topic Re: What's Eating My Geraniums? in Community Spirit

What's Eating My Geraniums?

icyfroth — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:45:03 GMT

Finally, I've got some read Geraniums growing in a terracotta pot. Sadly, they look bitten and curled, although they seem to flourishing ok. Putting out lots of new shoots.

I've pulled off a few grubs, but still those yellow spots appear, which eventually look like lacework on the leaves. Not impressed.

Any advice would be welcome.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

bsal6160 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:46:40 GMT

not me but something that likes your flowers,snails?

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:54:06 GMT

I was also going to say snails.

Often snails when a large portion of leaves is missing.

Looks like you also have leaf blight.(tan spots)

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

imastawka — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:57:31 GMT

I'd say snails too.

Look under your pot if it's raised, or look under the rim.

They're hiding somewhere during the day

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

nevillesdaughter — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:01:15 GMT

Looks like some sort of sap-sucker or leaf miner to me. Maybe. I think Pest Oil or any white oil might help and not do any harm. Just a suggestion.

Marina.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

bushies.girl — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:10:15 GMT

Very rare for snails/slugs to eat geraniums, they dont tend to like them

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:23:16 GMT

I think its a moth that turns into a caterpillar..chewing the leaves first, and then the rest of the plant..

You might be able to see them at night with a flashlight..

I dont think its snails either.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

kopenhagen5 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:28:17 GMT

I think you could be right.

On second look snails don't eat small holes in the middle so much.

Looks more like a caterpillar.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

bushies.girl — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:32:01 GMT

Was thinking a caterpillar as well, check at night time under the leaves ...... You may need to cut off the affected leaves and spray the whole plant

I have heaps of geraniums, have never seen a snail go near one of them

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

lyndal1838 — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:01:23 GMT

Have you had any white butterflies/moths around? It is the time of the year for the white cabbage moth.

Have a look under the leaves for tiny (and I do mean tiny) little green grubs. They can strip a plant overnight and are almost impossible to pick off by hand....you will need to spray.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

icyfroth — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 08:50:54 GMT

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I haven't been out at night to have a look yet.

I checked for the green grubs, I've seen them under the leaves before. They're usuall easy to spot because of their droppings on the leaves below. Haven't seen any on these leaves, though.

Someone else suggested spraying with soapy water, which I'll try first.

If that doesn't help, I'll bring on the big guns and get some spray from Bunnings.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

bright.ton42 — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 09:57:40 GMT

I was going to say possums then I had another look and realize the holes aren't big enough.

So why did I post this?

Well ,..... because I can.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

icyfroth — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 22:29:13 GMT

@bright.ton42 wrote:
I was going to say possums then I had another look and realize the holes aren't big enough.

So why did I post this?

Well ,..... because I can.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

esseco46 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:22:44 GMT

I have exactly the same pattern on my geranium leaves - there were very tiny little green caterpillars - I picked off all the holy leaves and nearly made my plant nude.

Oh well, summer is coming soon.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

*tippy*toes* — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 13:16:12 GMT

Just found this thread and was also going to say the cabbage moth caterpillars. They eat everything. They do get big if you leave them. I know on my plants they often hide around the raised veins on the underside when still little so can be hard to see. I'm as blind as a bat these days so I go armed with my +4 magnifying glasses (a few bucks from the $2 shops).

The black slugs on my cherry tree also cause the same damage. They start of tiny, but are still easy enough to see under the green leaves. Even as tiny 1mm size, they can do a lot of damage in a few days. I don't know enough about them to know if they infest more than fruit trees.

It could also be aphids. They seem to be around all year. I get frost here and I've seen them crawling around under the frost. Soapy water in a spray bottle seems to take care of them.

White Fly can do this, as can spider mites.

Bees don't tend to like geraniums, so I'd be going the whole hog and using some proper spray (Pyrethrin or something), ensuring both sides of the leaves, and the stems, are covered.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

icyfroth — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 22:17:14 GMT

Excellent advice from everyone, thanks. (Except Brighton)

What I've decided to do is this:

Seeing I have to clear the balcony as we're getting new windows and doors installed throughout the block, I'll leave it for now and wait til the windows job is finished.

Before I put the geranium back, I'll trim it back and let it start again and spray as it starts putting out new leaves.

The timing is good, as it will be spring soon.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

tasfleur — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 05:29:04 GMT

What's Eating My Geraniums?

This, of course >>>>>

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

lyndal1838 — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 06:48:10 GMT

If you leave those little green grubs on the plant they will grow into big green grubs and there will be nothing left to trim back. I have seen them start on the new shoots almost as soon as they appear.

Just buy some spray and give the plant a burst before moving it.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

bright.ton42 — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:47:03 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
Excellent advice from everyone, thanks. (Except Brighton)

Well I did try.

Re: What's Eating My Geraniums?

icyfroth — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 08:29:19 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:
If you leave those little green grubs on the plant they will grow into big green grubs and there will be nothing left to trim back. I have seen them start on the new shoots almost as soon as they appear.
Just buy some spray and give the plant a burst before moving it.

Good advice thanks Lyndal.

Will give it some attention in the morning.