Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?
Aphids
Signs: Clusters on shoot tips and flower stems; distorted, curled leaves; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mould growth.
Control: Squash by hand or knock off with a strong water jet; use insecticidal soap sprays; encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.
Vine weevil
Signs: Larvae consume roots and crown tissue, causing wilting and plant death; adults leave characteristic U-shaped notches in leaf edges.
Control: Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer or early autumn; repot regularly and inspect for grubs.
Whitefly
Signs: Dense colonies of tiny white flies and pale nymphs on undersides of leaves; yellowing foliage and sooty mould deposits.
Control: Hang yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or plant-based pyrethrin; keep plants well spaced for air circulation.
Keep pelargonium 'occold lagoon' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?
Pelargonium 'Occold Lagoon', a miniature fancy-leaf zonal type, faces the same pest pressures as other pelargoniums: aphids on young growth and buds, vine weevil larvae in the rootball, and whitefly on leaf undersides. Aphids are the most commonly encountered problem and cause the most visible early damage.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?
Clusters on shoot tips and flower stems; distorted, curled leaves; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mould growth. Squash by hand or knock off with a strong water jet; use insecticidal soap sprays; encourage natural predators such as ladybirds.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?
Larvae consume roots and crown tissue, causing wilting and plant death; adults leave characteristic U-shaped notches in leaf edges. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer or early autumn; repot regularly and inspect for grubs.
How do I get rid of whitefly on pelargonium 'occold lagoon'?
Dense colonies of tiny white flies and pale nymphs on undersides of leaves; yellowing foliage and sooty mould deposits. Hang yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or plant-based pyrethrin; keep plants well spaced for air circulation.