when to chuck a sporadically aphid-ridden plant...

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blue_cherry Vancouver, BC Apr 20, 2007

When I see that one of my plants is besieged by aphids, spidermites, whatever--I don't automatically deliver the plant to Chlorophyll Heaven--I embark on the Good Fight, using every non-noxious remedy available from mere finger pinching--to showers--to home anti-bug remedies--to biological controls [ladybugs, aphidoletes, and a couple more I can't remember]. I'll repeat the regimen again, depending on how much I value the plant--how well, if at all, it's responded to treatment--and how healthy it looks aside from said predators.

Although I have a balcony, most of my green 'birthing' takes place indoors, as many of my plants are sensitive exotics that I don't live in an appropriate year-round climate for. I grow most of my plants from seed, but now and then I succumb to a greenhouse grown potted plant. I hose these down and subject them to a quarantine period.

With all my precautions and watchfulness, certain plants--even home-grown ones--succumb to natural enemies repeatedly. My question to the general gardening audience is:

How many times should a person try to save a plant [from predators] before shuttling it to oblivion as hopeless and a possible threat to other plants?

I have seeds for more than one type of Gardenia; NOT Gardenia jasminoides, the type most commonly available in nurseries. Every time I've purchased a G. jasminoides, it thrives--except for its attraction for bad bugs. I've had many other plants that I've cut down to mere stumps--in the Bug War--that have returned to flourish--including G. Jasminoides---but right now I have one that I was ready to chuck except for the fact that it has the most beautiful, unblemished, fat bud. So I went through the bug-vanquishing routine--again. Aside from this recent effort, I'm looking forward to growing my own Gardenias---different species!

So, what would you do in a similar instance?

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tosaho Southlake, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 21, 2007

I had a similar experience with Brugmansias. I love these plants and tried with an optimistic and naive outlook last spring. I bought 3 bushes and they started out ok, but then at every turn, they attracted more or new bugs. I spent hours looking up concoctions and systemics that would kill the bugs but not hurt the brugs. Come late summer, after spending more of my time on these 3 brugs than the rest of my garden, I decided they were not for me. At least here in DFW. So I got rid of them. Whether to chuck your gardenia or save it is a decision you need to make. Do you get more pleasure from the plant, or more grief in the bug battle?... is the question I ask. Just my outlook on whether to chuck or keep on rescuing plants. Hope this helps. tosaho, AKA SandiO

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