Puffing the buds, oh and where are the Aphids?

[ian]

It's coming to the exciting time shortly of bud selection, I do not know about you guys but there has been very few Aphids present (A good spraying programme should see to them anyway I know) Now I have heard talk about Thrip (and boy can it make a mess) if you are mindful of it then you can spray for it, Decis being a good one if you can get hold of it. Partially open blooms can also be sprayed.

Now what I do as a belt and braces job is to puff a little deris powder behind each of the larger blooms buds (whites and yellows in the main as these show signs of thrip more if you are unlucky) I know Deris is off the market but there are others you can use. (Ooooo just as I type this I can here the rain on the conservatory roof excellent).
Dare I say it if you are struggling to get hold of a powdered insecticide, ant powder has the same active ingredient so that could be used at a pinch. It does work puffing the buds.

[steve2t]

No aphids here either, but plenty of green capsid bugs though
Its earwig and wasp season here, seen wasps starting to go into the dahlias about two weeks ago.
On the capsid front,it looks like the systemic abilities of 2 (available to the public) insecticides are over rated!!!!!

[ian]

Keep on top of the capsid bug as these can cause many malfomities in the leaves and blooms, when spraying for them it is better to also to spray around the plants as the capsid does tend to jump ship. There are buds all over the place now hope you are well Steve, good luck and good fortune

[steve2t]

Oh, and another thing I have not seen, is the dreaded 2 spot spider mite! And me geared up to deal with em this year Or it could be just my eyesight

[ian]

Well if you think it is your eyesight then feel the lower leaves under the leaf may feel a little like sand paper a sure sigh of the mite or you could always wait until it is too late and show the blooms with them crawling all over the blooms like some do, as a judge I would down point them for the insect or may even ask for the removal of the exhibit from the bench Oooooooo contrivertial.

[ian]

Oh and go to Specsavers Hehe

[steve2t]

I've seen them on flowers at a prominent show. I was dumb struck. I hope no one took the flowers home.
I know its the bloom that's being judged, but, you would not take a dog into a ring at Crufts with fleas pinging off it would you!

[robh]

i have spider mite what is the best way to control it my plants have lost there colour on the leaves and look a bit disheveled yet the blooms are perfect but have saw some spider mite

[steve2t]

garden-friends.co.uk/thread/3067/red-spider-mites