Greenhouse pest

[Protea]

Hi Jennie,

The fact tat its causing such leaf distortion, i would say you need to do something about it. But i guess it depends on how attached to the fuschia you are! Is it too cold to stick the plant outside and hope for some intervention from natural predators? I've often done this when i don't want to/can't be bothered to spray.

Alternatively - buy a systemic insecticide from a garden centre (or wherever you can!) and just spray that one plant in isolation. perhaps do it after dark when the beneficial insects are not about and do it outside away from the rest of your crops, if you are conderned about contaminating them. The systemic activity should control the little aphids that you obviously aren't able to reach with the contact organic sprays.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thank you Protea. I have had two of the worst affected fuschias outside these last couple of days in the hope that some cooler air might help. As they are greenhouse fuschias they really won't survive outside up here. The idea was to have a good bit of colour in the greenhouse when everything dies off in the garden.

I'll try your suggestion. At least that way I am only treating the plants which need it.

Many thanks.

[Flummery]

You can buy things called 'plant pins' which you poke in the soil of the infected plant's pot. The are small cardboard things like little plant labels with a systemic insecticide in. As these aren't plants you are going to eat I would think they should be ok to use. It means you aren't spraying so only the plant in the pot is affected.

[JennieAtkinson]

Thanks Flummery I'll look out for those.