Pest identification
What's eating my stiff twinspur?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Overnight shearing of new transplants at the base; smooth-edged holes in leaves; silvery slime trails.
Control: Ferric phosphate pellets; copper tape on pot rims; hand-pick at night; grit mulch as a deterrent.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on soft shoot tips, particularly after cutting back; distorted growth and sticky honeydew.
Control: Blast with a water jet; insecticidal soap; avoid systemic products to protect pollinators.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on leaf surfaces in warm, dry summers; fine webbing under leaves.
Control: Improve airflow; neem oil spray; predatory mite sachets in greenhouse settings.
Keep stiff twinspur pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Stiff twinspur pests — FAQ
What is eating my stiff twinspur?
Stiff twinspur (Diascia rigescens) shares the pest profile of the genus. Slugs threaten young plants at establishment, and aphids colonise soft regrowth after cutting back. The plant is otherwise robust. Slug pellets at planting and a soap spray for aphids handle the main risks.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on stiff twinspur?
Overnight shearing of new transplants at the base; smooth-edged holes in leaves; silvery slime trails. Ferric phosphate pellets; copper tape on pot rims; hand-pick at night; grit mulch as a deterrent.
How do I get rid of aphids on stiff twinspur?
Dense colonies on soft shoot tips, particularly after cutting back; distorted growth and sticky honeydew. Blast with a water jet; insecticidal soap; avoid systemic products to protect pollinators.
How do I get rid of spider mites on stiff twinspur?
Pale stippling on leaf surfaces in warm, dry summers; fine webbing under leaves. Improve airflow; neem oil spray; predatory mite sachets in greenhouse settings.