Pest identification
What's eating my zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder'?
Aphids
Signs: Large colonies on flower stems and new leaves; honeydew and sooty mould; potential virus spread.
Control: Insecticidal soap spray or neem oil applied weekly; encourage natural enemies; avoid high-nitrogen fertiliser.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Leaves shredded and crowns chewed; most damaging in spring when new growth is soft.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; nematode drench in spring; remove leaf litter and debris where slugs overwinter.
Vine weevil
Signs: C-shaped grubs eat corm roots in containers, causing sudden wilting; adult notches leaf margins.
Control: Apply Steinernema kraussei nematode drench in late summer to autumn; use vine weevil-specific compost treatments.
Keep zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Zantedeschia 'Schwarzwalder' pests — FAQ
What is eating my zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder'?
Zantedeschia 'Schwarzwalder' bears deep reddish-black spathes and is grown outdoors or under glass. Aphids cluster on its flower stems season-long. Slugs and snails are a significant threat to the foliage and crowns in damp conditions. Thrips scar the dark spathes. In cooler gardens, vine weevil grubs may damage corms in containers.
How do I get rid of aphids on zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder'?
Large colonies on flower stems and new leaves; honeydew and sooty mould; potential virus spread. Insecticidal soap spray or neem oil applied weekly; encourage natural enemies; avoid high-nitrogen fertiliser.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder'?
Leaves shredded and crowns chewed; most damaging in spring when new growth is soft. Iron phosphate pellets; nematode drench in spring; remove leaf litter and debris where slugs overwinter.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on zantedeschia 'schwarzwalder'?
C-shaped grubs eat corm roots in containers, causing sudden wilting; adult notches leaf margins. Apply Steinernema kraussei nematode drench in late summer to autumn; use vine weevil-specific compost treatments.