How to use insecticides to control pests and diseases in household potted flowers in winter

In the north, many flowers spend the winter indoors. Because indoor temperatures are relatively high, some pests with piercing-sucking mouthparts still grow and reproduce, spreading and causing damage. In addition, some potting soil may also breed pests, so here are several simple and easy manual control methods.

(1) Controlling aphids. Aphids generally attach to tender branches, leaves or flower buds and can be eliminated by washing with water. To prevent flower buds from falling off, the water flow should be gentle when rinsing buds, and when rinsing leaves, hold the leaves with your hand. Rinsing several times over the winter can not only control aphids but also make the flowers fresher and more colorful.

(2) Controlling whiteflies. Whitefly larvae are not afraid of water and can be gently wiped away with a cloth. Adult whiteflies can fly, and the stronger the light, the more active they are, so observe carefully in the early morning or evening and eliminate them promptly.

(3) Controlling scale insects. Scale insects survive by attaching themselves to the plant, so removing them from the plant can achieve control. You can use a bamboo needle, matchstick or similar object to gently pry the scale insects off the plant. You can also use a cloth or soft brush to gently wipe the scale insects off the branches and leaves. Note that during pest control, be very careful to avoid damaging the plant, especially the leaves.

(4) Controlling red spider mites. Flowers affected by this type of pest generally show grayish-yellow spots on the leaves, which are difficult to see with the naked eye, so when observing normally, it is best to use a magnifying glass. If diseased leaves are found, remove them immediately and burn them in a centralized manner.

(5) Controlling flies in potting soil. Although flies in the soil do little harm to the plant, they are still very annoying, so diluted pesticide solution can be used to kill the eggs. When using different chemicals, pay attention to the mixing ratio.

Winter pests and diseases of flowers

Flower pests and diseases can generally be divided into two major categories: diseases and insect pests. Diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses, as well as by imbalances in temperature, humidity and nutrition, and manifest as a series of physiological and morphological pathological changes. Insect pests refer to the damage caused by insects, mites and nematodes chewing or sucking the tissues of the roots, stems, leaves and flowers of flowers.

There are generally fewer pests and diseases in winter, but some may still appear in rooms with heating or higher temperatures, which affects both the healthy growth of flowers and their ornamental value, so attention must be paid to the prevention and control of pests and diseases. In ordinary households, prevention is mainly the priority, for example maintaining suitable temperature and humidity, good indoor ventilation, appropriate soil moisture, disinfecting the soil when sowing, and selecting robust seeds or introduced seedlings that do not carry pests or diseases. These are all effective measures to prevent pests and diseases.

Common diseases include powdery mildew, anthracnose, root rot, rust, root knot disease, leaf spot, brown spot and chlorosis. Diseases can occur throughout the entire growing period of flowers, but they are most common in the high-temperature, rainy season from June to August, and a small number of pests and diseases can also occur in winter.

Powdery mildew: Powdery mildew is one of the most common flower diseases. Flowers such as cineraria, Chinese rose, Rosa xanthina, dahlia and chrysanthemum are highly susceptible to this disease. In the early stage, small white spots appear on the leaves, which later become white powdery patches. The leaf surface looks as if covered with a layer of white powder, then turns gray. Control methods: 1. Observe frequently and promptly remove and burn diseased leaves to prevent spread. 2. Before bringing flowers indoors for cultivation, inspect them strictly and do not move diseased plants indoors to avoid transmission. 3. Pay attention to indoor ventilation, regulate temperature and humidity, increase light, and enhance the plant's disease resistance so that the plant grows robustly. 4. To prevent the disease or in the early stage, spray with 1 g of 50% thiophanate-methyl or 50% carbendazim added to 0.6 kg of water.

Rust: It is severe in regions with warm weather year-round, often beginning in spring and spreading extensively in early summer. Lesions form on tender stems and leaf veins, resembling rust powder. In mild cases, the branches and leaves lose green color and turn yellow; in severe cases, all leaves of the whole plant wither and die, and flower buds shrivel and fade. This disease mostly harms flowers such as Chinese rose, rose, and chrysanthemum, and its branches, leaves and buds can all be affected. Control methods: 1. When rust-affected branches and leaves are found in early spring or late autumn, prune them promptly and burn them in a centralized manner. 2. Fertilize reasonably, control the application of nitrogen fertilizer, and the overwintering temperature for potted Chinese rose should not be too high. 3. Once the disease appears, spray with 1 g of 40% triadimefon added to 2 kg of water.

What pests and diseases affect household flowers? Summary of common household flower pest and disease types and control measures

Household flower cultivation 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 temperament and also purify the air. However, disease attacks may also be encountered during cultivation. Below, the editor will tell everyone about the common types of household flower diseases and control methods for reference.

I. Main flower pests and control methods

1. Scale insects

Common ones include red wax scale, horned wax scale, chaff scale, rose white scale, and wide mealy scale. They harm many woody flowers such as rhododendron and Chinese rose. Nymphs mostly gather on tender branches and the backs of leaves to pierce and suck sap, causing malformed new shoots and early leaf drop, while also inducing sooty mold.

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

2. Aphids

Common aphids include green peach aphid, cotton aphid, chrysanthemum aphid and rose aphid. Females and nymphs gather on tender shoot tips and the backs of leaves to suck sap and cause damage. Affected leaves shrivel, and sooty mold is also induced.

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

3. Spider mites

Common ones include red spider mite, bulb mite and two-spotted spider mite. They harm many flowers. Affected leaves lose green color, develop spots, curl and shrivel; in severe cases the leaves scorch and drop.

Control methods:

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

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

(3) If the situation is severe, 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 rinsed with clean water. If conditions allow, replace the soil to prevent eggs from being overlooked.

4. Whiteflies

Common ones include greenhouse whitefly and citrus whitefly. Adults and larvae gather on the backs of leaves and suck sap. When Damage is severe, leaves fade and dry up, while sooty mold is also induced.

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

II. Root pests

1. Cutworms

They mainly harm seedlings of many herbaceous flowers such as chrysanthemum and carnation. ⟦37 Control methods: Poison bait trapping. Mix 90% trichlorfon and wheat bran or soybean cake powder thoroughly at a ratio of 1:50, and scatter it around the root zone of seedlings in the evening to kill the larvae.

Control methods: poison bait trapping and killing; mix 90% trichlorfon with wheat or soybean cake powder at a ratio of 1:50, stir evenly, and scatter it around the base of the 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 affected plants or apply it for control.

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 rose, causing holes or eating the leaf mesophyll completely so that only veins remain.

Control methods: 1000 times diluted 90% crystal, or 3000 times diluted pyrethroid pesticide.

2. Noctuid moths

Common ones include tobacco cutworm and silver-marked noctuid. They mainly harm many flowers such as Chinese rose, lily, cyclamen, chrysanthemum and carnation. Newly hatched larvae gather on the backs of leaves and feed on mesophyll; after the 3rd instar they feed on tender leaves, creating holes.

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

IV. Main flower diseases and control methods

1. Powdery mildew

Also called powdery mold disease. It harms Chinese rose, rose, large-leaf boxwood, kumquat, etc. It often infects flower leaves, stems and flower stalks. 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 with sulfur three-week treatment or chemicals such as thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, and chlorothalonil (75% wettable powder).

2. Southern blight

It harms Chinese rose, jasmine, clivia, small pomegranate, Aucuba japonica, orchid, chrysanthemum, etc. When the disease occurs, the base turns brown and rots, and in severe cases later turns yellow to brown and resembles rapeseed.

Control methods: Disinfect potting soil before use, keep the growing environment ventilated, and promptly prune diseased branches.

3. Rust

It occurs from July to August and often harms the leaves of grape, woody crabapple, goji berry, chrysanthemum, etc. The surface of affected leaves initially shows yellow-green spots, and dense orange-yellow powder forms on the backs of the leaves. Afterward, dark brown polygonal small spots appear around the lesions. The lesions mostly appear near the leaf veins and at the leaf margins, starting from the lower leaves and gradually spreading to the upper leaves.

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

4. Damping-off

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

Control methods: Sprinkle plant ash on the surface layer of the potting soil for prevention, or drench with 1500 times diluted amobam once every 7-10 days to control spread.

5. Leaf spot

Also called black spot, brown spot, etc. It causes more damage to Chinese rose, camellia, rhododendron, rose, chrysanthemum, etc. When it occurs, black spots appear in the middle of the leaves, and then the leaves turn yellow and drop. This disease is mostly caused by a muggy and humid environment.

Control methods: Pay attention to improving environmental conditions. In the early stage, remove affected leaves and burn them. Spray 8000 times diluted solution every 7-10 days, 2-3 times.

6. Anthracnose

It commonly harms flowers such as Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium sinense and clivia. In the early stage, round or semicircular reddish-brown spots appear on the leaves, later turning dark brown, sometimes with a yellow halo at the edges; in the later stage the lesions become gray-white.

Control methods: Do not pour water directly over the top when watering, do not place potted flowers too densely, and choose a location with good light and ventilation. After disease is found, promptly prune diseased leaves. For chemical control, carbendazim wettable powder diluted solution can be used.

7. Sooty mold

This disease is most likely to occur in a muggy, poorly ventilated or smoke-filled environment. At first, dark brown sooty smudges appear on the leaf surface of diseased plants, then expand. It mostly harms perennial evergreen woody flowers such as southern magnolia, camellia, sasanqua and Chinese ivy, and can also infect chrysanthemum, Chinese rose, etc., producing black sooty mold layers.

Control methods: When only a small amount is present at first, wipe off the sooty smudges with water or alcohol, or prune diseased leaves. In severe cases, spray carbendazim or Bordeaux mixture.

8. Brown spot

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

Control methods: Spray 500 times diluted 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 and yellow-brown, with white mold layers on the undersides of the spots.

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

10. Mosaic disease

Main symptoms: In the early stage, small glossy chlorotic linear spots appear on the leaves; in the later stage the lesions expand, causing the leaves to dry up, poor plant growth, and no flowers or small flowers that turn green.

Control methods: Because it is caused by virus infection, promptly pull out diseased plants and destroy them, 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 causes weakened and stunted plant growth.

Control methods: Improve the soil to prevent salinity and alkalinity, keep the soil slightly acidic, and spray already chlorotic plants with 0.5% ferrous sulfate or iron chelate 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 diluted 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.

13. Root knot disease

Main symptoms: Tumor-like growths form at the site where the seed bulb forms, and affected plants grow poorly.

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

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