What's eating my fuchsia?

Fuchsia faces two standout threats: fuchsia gall mite, which causes grotesquely distorted growth and is widespread in the UK and US West Coast, and vine weevil grubs that devour roots. Aphids and whitefly are routine pests on softer growth. Check new shoots weekly — gall mite is nearly invisible but devastatingly destructive.

Severely distorted, reddish, hairy shoot tips that never develop normally; no flowers on affected growth Remove and destroy all affected growth immediately; do not compost it; spray with an acaricide; choose resistant cultivars (e.g. 'Nettala', 'Space Shuttle')

Adult notches leaf edges at night; white C-shaped grubs destroy roots — plant collapses suddenly, especially in containers Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/early autumn; use vine weevil killer compost drench; check roots of wilting plants

Soft colonies on new shoots and flower buds; sticky honeydew; distorted growth Pinch off infested tips; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat weekly

White flies scatter from leaves when disturbed; yellowing foliage; sooty mold on honeydew Hang yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap; in greenhouses, release Encarsia formosa