Beasties Beware!!
by
Phil Bowles
South African Fuchsia Fanfare, Vol. 27: #2, 1999
American Fuchsia Soicety Bulletin, Nov / Dec 1999
Inspect your plants on a regular basis—do not allow any pest to establish itself. Start spraying at the first sign of trouble.
Check under the leaves for whitefly, spidermite, rust, etc. Worms hide under leaves, nestle along stems or hide in the ground around the stem of the plant. Botrytis or gray mould grows on dead matter on top of the ground. Watch for dead leaves caught up amongst the branches of the plant itself. Sometimes botrytis will manifest itself there as well and you might lose your plant
.
Badly infested plants are often almost impossible to cure—rather get rid of them.
Old plants often have pests hiding among the old, flaky bark. Wear a pair of sturdy gloves and rub off the old bark. Better still, take cuttings and grow new plants
.
Sickly plants (crinkly leaves, die back, etc.)—in other words, plants that are not growing actively—are best destroyed. Dispose of them in the rubbish bin. Be sure not to put them in the compost heap.
Grow healthy plants. Feed regularly, keep them cool, not too hot, not too wet or dry.
Humidity is essential. Mist fuchsia plants in the morning, the workbench, the floor and walls as well. This will create a humid environment. (Red spidermite Hates humid conditions.) Do not mist in bright sunlight or during the heat of the day
.
Remove all dead matter—that is, dead leaves, flowers, seedpods, etc.—it is the ideal hiding place for all sorts of beasties. Remember sprays cannot reach all the hidden corners amongst the debris.
Plant hopping is a cinch for all beasties, so do not crowd your plants—space them well.
Create a plant hospital faaaaarrrr away from your fuchsia house. Keep all newly acquired plants as well as gifts of cuttings under quarantine for at least three weeks. Any hidden beasties will be evident by then and you will be able to start a regular spray programme.