Pest identification
What's eating my crystal palace lobelia?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth.
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes and ragged edges on leaves and stems; slime trails visible at night.
Control: Remove by hand at dusk; use copper tape around containers; apply iron phosphate pellets (pet-safe).
Thrips
Signs: Silver-bronze streaking on petals and leaves; tiny dark frass specks; flowers distorted.
Control: Remove heavily infested flowers; apply spinosad spray; use sticky blue traps to monitor adult populations.
Keep crystal palace lobelia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats edging lobelia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats crystal palace lobelia — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common crystal palace lobelia problems & fixes
- Crystal Palace lobelia watering schedule
- Crystal Palace lobelia light requirements
- Full crystal palace lobelia care guide
Crystal Palace lobelia pests — FAQ
What is eating my crystal palace lobelia?
Crystal Palace lobelia is attacked mainly by aphids, which cluster on tender shoot tips, and by slugs and snails that rasp seedlings at soil level. Leafhoppers and thrips occasionally cause silvery stippling. Aphids are the most persistent threat — check new growth weekly during spring flush.
How do I get rid of aphids on crystal palace lobelia?
Dense colonies on shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth. Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on crystal palace lobelia?
Irregular holes and ragged edges on leaves and stems; slime trails visible at night. Remove by hand at dusk; use copper tape around containers; apply iron phosphate pellets (pet-safe).
How do I get rid of thrips on crystal palace lobelia?
Silver-bronze streaking on petals and leaves; tiny dark frass specks; flowers distorted. Remove heavily infested flowers; apply spinosad spray; use sticky blue traps to monitor adult populations.