Pest identification
What's eating my parrot gladiolus?
Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
Signs: Silver streaking or bronzing on leaves and petals; flowers distorted and fail to open fully.
Control: Remove badly affected foliage; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.
Aphids
Signs: Sticky honeydew and curled, yellowing new growth; large colonies on stems and buds.
Control: Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in emerging shoots and young leaves, especially after wet nights.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; use copper-tape barriers on containers; hand-pick after dark.
Caterpillars (various noctuid moths)
Signs: Irregular holes chewed through leaves; look for frass near damage.
Control: Hand-pick caterpillars at dusk; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to affected foliage.
Keep parrot gladiolus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Parrot Gladiolus pests — FAQ
What is eating my parrot gladiolus?
Parrot Gladiolus (Gladiolus dalenii) is most threatened by thrips, which rasp and silver the foliage and distort flowers. Aphids cluster on new growth, slugs shred emerging shoots, and caterpillars chew irregular holes in leaves. Check corms at lifting time for dry rot caused by Fusarium.
How do I get rid of western flower thrips (frankliniella occidentalis) on parrot gladiolus?
Silver streaking or bronzing on leaves and petals; flowers distorted and fail to open fully. Remove badly affected foliage; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.
How do I get rid of aphids on parrot gladiolus?
Sticky honeydew and curled, yellowing new growth; large colonies on stems and buds. Blast off with a strong jet of water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on parrot gladiolus?
Ragged holes in emerging shoots and young leaves, especially after wet nights. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; use copper-tape barriers on containers; hand-pick after dark.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (various noctuid moths) on parrot gladiolus?
Irregular holes chewed through leaves; look for frass near damage. Hand-pick caterpillars at dusk; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to affected foliage.