What's eating my pelargonium 'mystery'?

Pelargonium 'Mystery', a Regal or Unique-type pelargonium, is primarily threatened by aphids on new growth and flower buds. Geranium bronze butterfly caterpillars bore into stems and ruin the floral display. Vine weevil grubs can destroy container-grown plants. Whitefly may appear in warm, sheltered positions.

Clusters on shoot tips and buds cause distorted, sticky foliage and can spread viral diseases between plants. Remove by hand or with a strong water jet; follow with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Repeat as needed.

Larvae tunnel into flower stems and buds causing wilting shoots and frass deposits; infestations can eliminate the entire flower crop. Cut out and destroy affected stems. Apply spinosad or pyrethrin spray. Inspect buds and stems regularly during summer.

Soil-dwelling grubs eat roots, causing sudden collapse of otherwise healthy-looking plants in pots. Use Steinernema kraussei nematodes on moist compost in late summer. Check root balls when reporting; discard infested compost.