Pest identification
What's eating my pinellia pedatisecta?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Holes and tears across the multi-lobed leaf blades; growing tips sometimes entirely consumed at night.
Control: Apply iron-phosphate pellets; set out damp cardboard traps to collect slugs; remove sheltering leaf litter.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on flower stems and petioles; leaves may curl; sticky deposits attract sooty mould.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil solution weekly; squash colonies by hand on light infestations.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae tunnel through roots and cormlets in containers; yellowing foliage and sudden poor vigour.
Control: Allow soil to dry between waterings; apply Steinernema feltiae nematode drench; use yellow sticky traps for adults.
Keep pinellia pedatisecta pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pinellia pedatisecta pests — FAQ
What is eating my pinellia pedatisecta?
Pinellia pedatisecta (multi-fingered pinellia) is a temperate garden aroid. Slugs are the top pest, readily shredding the distinctive multi-lobed leaves as they emerge. Aphids colonize flower stems, and fungus gnats can be problematic if grown in containers with moisture-retentive compost. Rabbits occasionally nibble young shoots.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on pinellia pedatisecta?
Holes and tears across the multi-lobed leaf blades; growing tips sometimes entirely consumed at night. Apply iron-phosphate pellets; set out damp cardboard traps to collect slugs; remove sheltering leaf litter.
How do I get rid of aphids on pinellia pedatisecta?
Colonies on flower stems and petioles; leaves may curl; sticky deposits attract sooty mould. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil solution weekly; squash colonies by hand on light infestations.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on pinellia pedatisecta?
Larvae tunnel through roots and cormlets in containers; yellowing foliage and sudden poor vigour. Allow soil to dry between waterings; apply Steinernema feltiae nematode drench; use yellow sticky traps for adults.