What's eating my pelargonium 'mr wren'?

Pelargonium 'Mr Wren', a miniature double-flowered type, is susceptible to aphids gathering on tender buds and growing tips. Vine weevil is a particular concern in the small containers this cultivar typically occupies. Caterpillars and whitefly round out the most common pest problems to monitor throughout the growing season.

Colonies on shoot tips and around flower buds; honeydew and sooty mould; distorted or aborted flowers. Remove by hand or water blast; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; inspect frequently on miniature cultivars.

Root-eating grubs are especially damaging in small pots; sudden wilting and plant death can occur quickly. Drench container compost with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer; repot annually to inspect roots.

Holes in leaves and petals; larger caterpillars can consume a significant proportion of a miniature plant. Check regularly and remove by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis spray at first sign of damage.

Tiny white flies on leaf undersides; leaves become sticky and develop sooty black mould. Yellow sticky traps alongside plants; insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray, covering leaf undersides thoroughly.