A Summary of Common Household Flower Pests and Diseases and Their Control Measures

Growing household flowers is currently a way for people to cultivate their character. It is understood that the vast majority of people in our country grow greenery and seedlings at home, because it can cultivate sentiment and also purify the air, but during the growing process, they also encounter attacks from diseases. Below, the editor will tell everyone about the common types of household flower diseases and their control methods, for everyone's reference.

I. Main Flower Pests and Their Control Methods

1. Scale Insects

Common ones include red wax scale, horned wax scale, chaff scale, rose white scale, and wide fern scale. They harm many woody flowers such as azaleas and Chinese roses. The nymphs mostly gather on tender branches and the undersides of leaves, piercing and sucking sap, causing new shoots to become deformed and leaves to fall early, while also inducing sooty mold.

Control methods: Cut off infested branches and burn them, and protect natural enemies. Spray 10-15 times rosin mixture once in winter. Spray 3-5 degrees Baume lime sulfur mixture once in early spring. During the growing season, spray 500 times 90% crystal solution or 1000-1500 times 50% malathion emulsion 2-3 times every 7-10 days.

2. Aphids

Common aphids include green peach aphid, cotton aphid, chrysanthemum small long-tube aphid, and rose aphid. Females and nymphs gather on tender shoots and the undersides of leaves to suck sap and cause damage. The damaged leaves shrink, and they also induce sooty mold.

Control methods: Protect natural enemies (ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, etc.), use large-ratio control. Or use yellow sticky traps to lure and kill them.

3. Spider Mites

Common ones include red spider mite, bulb mealy mite, and two-spotted spider mite. They harm many kinds of flowers. The damaged leaves lose their green color, develop spots, curl and shrink, and in severe cases the leaves scorch and fall.

Control methods:

(1) Natural enemies. There are many kinds of natural enemies of pests, and during the planting process natural enemies can be used for control. The main natural enemies include Stethorus punctillum, Stethorus siphonulus, Harmonia axyridis, large and small lacewings, minute pirate bugs, phytoseiid mites, etc. They play a positive role in controlling pest population numbers.

(2) Chemical control. Use 1000 times fenbutatin oxide + pyridaben emulsifiable concentrate (such as Guoguang Hongsha) or 10% fenbutatin oxide + pyridaben emulsifiable concentrate (such as Guoguang Hongsha) 1000 times + 5.7% emamectin benzoate emulsifiable concentrate (such as Guoguang Leke) 3000 times, mix and spray for control. It is recommended to use it twice in a row with an interval of 7-10 days.

(3) If the situation is serious, Guoguang Hongsha can be used (recommended and effective). According to different pest conditions, dilute with water and spray to kill. Observe every half month. If there are still many red spider mites, continue.

(4) If there are few red spider mites, they can be pinched to death with tweezers, and the leaves can be rinsed with clean water. If conditions permit, the soil can be replaced to prevent eggs from being overlooked.

4. Whiteflies

Common ones include greenhouse whitefly and citrus whitefly. Adults and larvae gather on the undersides of leaves, sucking sap. When the damage is severe, the leaves fade and dry up, while also inducing sooty mold.

Control methods: Use yellow sticky boards to lure and kill them, and spray 2.5% deltamethrin or 2000 times 20% fenvalerate.

II. Root Pests

1. Cutworms

They mainly harm the seedlings of many herbaceous flowers such as chrysanthemums and carnations.

Control methods: Use poisonous bait to lure and kill them. Mix 90% trichlorfon with wheat bran or soybean cake powder at a ratio of 1:50 evenly, and scatter it around the roots of seedlings in the evening to kill the larvae.

2. Snails

They mainly harm many greenhouse flowers such as cyclamen and cineraria.

Control methods: Sprinkle a thin layer of carbaryl powder on the bottom of the pot of the affected plant or apply treatment.

III. Moths

1. Slug Moths

Common ones include yellow slug moth, flat slug moth, and mulberry brown slug moth. They mainly feed on the leaves of many woody flowers such as wintersweet and Chinese roses, causing holes or eating the leaf mesophyll until only the veins remain.

Control methods: 1000 times 90% crystal solution, or 3000 times pyrethroid pesticides.

2. Noctuid Moths

Common ones include tobacco cutworm and silver-marked noctuid. They mainly harm many flowers such as Chinese roses, lilies, cyclamen, chrysanthemums, and carnations. Newly hatched larvae gather on the undersides of leaves and feed on leaf mesophyll; after the third instar they feed on tender leaves and make holes.

Control methods: Use black light traps to lure and kill adults, protect natural enemies (Trichogramma, spiders), and spray Haizheng times solution.

IV. Main Flower Diseases and Their Control Methods

1. Powdery Mildew

Also called mildew. It harms Chinese roses, roses, large-leaf euonymus, kumquat, and has also been found on others. It often infects the leaves, stems, and flower stalks of flowers. When it occurs, a layer of white powder appears on the surface of the affected area, and in severe cases the leaves wither. It often occurs in muggy, humid, and poorly ventilated places.

Control methods: Spray Sanzhou or thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, chlorothalonil (75% wettable powder), and other chemicals.

2. Southern Blight

It harms Chinese roses, jasmine, clivia, small pomegranate, aucuba, orchids, chrysanthemums, etc. When the disease occurs, the base turns brown and rots, and in severe cases later turns yellow to brown like rapeseed.

Control methods: Disinfect the potting soil before use, the planting environment needs ventilation, and diseased branches should be pruned in time.

3. Rust Disease

It occurs from July to August and often harms the leaves of grapes, woody crabapple, goji berry, chrysanthemums, etc. The surface of the affected leaves initially shows yellow-green spots, and the undersides of the leaves are densely covered with orange-yellow powder. After that, black-brown polygonal small spots appear around the diseased spots. The spots mostly appear near the leaf veins and at the leaf margins. The disease starts from the lower leaves first and gradually spreads to the upper leaves.

Control methods: In late autumn, clean up fallen leaves and burn them. Spray 4-5 times throughout the year, and the effect of spraying in July-August is the most noticeable.

4. Damping-off

Also called seedling blight. It occurs in high-temperature and humid environments. Flowers initially show a scalded appearance at the root crown, water-soaked rot, yellow-brown, and later the affected part softens and the plant falls over and dies. The pathogen comes from fungi in the soil and spreads very quickly.

Control methods: Wood ash can be scattered on the surface of the potting soil for prevention. It can also be irrigated with 1500 times amobam solution once every 7-10 days to control its spread.

5. Leaf Spot Disease

Also called black spot, brown spot, etc. It does more harm to Chinese roses, camellias, azaleas, roses, chrysanthemums, etc. When the disease occurs, black spots appear in the middle of the leaves, and then the leaves turn yellow and fall off. This disease is mostly caused by a muggy and humid environment.

Control methods: Pay attention to improving environmental conditions. At the early stage of the disease, the affected leaves can be removed and burned. Spray 8000 times solution every 7-10 days for 2-3 times.

6. Anthracnose

It commonly harms flowers such as Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium sinense, and clivia. At the early stage of the disease, round or semicircular reddish-brown spots appear on the leaves, then turn black-brown, and the edges sometimes show a yellow halo; in the later stage the lesions become gray-white.

Control methods: Do not pour water directly on the top when watering, do not place potted flowers too densely, and the placement location should have light and ventilation. After disease is found, diseased leaves should be pruned in time. For chemical control, carbendazim wettable powder times solution can be used.

7. Sooty Mold

This disease is most likely to occur in muggy, poorly ventilated, or smoke-filled environments. At the beginning, dark brown sooty smudges appear on the leaf surface of diseased plants, and then spread. It mostly harms perennial evergreen woody flowers such as southern magnolia, camellias, sasanqua, and Chinese ivy, and can also infect chrysanthemums, Chinese roses, etc., producing a black sooty mold layer.

Control methods: If there is only a small amount at the beginning, it can be wiped off with water or alcohol, or diseased leaves can be cut off. In severe cases, spray carbendazim or Bordeaux mixture.

8. Brown Spot Disease

Main symptoms: In the early stage, pale yellow purplish-brown lesions appear on the leaves. In the later stage, the lesions expand and turn black. In severe cases, the whole leaf becomes black and dies.

Control methods: Spray 500 times 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder.

9. Downy Mildew

Main symptoms: In the early stage, irregular chlorotic spots appear on the leaf surface. In the later stage, the lesions expand, are polygonal, yellow-brown, and white mold grows on the underside of the spots.

Control methods: 300 times metalaxyl wettable powder or 800 times 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder.

10. Mosaic Disease

Main symptoms: In the early stage, small bright chlorotic linear spots appear on the leaves. In the later stage, the lesions expand, causing the leaves to dry up, the plant to grow poorly, and no flowers or small green flowers.

Control methods: Because it is caused by virus infection, promptly pull out and destroy diseased plants, and regularly spray to prevent aphids and reduce disease transmission.

11. Chlorosis

Main symptoms: The leaf mesophyll at the top of the plant generally turns yellow, while the veins remain green. In severe cases, it leads to weakened and stunted plant growth.

Control methods: Improve the soil to prevent salinity and alkalinity, keep the soil slightly acidic, and spray 0.5% ferrous sulfate or iron chelate on plants that have already turned yellow for control.

12. Sclerotinia Rot

Main symptoms: In the early stage, it first invades the leaf sheath, producing light brown lesions. In the later stage, it invades the stem and bulb, causing rot and the appearance of black particles.

Control methods: Spray 1500 times 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.

13. Root Nodule Disease

Main symptoms: Nodular growths form at the site where seed bulbs form, and affected plants grow poorly.

Control methods: Remove diseased plants, and disinfect the affected area with quicklime.

Diseases in household flower cultivation are common occurrences. The above are detailed disease types and control methods. Everyone should quickly learn about them so they can do prevention as early as possible and reduce the probability of disease occurrence.

What are the common pests in household flower cultivation? Common flower pest control methods

  The common pests in household flower cultivation include aphids, fungus gnats, and whiteflies. They not only have an adverse effect on flower appreciation, but also seriously threaten the healthy growth of flowers. There are mainly two methods for flower pest control. One is direct killing, mainly for larger pests in small numbers. The other is chemical killing, mainly for pests with chewing mouthparts, such as scarabs and larvae of Lepidoptera.

  I. Aphids

  Damage characteristics: Aphids are small green-yellow insects that often gather densely on new shoots or flower buds of Chinese roses, pomegranates, chrysanthemums, etc., using their mouthparts to suck sap, thereby causing tender leaves to curl and shrink. In severe cases, it affects growth and flowering, causing plant leaves to curl and wither, and produces galls and spreads viral diseases.

  Control methods: Apply tobacco water (50 times solution) or soapy water continuously to the leaves several times; spray with 25% derris extract 800-1000 times, 40% omethoate 2000 times, 3% natural pyrethrin 1000 times, and deltamethrin 2000-3000 times, etc.

  II. Red Spider Mites

  Damage characteristics: They mainly harm azaleas, Chinese roses, scarlet sage, crabapple, cactus, Chinese juniper, etc. They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to suck sap and damage plants, causing yellow-white small spots on plant leaves, and even leaf scorching or falling.

  Control methods: Remove weeds in pots and eliminate overwintering eggs; improve ventilation conditions and lower temperature; for chemical control, acaricides can be used, such as diafenthiuron, abamectin, pyridaben, fenpropathrin, amitraz, dicofol, or 100 times omethoate, sprayed alternately on leaf surfaces at the early stage of red spider mite occurrence.

  III. Fungus Gnats

  Flowers harmed: Commonly seen in potted flower cultivation or herbaceous flower seedling production, such as poinsettia, cyclamen, and pansy.

  Control methods: Use chemicals such as Huifu, Huijian, and abamectin, and control fungus gnat larvae by drenching the roots.

  IV. Thrips

  They mainly harm many flowers such as anthurium, cyclamen, roses, carnations, and lisianthus. Thrips often rasp and suck sap on the undersides of tender leaves and in flower organs, causing the damaged leaves to curl, turn yellow, become brittle, and fall off.

  Control methods: Physical, chemical, and biological methods can be used for integrated control; chemical control uses Huijian, lufenuron, Huijian + Kungfu, abamectin, spinosad, and other chemicals for spray control.

  V. Scale Insects

  Damage characteristics: The main types of scale insects include mealybugs, red wax scale, and cottony cushion scale. They mainly gather and parasitize on the young tender stems and leaves of plants, inserting piercing-sucking mouthparts into plant tissues to suck sap. They are one of the common pests of indoor foliage plants.

  Control methods: Manual control: brush off the insects with a brush and then rinse clean with water; chemical control: carry out during the peak hatching period of nymphs before the waxy scale shell has formed on the insect body, and select 1000 times isocarbophos, 1500-2000 times 20% fenvalerate, 800-1000 times 40% omethoate, etc. for spray control.

  VI. Whiteflies

  Damage characteristics: Whiteflies are widely distributed and harm many kinds of flowers. Whiteflies are small and white. The mouthparts of adults and larvae insert from the undersides of leaves to suck sap, causing leaves to become withered and yellow, and at the same time they excrete honeydew on the leaves and cause sooty mold.

  Control methods: Use 2.5% deltamethrin, 1500-2000 times 20% fenvalerate, and their pyrethroid pesticides to spray and control nymphs, adults, and eggs. Spray once every 7 days, and 3-4 consecutive sprays are enough.

  VII. Nematodes and Underground Pests Such as White Grubs

  Damage characteristics: They mainly bite and feed on plant roots and tender stems underground, causing roots and stems to rot and plants to die.

  Control methods: Use steam or chemicals to disinfect the soil; mix food with trichlorfon to lure and kill them; drench plants with 1000 times 90% trichlorfon; manual capture.

  VIII. Snails

  Damage characteristics: Snails mainly harm plant leaves, tender stems, and roots, causing incomplete branches and leaves, affecting plant growth and ornamental value, and in severe cases causing plant death.

  Control methods: Scatter food mixed with trichlorfon in places where snails often move to lure and kill them; spray the area around plants with 1500-2000 times trichlorfon or deltamethrin; scatter 8% metaldehyde granules around the roots and soil to kill snails.

Spring Household Flower Pest and Disease Control: Common Spring Flower Pests and Diseases

There are many flower pests and diseases in spring, and damage is more serious in April and May. Common spring flower pests and diseases include powdery mildew, rust disease, and black spot disease. Below, we share spring household flower pest and disease control. In order to grow your flowers well, take a look.

General methods for spring household flower pest and disease control:

1. Maintain the environmental hygiene of the flower cultivation area, which can reduce damage.

2. Protect plants. Do not break the skin or cause injury, and be careful to prevent pathogen invasion.

3. Pre-disinfect cultivation, which can kill pathogens and pests.

4. Strengthen daily management, keep water and fertilizer appropriate, air circulation good, temperature suitable, and light moderate, so that plants grow robustly and the breeding and spread of pests and diseases are controlled.

Spring Household Flower Pest and Disease Control

The following introduces the specific control of related pests:

I. Aphids

Aphids (greasy insects) - Hibiscus, ornamental peach, hibiscus, Chinese roses, honeysuckle, etc. are all easily harmed by aphids. As the temperature rises, aphids also increase day by day, and must be controlled.

Control methods: 1. Mix 40% omethoate or 50% phosmet with water at 1200-1500 times and spray.

2. For a small number of potted flowers, 70-100 times neutral laundry detergent solution can also be sprayed.

II. Red Spider Mites

Red spider mites on jasmine, hibiscus, asparagus fern, Chinese roses, dahlias, etc. begin to cause damage from early April.

Control methods: For a small number of potted flowers, often rinse the front and back of leaves with tap water, or spray or dip with boiled and cooled 100-150 times flour paste water, then rinse once with clean water after one or two days, which can achieve obvious results.

III. Scale Insects

Scale insects (flower lice) on white magnolia, Chinese roses, boxwood, and pittosporum mostly begin to hatch from mid-April to mid-to-late May.

Control methods: 1. Before they hatch, gently brush off the insects by hand.

2. Check frequently, and during the larval hatching period spray with a 1000-1500 times dilution of 40% omethoate.

IV. Damping-off

Damping-off: When the temperature reaches 20°C, newly sown flowers, tree seedlings and some flowers prone to root rot are highly susceptible to damping-off when soil moisture is high.

Control methods: 1. Before sowing, apply 1.5-4 kg of 70% quintozene per mu and mix it evenly into the soil.

2. Control watering during the tender seedling stage, and do not let the soil become too wet.

3. When diseased seedlings are first found, drench with 1% ferrous sulfate or a 200-400 times dilution of 50% amobam solution, applying 2-4 kg of the solution per sq m.

V. Rust disease

Rust disease: Crabapple rust disease easily infects flowers and trees in large numbers after rain in April and May, while rose rust disease infects when rose buds are about to open.

Control methods: 1. When roses sprout, promptly pick off and burn the yellow diseased buds that sprout first, eliminating the source of infection.

2. During the initial infection period, spray with a 700-1000 times dilution of 15% triadimefon.

VI. Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew: Chinese rose powdery mildew, garden balsam powdery mildew and smoke tree powdery mildew mostly occur in May and June, and in summer easily cause symptoms such as yellow leaves, withered leaves and curved tender shoots.

Control methods: 1. Pay attention to ventilation and light transmission for the flowers.

2. Apply less nitrogen fertilizer and more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.

3. Spray once with a 700-1000 times dilution of 15% triadimefon at the initial infection stage.