Pest identification
What's eating my maltese cross?
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of soft-bodied insects on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth.
Control: Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Irregular holes and ragged edges on basal leaves, silvery slime trails on soil and foliage.
Control: Use iron-phosphate pellets or copper tape around crowns; hand-pick at night; keep soil surface dry.
Leaf miners
Signs: Pale, winding tunnels or blotches inside leaf tissue; leaves look bleached in patches.
Control: Remove and bin affected leaves promptly; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill parasitic wasps that naturally control miners.
Keep maltese cross pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Maltese cross pests — FAQ
What is eating my maltese cross?
Maltese cross (Lychnis chalcedonica) is mainly troubled by aphids clustered on young stems and slugs that rasp tender foliage. Leaf-mining flies can mottle leaves in summer. Good air circulation and prompt removal of debris keep infestations light. Plants are generally robust and seldom seriously damaged.
How do I get rid of aphids on maltese cross?
Clusters of soft-bodied insects on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew and distorted new growth. Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on maltese cross?
Irregular holes and ragged edges on basal leaves, silvery slime trails on soil and foliage. Use iron-phosphate pellets or copper tape around crowns; hand-pick at night; keep soil surface dry.
How do I get rid of leaf miners on maltese cross?
Pale, winding tunnels or blotches inside leaf tissue; leaves look bleached in patches. Remove and bin affected leaves promptly; avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill parasitic wasps that naturally control miners.