Pest identification
What's eating my petunia 'supertunia royal velvet'?
Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens)
Signs: Caterpillars bore into developing buds; infested plants produce very few open flowers with visible entry holes and frass
Control: Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at dusk; apply spinosad for severe infestations; hand-pick and destroy larvae at night
Aphids
Signs: Dense soft-bodied clusters on shoot tips and new growth cause curl, stunting, and honeydew deposits
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid high-nitrogen liquid feeds that promote lush aphid-attractive growth
Whitefly
Signs: Yellowing foliage with sticky honeydew; white insect clouds rising when plant is brushed
Control: Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to the undersides of leaves; use yellow sticky traps; avoid warm, crowded growing conditions
Keep petunia 'supertunia royal velvet' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Petunia 'Supertunia Royal Velvet' pests — FAQ
What is eating my petunia 'supertunia royal velvet'?
Petunia 'Supertunia Royal Velvet' is a deep purple trailing petunia for pots and hanging baskets. Tobacco budworm is the most destructive pest, hollowing out buds before they can open. Aphids colonize soft growth readily, and whitefly congregate under leaves. Slugs and snails threaten young plants planted out in borders.
How do I get rid of tobacco budworm (heliothis virescens) on petunia 'supertunia royal velvet'?
Caterpillars bore into developing buds; infested plants produce very few open flowers with visible entry holes and frass Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray at dusk; apply spinosad for severe infestations; hand-pick and destroy larvae at night
How do I get rid of aphids on petunia 'supertunia royal velvet'?
Dense soft-bodied clusters on shoot tips and new growth cause curl, stunting, and honeydew deposits Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid high-nitrogen liquid feeds that promote lush aphid-attractive growth
How do I get rid of whitefly on petunia 'supertunia royal velvet'?
Yellowing foliage with sticky honeydew; white insect clouds rising when plant is brushed Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to the undersides of leaves; use yellow sticky traps; avoid warm, crowded growing conditions