Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Aphids
Signs: Soft green or black insects clustered on shoot tips; honeydew, leaf curl, and stunted growth.
Control: Remove by hand or water jet; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; use Aphidius parasitic wasps in greenhouse settings.
Whitefly
Signs: Clouds of tiny white flies when foliage is disturbed; yellowing, sticky leaves coated with sooty mould.
Control: Hang yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; ensure good airflow to discourage colonies.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale speckling on upper leaf surface; fine webbing on leaf undersides, worst in warm dry rooms.
Control: Mist foliage and increase humidity; wipe leaves with damp cloth; apply neem oil or predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
Vine weevil
Signs: Notched leaf margins at night; grubs destroy root system in containers, causing sudden wilting.
Control: Nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; check and clean roots when repotting each spring.
Keep pelargonium crispum 'variegatum' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats pelargonium crispum — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common pelargonium crispum 'variegatum' problems & fixes
- Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum' watering schedule
- Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum' light requirements
- Full pelargonium crispum 'variegatum' care guide
Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum' faces the same pest pressures as the species — aphids on new shoots, whitefly beneath leaves, and vine weevil grubs in pots — plus spider mites indoors. The variegated foliage is not more pest-resistant; aphids remain the most common nuisance.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Soft green or black insects clustered on shoot tips; honeydew, leaf curl, and stunted growth. Remove by hand or water jet; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; use Aphidius parasitic wasps in greenhouse settings.
How do I get rid of whitefly on pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Clouds of tiny white flies when foliage is disturbed; yellowing, sticky leaves coated with sooty mould. Hang yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; ensure good airflow to discourage colonies.
How do I get rid of spider mites on pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Pale speckling on upper leaf surface; fine webbing on leaf undersides, worst in warm dry rooms. Mist foliage and increase humidity; wipe leaves with damp cloth; apply neem oil or predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium crispum 'variegatum'?
Notched leaf margins at night; grubs destroy root system in containers, causing sudden wilting. Nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; check and clean roots when repotting each spring.