CLOSED: Save my petunias, please!

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Seandor Springfield, MA(Zone 6a) Mar 24, 2007

We are currently growing petunias from seeds - before I put them outside, perhaps you can help me solve a mystery.

Last year we had very healthy wave petunias - but something kept eating the blossoms.

One pest only ate around the base of the wave petunia blossom - so that the trumpet of the flower fell off. The trumpet was still perfect - just decapitated. These were in hanging baskets

There was another pest that chomped through the blossoms starting from the edge. Could this be earwigs? Or ants?


What can I do to prevent damage before it starts? What can I do to stop these pests if they do start?

Has anyone else had this problem?

Post #3315099
Quote
Sheila965 Rincon, GA(Zone 8a) Mar 26, 2007

I had the same problem last year, but with Million Bells (they are in the petunia family). Turned out after I thoroughly and I mean THOROUGHLY searched the plant, I found caterpillars who seemed to LOVE the flower---ate it down to the "trumpet" part and moved on to the next. These caterpillars are hard to spot since they camouflage well. I had purple flowers and there was a caterpillar on there who blended right in. Check your plants once they start growing and you'll probably find caterpillars. ;-)

Post #3323354
Quote
Seandor Springfield, MA(Zone 6a) Mar 27, 2007

What do you do about the caterpillars? Do you spray for them?

Post #3325046
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP