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| I have a shasta daisy plant grown from seed last year that is blooming for the first time this year. It just started flowering and I noticed the blooms look sick and upon closer inspection can see tiny little bugs on it. I think they might be Spider mites. I want to stay organic and read about dish soap spray to treat the problem. My question is what is the proper mix of dish soap to water and what kind of soap should I use? How often should I spray? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Aphids probably. Spider mites are almost invisible. Shasta flowers are fairly ephemeral so it hardly seems worth spraying for aphids. A blast from the hose using plain water might be all that's needed. The flowers are a bit curly but is that possibly because the seed came from a curly petalled plant and that characteristic is natural to it? |
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| Having had my Shasta daisies devastated by aphids I sympathize with you. I've kept records because these flowers are a big part of my late June/July garden. The curled leaves are a sign of aphids. One year I sprayed thiodan twice, two weeks apart and then hosed with water - each blossom, a long process. Last year one spraying did it, and this year so far I've just used water. For a big infestation water alone will not do it. |
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- Posted by AiliDeSpain 6a - Utah (My Page) on Wed, Jun 4, 14 at 14:20
| Wgat organic method of control can I use? Would garlic spray work? Dish soap and water? |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 4, 14 at 18:59
| Plain old WATER, as floral has already said. Always the first line of defense for aphids and a cheap and easy control. FWIW, Shasta daisies are NOT big aphid attractors so chances are other conditions are present that encourage these critters. Typically that is too fertile a soil or too much supplemental fertilizer that encourages the excessively lush new growth aphids prefer. After 30 years in the professional end of gardening, I've yet to see any plant that was killed by aphids. They are omnipresent, temporary and most often, just cosmetic in their damage. Unless it is an edible, it is far better to just ignore them, hose them off or change the cultural conditions that encourage them than it is to spray toxins that may very well be killing as many beneficial insects as pests. |
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- Posted by AiliDeSpain 6a - Utah (My Page) on Wed, Jun 4, 14 at 20:47
| Thanks for the tips. I discovered today I have a secondary problem, earwigs. ..yay. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian MI z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 7:49
| Shasta flowers are fairly ephemeral ==>>> flora means... that the flowers last barely a day or two ... you must deadhead them ... if you want bloom to continue.. and i suspect.. that she said this.. because you took a pic of a wilting old flower ... one that should be dead headed off very soon ... not sprayed for bugs ... NEVER spray the flower itself.. it will die immediately ... you seem to be on the verge of thinking.. that you have to destroy every bug in your yard .. and i want to dissuade you from thinking such ... other than finding an earwig.. what damage is associated with it??? .. and if you cant.. then ignore the earwigs ... do a little research and find out.. that a vast majority of their diet.. is dead material.. though sometimes.. with high population.. they can scar plants.... but rarely if ever... kill things outright ... ken
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- Posted by AiliDeSpain 6a - Utah (My Page) on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 10:15
| On the contrary Ken the flower had just opened the day I took the photo, thus my concern that something is causing the blooms to look sick. I have dealt with earwig infestation for three years now and have seen them annihilate every flower or ornamental I plant in my flower bed so no I don't want to kill every bug but I sure would like a decent looking flower bed one year. |
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| The flower is so curly I was thinking that might be, at least partially, its natural appearance. If the seed came from one of the curly petalled varieties it could have some curly genes in the mix. I didn't think the bloom was moribund. |
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- Posted by vera_eastern_wa 5a-5b (My Page) on Thu, Jun 5, 14 at 18:26
| I suspect the tiny bugs you are seeing a Thrips. Some are vectors of plant viruses. If you had a high powered...at least 10x hand lens you could get a closer look at them. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Thrips-UC IPM
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- Posted by sandyslopes z5 UT (My Page) on Fri, Jun 6, 14 at 1:40
| For aphids I would only use water so you won't poison the ladybugs when they get there. I see earwigs, too, but they are just part of the garden. I'm surprised yours are so bad they're ruining anything, especially when you're trying to be as organic as possible. Do you attract birds to your gardens? They eat insects and are part of keeping a healthy balance. My Shasta Daisies aren't even budding yet, but from one seed packet, I have them all over my yard now. Shasta Daisy Alaska if that sounds good to anyone. They put on a good show! |
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