Pest identification
What's eating my supertunia bubblegum petunia?
Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens)
Signs: Chewed holes in closed buds; flowers fail to open or are tattered
Control: Bt spray (kurstaki strain) applied to buds at dusk every 5 days; check for and remove caterpillars by torchlight
Aphids
Signs: Tight clusters of soft insects on shoot tips; honeydew residue and leaf curl
Control: Strong water jet to dislodge; repeat applications of insecticidal soap; introduce beneficial insects where possible
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes and slime trails on low-growing or trailing stems
Control: Iron phosphate bait scattered around the base; remove leaf litter; water in the morning so soil surface dries by night
Keep supertunia bubblegum petunia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Supertunia bubblegum petunia pests — FAQ
What is eating my supertunia bubblegum petunia?
Supertunia Vista Bubblegum, a vigorous spreading petunia, is most plagued by tobacco budworms that chew holes in buds before they open. Aphids colonise soft new growth, and whitefly can build up under dense foliage. Slugs occasionally shred trailing stems during cool, damp weather.
How do I get rid of tobacco budworm (heliothis virescens) on supertunia bubblegum petunia?
Chewed holes in closed buds; flowers fail to open or are tattered Bt spray (kurstaki strain) applied to buds at dusk every 5 days; check for and remove caterpillars by torchlight
How do I get rid of aphids on supertunia bubblegum petunia?
Tight clusters of soft insects on shoot tips; honeydew residue and leaf curl Strong water jet to dislodge; repeat applications of insecticidal soap; introduce beneficial insects where possible
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on supertunia bubblegum petunia?
Irregular holes and slime trails on low-growing or trailing stems Iron phosphate bait scattered around the base; remove leaf litter; water in the morning so soil surface dries by night