Pest identification
What's eating my matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Cabbage aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae)
Signs: Dense waxy grey-green colonies on stems and buds; plant growth stunted; honeydew and sooty mould.
Control: Insecticidal soap spray; blast colonies with water; encourage natural enemies; remove heavily infested tips.
Flea beetles
Signs: Numerous small round holes ('shothole') across leaves, especially on young plants — plants look peppered.
Control: Cover young plants with fine insect-proof mesh; apply diatomaceous earth around base; water regularly to reduce plant stress.
Caterpillars (cabbage white butterfly)
Signs: Holes in leaves ranging from small (young larvae) to complete leaf skeleton (older larvae); greenish frass.
Control: Inspect and remove egg masses and caterpillars by hand; Bt spray; use insect mesh exclusion netting.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Seedlings and transplants consumed at soil level; irregular holes in lower leaves.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; gritty or bark mulch; hand-pick at night; reduce evening watering.
Keep matthiola incana 'katz sakura' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats stock — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common matthiola incana 'katz sakura' problems & fixes
- Matthiola incana 'Katz Sakura' watering schedule
- Matthiola incana 'Katz Sakura' light requirements
- Full matthiola incana 'katz sakura' care guide
Matthiola incana 'Katz Sakura' pests — FAQ
What is eating my matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Stock 'Katz Sakura' is a brassica-family flower and shares that family's pests: cabbage aphids colonise stems and buds, flea beetles pepper leaves with tiny holes, and caterpillars of cabbage white butterflies eat foliage. Slugs attack seedlings. Rabbits will browse stocks in the garden, and birds occasionally peck at flowers.
How do I get rid of cabbage aphids (brevicoryne brassicae) on matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Dense waxy grey-green colonies on stems and buds; plant growth stunted; honeydew and sooty mould. Insecticidal soap spray; blast colonies with water; encourage natural enemies; remove heavily infested tips.
How do I get rid of flea beetles on matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Numerous small round holes ('shothole') across leaves, especially on young plants — plants look peppered. Cover young plants with fine insect-proof mesh; apply diatomaceous earth around base; water regularly to reduce plant stress.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (cabbage white butterfly) on matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Holes in leaves ranging from small (young larvae) to complete leaf skeleton (older larvae); greenish frass. Inspect and remove egg masses and caterpillars by hand; Bt spray; use insect mesh exclusion netting.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on matthiola incana 'katz sakura'?
Seedlings and transplants consumed at soil level; irregular holes in lower leaves. Iron phosphate pellets; gritty or bark mulch; hand-pick at night; reduce evening watering.