season.
How do I get rid of thrips on crocosmia masoniorum?
Silver streaks and bleached patches on large orange flowers and strap-like leaves in dry summers. Increase watering in drought; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap in the morning; remove damaged blooms.
How do I get rid of spider mites on crocosmia masoniorum?
Pale stippling and premature bronzing of foliage, with faint webbing on the undersides of leaves. Raise humidity by watering and misting; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis; apply neem oil spray.
How do I get rid of aphids on crocosmia masoniorum?
Soft colonies on shoot tips and flower stems in spring; honeydew and sooty mold. Knock off with a water jet; apply insecticidal soap; foster ladybirds and lacewings nearby.
How do I get rid of rabbits on crocosmia masoniorum?
Leaves and stems cleanly browsed, particularly on newly emerging growth in spring. Use wire mesh guards around clumps; apply rabbit repellent spray; fence the border if pressure is high.