Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new shoots and developing flower buds; honeydew attracts sooty mould; flowers may fail to open properly.
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage lacewings and ladybirds as predators.
Caterpillars
Signs: Petals and leaves eaten; on angel types the smaller flowers may be particularly vulnerable to larval feeding.
Control: Handpick larvae and egg clusters; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis; remove dead foliage hiding sheltering caterpillars.
Vine weevil
Signs: White larvae consume roots in containers; adults notch soft leaf margins of angel-type foliage at night.
Control: Apply nematode soil drench in late summer; inspect container compost when repotting; use vine weevil-treated compost.
Whitefly
Signs: Adult flies hover from leaf undersides when disturbed; honeydew and sooty mould reduce the plant's appearance.
Control: Use sticky yellow traps; spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin-based product on a weekly cycle.
Keep pelargonium 'tip top duet' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pelargonium 'Tip Top Duet' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
Pelargonium 'Tip Top Duet', an angel-type cultivar with bicolour flowers, is most often troubled by aphids attacking soft growth and buds. Caterpillars may damage flowers and foliage. Vine weevil is a concern for container-grown specimens and whitefly can colonise the leaf undersides in warm, sheltered spots.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
Colonies on new shoots and developing flower buds; honeydew attracts sooty mould; flowers may fail to open properly. Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage lacewings and ladybirds as predators.
How do I get rid of caterpillars on pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
Petals and leaves eaten; on angel types the smaller flowers may be particularly vulnerable to larval feeding. Handpick larvae and egg clusters; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis; remove dead foliage hiding sheltering caterpillars.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
White larvae consume roots in containers; adults notch soft leaf margins of angel-type foliage at night. Apply nematode soil drench in late summer; inspect container compost when repotting; use vine weevil-treated compost.
How do I get rid of whitefly on pelargonium 'tip top duet'?
Adult flies hover from leaf undersides when disturbed; honeydew and sooty mould reduce the plant's appearance. Use sticky yellow traps; spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin-based product on a weekly cycle.