What to Do When Forget-Me-Not Gets Bugs? 2 Pests and 3 Diseases and How to Control Them

When growing forget-me-nots, pest and disease problems easily arise if care is improper. Forget-me-not is a highly ornamental plant, and pest and disease problems have a considerable impact on it. Regarding what to do when forget-me-not gets bugs, how should pest and disease control for forget-me-nots be carried out? Below, the editor will walk you through it.

I. What to Do When Forget-Me-Not Gets Bugs / Chemical Control

Regarding the question of what to do when forget-me-not gets bugs, we first need to find the cause. Only by knowing the cause can we deal with it in a targeted way. The most direct method is to choose chemicals for control. Of course, different pests and diseases require different chemicals, which is described in detail below. Let's keep reading.

II. Pest and Disease Control for Forget-Me-Nots

1. Scale Insect Damage

In pest and disease control for forget-me-nots, scale insects are a relatively common pest. They mainly suck the sap from the plant, causing the leaves to lose nutrients and turn yellow, and in severe cases they can even cause the plant to wither and die.

Control method: When this pest appears, we can choose to use 40% omethoate 1000x solution to spray and kill the pests. Generally, spray once every 7-10 days, and after 2-3 times this pest can basically be completely eliminated.

2. Mole Cricket Damage

Mole crickets are a pest that harms many plants, and forget-me-not is one of them. They mainly harm the seedlings, gradually biting and eating the seedlings, causing stunted growth, and in severe cases even causing shrinkage and death.

Control method: When this pest appears, control must be carried out at the early stage. If too much time passes, it may be too late to save them. Generally, we can use 90% trichlorfon crystal 800x solution for root drenching.

3. Gray Mold Disease

Gray mold is a fungal disease, and its peak period generally occurs when the weather is relatively hot in summer, so special attention must be paid at this time. This disease mainly harms the leaves of forget-me-nots. When it occurs, water-soaked spots appear on the leaves, grayish-white in color, and over time it gradually rots the plant, ultimately leading to decay.

Control method: Gray mold is a relatively difficult disease to control. Generally, control is best carried out in the early stage of onset; if delayed too long, it cannot be cured. In early-stage control, we can use 50% iprodione or 20% pyrimethanil diluted with water to spray the plant.

4. Powdery Mildew Disease

This disease mainly harms the leaves of forget-me-nots. As its name suggests, when it occurs, white powder-like mold layers appear on the leaves and gradually spread, ultimately causing premature aging of the forget-me-not.

Control method: To control this disease, we can use 15% triadimefon 1000x solution, generally spraying the plant once every 3-6 days, and after 3-5 times this disease can be eliminated.

5. Viral Disease

This is a parasitic disease that mainly harms the leaves of forget-me-nots. After onset, the leaves gradually lose their green color, becoming mottled, and over time the leaves gradually wither.

Control method: When this disease is discovered, it must be dealt with immediately. We can use 32% ribavirin·bromine·moroxydine for control, generally spraying once every 7-10 days, and after 1-2 times this disease can basically be eliminated.

A Brief Discussion of Forget-Me-Not Propagation Methods and Pest and Disease Control Techniques

Forget-me-not, as its name suggests, gives a romantic visual impression. It not only has beautiful flowers but also a romantic flower meaning, and it is much loved by young women in daily life. Below are the propagation methods and pest and disease control techniques for forget-me-nots. Those who like them should save this quickly.

I. Propagation Methods

Forget-me-not propagation mainly uses two forms: seed sowing and tissue culture.

1. Seed Propagation

As long as the temperature is suitable, it can be done throughout the year. Since the optimal germination temperature for seeds is 15-20°C, when grown as an annual in cool summer regions, it can be sown in early spring; when grown as an annual in hot summer regions, it is mostly sown in autumn. Because its seeds have a shell and a low germination rate, they need to be rubbed before sowing to thresh them, which can increase the germination rate. When sowing, it is best to use a mix of 4 parts leaf mold soil, 4 parts garden soil, and 2 parts sandy soil, blended evenly. Because the seeds are photophobic, after broadcasting, cover with soil, with the coverage ideally just enough that the seeds cannot be seen. Under the optimal temperature of 15-20°C and with sufficient moisture maintained, they can germinate after 10-15 days. After sprouting and emerging, attention must be paid to ventilation. When the seedlings grow more than 5 true leaves, they can be planted out.

2. Tissue Culture

The explants used for forget-me-not tissue culture include young inflorescences, sterile young shoots, and so on. The medium for shoot induction can use MS+2.0 mg/L BA+0.2 mg/L NAA, and the rooting medium is 1/2 MS+0.5 mg/L NAA. The suitable substrate for transplanting test-tube plantlets is peat soil:perlite = 1:1. When the test-tube plantlets have 4-6 leaves, they should be planted out.

II. Cultivation Techniques

1. Cultivation Substrate

Forget-me-not has low soil requirements, and loose, breathable sandy loam is best for cultivation. Base fertilizer accounts for 70% of the total fertilizer amount. Base fertilizer is generally compound fertilizer and decomposed organic fertilizer. When cultivating, level the soil and make beds, with a bed height of about 20 cm. Seedlings should not be planted too deep; the planting depth should be level with the root crown and the soil surface, and water thoroughly immediately after planting.

2. Fertilizer and Water Management

When the seedlings survive and begin to grow, apply topdressing every 10 days along with irrigation, supplementing the water with a mixed solution of 200 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer and 100 mg/L potassium fertilizer. During the seedling stage, the soil needs to remain moist, and frequent cultivating and weeding are needed to promote robust root development. About 2 months after planting out, the seedlings begin to send up flower stems. When entering the flowering period, water and fertilizer must be sufficient, otherwise the flower stems will be short and small and the flowers will not be luxuriant. You can supplement the irrigation water with 200 mg/L nitrogen-potassium mixed solution, fertilizing about once every 10 days. This can improve the yield and quality of forget-me-not cut flowers.

3. Temperature Management 

Forget-me-not prefers a cool environment and fears high temperatures. The best temperature during cultivation is 12-20°C.

4. Light Regulation 

Forget-me-not likes to grow under sunlight. If the environment is shaded, it will produce fewer flower stems. Therefore, ensuring full sun will lead to better growth. When light is insufficient, supplemental lighting is needed.

5. Flower Stem Support, Shaping, and Pruning

To produce high-quality forget-me-not cut flowers, flower stems are usually fixed with netting. The specific method is to set up a layer of netting 20-30 cm above the ground before the plant bolts, and after the plant grows flower stems, put up a second layer of netting at a height of 45 cm above the ground. As the flower stems grow, promptly guide and support the flower stems into the grid to keep the flower stems upright.

During the growth period of forget-me-nots, the flower stems produced should be handled differently according to the size of the seedlings. For plants that have already grown relatively large and whose leaves between plants have basically closed the rows, keep 4-5 flower stems per plant to grow and bloom; for smaller seedlings, the flowering stems can be removed to suppress flowering for the time being, allowing the plants to grow fully and laying the foundation for producing high-quality cut flowers, and only after the plants have fully grown should they be allowed to enter the flowering production period. During this period, newly produced thin and weak flower stems should also be regularly removed to concentrate nutrients for the flowering stems and improve ventilation and light conditions inside the plant, reducing the number of blind flowers in the middle and lower parts of the plant and improving the quality of individual flower stems. After the cut flower amount exceeds 50%, begin cultivating the flowering stems for the next crop. The method is to retain a small number of newly produced flower stems during this period. After the previous crop has been completely cut, the retained flower stems have already grown to a certain height, thereby effectively shortening the time between the two crops and enabling forget-me-nots to bloom continuously and supply the market.

6. Pest and Disease Control

Forget-me-not diseases include gray mold, powdery mildew, viral disease, and so on. Gray mold can be controlled by continuously spraying 800-1000x chlorothalonil or thiophanate-methyl 3-4 times. Powdery mildew can be controlled by spraying triadimefon and similar products, and viral disease is mainly controlled by measures such as promptly removing and burning diseased plants and spraying insecticides to prevent insect transmission of the disease.

Scale insects are the most common pest of Monstera deliciosa. When there are only a few, they can be cleaned off with an old toothbrush and then sprayed with 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1000x solution.

7. Cutting and Marketing

When the petals on each small flower branch have opened to 30% and the entire inflorescence has colored up, they can be harvested. When harvesting flowers in the morning or evening, cut from the base of the plant; especially in the early harvest period, cut above one large leaf on the flower stem, which can promote the sprouting of axillary buds on the plant. After cutting, immerse the base of the flower stems in preservative solution so that the flower stems remain adequately hydrated for market. Forget-me-not cut flowers can be stored for 2-3 weeks at about 2°C.

Forget-me-not is a common cut flower on the flower market and sells very well. It can be grown on a large scale and also grown in pots. Those who like flowers and plants can try cultivating it themselves.

Forget-Me-Not Pest and Disease Control

Forget-Me-Not Root Rot

Symptoms

In fact, many flower lovers grow flowers to appreciate the aboveground parts. As for what the underground roots and stems look like, it seems to have nothing to do with you, but root growth is closely related to the flowers, stems, and leaves aboveground. Once a forget-me-not is infected with root rot, the roots gradually turn black and rot, their absorptive capacity decreases, they cannot take in nutrients, and even less can they transport nutrients to the stems and leaves, causing the plant to gradually wilt and turn yellow.

Control Methods

If root rot is not severe, take the plant out of the pot, cut off the rotted parts, then soak it in potassium permanganate solution and replant it. Then spray with 60% phosethyl-Al wettable powder 500x solution.

Forget-Me-Not Brown Spot

Symptoms

The common forget-me-not leaves are not obvious; they look small and inconspicuous, but the leaves are indispensable. Forget-me-not brown spot mainly harms the leaves, causing brown spots to appear on the leaves, which turn yellow and fall off, affecting ornamental value. In severe cases it harms the stems, causing spots to appear on the stems and even rot.

Control Methods

Strengthen care, avoid overwatering, improve ventilation, and reduce humidity.

Promptly remove diseased leaves when found to avoid further infection.

In the early stage of onset, spray with 65% zineb wettable powder 600-800x solution or 50% carbendazim wettable powder 600-800x solution.

Forget-Me-Not Pest Control

The pests of forget-me-nots mainly gather belowground. Common ones include cutworms, mole crickets, and white grubs, but in the home the most serious damage is from mites. In addition to directly sucking plant sap and causing damage, more importantly they transmit viral diseases. Therefore, early detection and early treatment are necessary, and fungicide agents should be used promptly for drenching to avoid the occurrence of viral diseases.