Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on new shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew, sooty mould, and distorted growth.
Control: Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
Caterpillars (tortrix moth, angle shades)
Signs: Irregular holes in leaves and petals; leaves webbed or rolled; buds severed.
Control: Pick caterpillars off by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; remove webbed leaf clusters promptly.
Vine weevil
Signs: Adults notch leaf margins at night; larvae eat roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse in containers.
Control: Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; use vine weevil compost barrier or imidacloprid granules for containers.
Whitefly
Signs: Tiny white flies rise from leaves when disturbed; leaves yellowing, sticky, with sooty mould.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin-based contact insecticide; repeat every 5–7 days.
Keep pelargonium 'lord bute' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pelargonium 'Lord Bute' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Pelargonium 'Lord Bute' is most threatened by aphids, which cluster on soft shoot tips and flower buds. Caterpillars, vine weevil larvae, and whitefly also cause damage. Deer and rabbits generally avoid pelargoniums due to their pungent foliage, making pest insects your primary concern outdoors and on patios.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Dense colonies on new shoot tips and flower buds; sticky honeydew, sooty mould, and distorted growth. Blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (tortrix moth, angle shades) on pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Irregular holes in leaves and petals; leaves webbed or rolled; buds severed. Pick caterpillars off by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; remove webbed leaf clusters promptly.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Adults notch leaf margins at night; larvae eat roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse in containers. Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; use vine weevil compost barrier or imidacloprid granules for containers.
How do I get rid of whitefly on pelargonium 'lord bute'?
Tiny white flies rise from leaves when disturbed; leaves yellowing, sticky, with sooty mould. Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin-based contact insecticide; repeat every 5–7 days.