Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on new shoots and flower buds; honeydew, distorted growth, and sooty mould.
Control: Remove with a water jet or insecticidal soap; neem oil spray; encourage aphid predators outdoors.
Whitefly
Signs: Tiny white adult flies on leaf undersides; yellowing, sticky leaves with sooty mould coating.
Control: Yellow sticky traps; spray with pyrethrin or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until populations collapse.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale leaf speckling and fine webbing on undersides; most severe on plants moved indoors in autumn.
Control: Raise humidity; apply neem oil; introduce predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) for biological control.
Vine weevil
Signs: Adult beetles notch leaf margins; larvae destroy roots in pots, causing sudden wilting and plant death.
Control: Apply pathogenic nematode drench in late summer; inspect and clear root ball when repotting.
Keep pelargonium 'clorinda' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pelargonium 'Clorinda' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Pelargonium 'Clorinda', a large-growing eucalyptus-scented pelargonium, is susceptible to aphids, whitefly, and spider mites like other scented-leaved cultivars. Vine weevil is a risk in containers. Aphids attacking soft new growth and stem tips are the most regularly reported pest problem.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Dense colonies on new shoots and flower buds; honeydew, distorted growth, and sooty mould. Remove with a water jet or insecticidal soap; neem oil spray; encourage aphid predators outdoors.
How do I get rid of whitefly on pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Tiny white adult flies on leaf undersides; yellowing, sticky leaves with sooty mould coating. Yellow sticky traps; spray with pyrethrin or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until populations collapse.
How do I get rid of spider mites on pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Pale leaf speckling and fine webbing on undersides; most severe on plants moved indoors in autumn. Raise humidity; apply neem oil; introduce predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) for biological control.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium 'clorinda'?
Adult beetles notch leaf margins; larvae destroy roots in pots, causing sudden wilting and plant death. Apply pathogenic nematode drench in late summer; inspect and clear root ball when repotting.