What's eating my rose-scented geranium?

Rose-Scented Geranium is most commonly attacked by vine weevil, geranium budworm, and spider mites. Outdoors, caterpillars and budworm chew flowers; indoors or in pots, vine weevil grubs silently destroy roots. Spider mites flare in hot, dry conditions. Aromatic oils give moderate but not complete pest resistance.

Cream C-shaped grubs eat roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse; adults notch leaf margins at night Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer or autumn. Use vine weevil barrier tape on pots. Check rootball when repotting.

Caterpillars bore into flower buds and eat petals, leaving ragged holes; frass (droppings) visible at bud bases Pick off caterpillars by hand at dusk. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to buds and foliage when larvae are small. Deadhead spent blooms promptly.

Fine pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing underneath in heavy infestations; leaves turn bronze and drop Increase humidity and mist regularly. Use predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) indoors. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, covering leaf undersides.