Pest identification
What's eating my humulus lupulus 'aureus'?
Hop aphid (Phorodon humuli)
Signs: Clusters of grey-green insects on shoot tips and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew; golden leaves appear dull and may distort.
Control: Blast off with water jet; apply insecticidal soap spray; encourage natural predators; rarely needs systemic pesticide on ornamental plants.
Two-spotted spider mite
Signs: Fine pale mottling on leaves; webbing on undersides; colour dulls from gold to straw-brown in severe infestations.
Control: Mist foliage in dry spells; apply neem oil or predatory mites; avoid overhead drought stress which accelerates mite build-up.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Young emerging shoots in spring eaten to stubs; silvery mucus trails on soil and stems.
Control: Apply ferric phosphate pellets; use copper tape around pots; hand-pick after dark or after rain.
Keep humulus lupulus 'aureus' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Humulus lupulus 'Aureus' pests — FAQ
What is eating my humulus lupulus 'aureus'?
Golden hop shares the pest profile of common hops — hop aphid and spider mite are the most frequent attackers. Being ornamental rather than grown for cones, damage is mostly cosmetic, but heavy aphid or mite pressure dulls the golden foliage significantly. Slugs can shred young spring shoots.
How do I get rid of hop aphid (phorodon humuli) on humulus lupulus 'aureus'?
Clusters of grey-green insects on shoot tips and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew; golden leaves appear dull and may distort. Blast off with water jet; apply insecticidal soap spray; encourage natural predators; rarely needs systemic pesticide on ornamental plants.
How do I get rid of two-spotted spider mite on humulus lupulus 'aureus'?
Fine pale mottling on leaves; webbing on undersides; colour dulls from gold to straw-brown in severe infestations. Mist foliage in dry spells; apply neem oil or predatory mites; avoid overhead drought stress which accelerates mite build-up.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on humulus lupulus 'aureus'?
Young emerging shoots in spring eaten to stubs; silvery mucus trails on soil and stems. Apply ferric phosphate pellets; use copper tape around pots; hand-pick after dark or after rain.