last picture leaf damage
last picture leaf damage
All of these could have been put on one thread instead of 4 different ones. That having been said, I'd look for a little green worm and if none is found then I'd assume wind damage. With the winds that we've had the last few days (normal for Tx. of course) it's likely to be that. The little green pigs (worms) that I find on mine usually do far worse damage faster. Fortunately they're very easily seen.
Anne
I'm sorry about the four postings. I tried to figure out how to get the four pictures on one but obviously couldn't.
annie
Annie,
You add your first photo when you start a new thread. Then go to your thread and then add the next photo as if you were replying to the thread. One photo for each reply. We can't add more than one photo.
Take a look at some of the leaves. The first photo showed two small round spots near the damaged area. I'll bet that those spots later dried out and dropped off leaving two small round holes. It's difficult to tell from one photo, but damage could result from insects eating the bottom of the leaf without breaking through. The damaged area would them dry out and drop off. It could also be fungal damage. The little spots looked slightly dark. Or it could be as AuntAnne says, caterpillar damage or wind damage. I would think that it may be too soon for caterpillar damage.
If it is caterpillars, destroy them, they can denude a plant in no time at all. If you can't find any caterpillars or insects, it could very well be wind damage.
I was in my greenhouse yesterday using the "recipe" on my plants and saw a gigantic grasshopper in there. Some grasshoppers manage to overwinter and can do great harm. If it is a fungus, use a fungicide, or use the "recipe". The Tea Tree oil is a fungicide.
Thank you for the info on how to propertly post all my pictures next time. Makes sense. As for the brugs, I didn't see any caterpillars but those green buggers sometimes hide very well (ask my tomato plants). Anyway, I did get the ingredients today for the recipe and will start it tomorrow. The recipe wouldn't kill caterpillars though, would it? What would I use to combat them besides drop kicking them down the toilet. Are there usually so few of them that you don't treat the plant with anything other than picking them off? In general, what is safe to use for insects on brugs? BT, Neem, soapy water are usually things I pull out for bugs.
Annie
I use the drop, stomp and evil laugh method myself for the green crawly things.
Anne
Anne, I use the same method you do.
Annie, I've never encountered more than one or two caterpillars at a time, but they can really devastate a Brug. They grow rapidly and are voracious eaters. The damage becomes apparent very quickly. Just feed the Brug and it will put out more leaves. The plant will look scrawnier, but it will recover. Besides a caterpillar or two, my biggest problem are grasshoppers. I plan to use NOLO early this year. NOLO is grasshopper specific. It won't harm other insects. I use Neem Oil until it gets too hot to use without burning the leaves. I bought Anti-Stress 2000 to try this year if I have spidermite problems this summer. I used Avid against broadmites for the first time last week. It doesn't work on eggs so I need to use it again tomorrow to get new hatchlings. I hope I don't have anymore problems with broadmites because the caution is not to use the Avid too often or the broadmites will develop an immunity to it. That is the beauty of Neem Oil. Bugs don't develop any immunity to it as it kills by smothering. I hate to escalate to something more potent. Besides that stuff is outrageously expensive.
what is NOLO? I really need that because grasshoppers are our worst problem!
It's a biological pesticide, a fungus, that attacks only grasshoppers. It goes by the brand name of NOLO. It is a bait that has an expiration date. It is safe to use around pets. It works best used on the small hopper stage before the grasshoppers reach the flying stage.
When do you start using NOLO? I saw a few grasshoppers out the other day. Do you get it at a feed store? I haven't found it at the local nurseries.
I also wasn't aware that Neem will burn the leaves. Is this just on brugs or all plants? I used Neem throughout the summer last year and wasn't aware that maybe I shouldn't be in certain temps.
Annie
We have a lot of ladybird problems ...you know those ones that eat the pumpkin vine leaves as well ...I use the torch method you go out after dark and shine the torch around ...you catch more critters that way don't know if it is because they are half asleep or just full! but they don't run away or hide like they do in the day time.
chrissy
I've heard a lot of people warn of Neem burning leaves, but I've sprayed in the evening when it was 108degrees outside during the day.. Never lost leaves.. so just spray in the evening and I think you'll be alright. Never spray in direct sunlight..
Also.. I had caterpillar problems worse than spider mites last year! I tried BT several times.. but it just made buds drop.
I finally found some Neem based spray that has pyrethrins.. (natural) and it really helped the caterpillar problem! It's sold at Lowe's or HD and it's made by "green light" company.. Just a plain bottle that says "Fruit & Nut Tree Spray" It's amazing for the caterpillars that start out microscopic and get big and fat overnight on new brug growth! The ones we had last year are tobacco worms.. I can't remember where the link is to all the info.. so you'll have to trust me on this one! LOL They made my brug life miserable last year! They eat buds, they even got inside the bloom and ate the stamen and ovary so there were no pollinating to be done!
Also.. this is slug season! Slugs will travel all the way up the trunk and eat leaves.. they will leave holes, and it's hard to catch them.. Either early in the morning or after dark you MIGHT see them.. I'd treat for slugs anyway.. even if you are not sure.. they can do so much damage.
These brugs are still in containers as they are fairly new. Would sprinkling the soil with sluggo help with the snails?
AnnieJo, I buy the NOLO from Kemas Nursery. It's located south of Bastrop on 71. You might be able to get a local nursery to order it for you. The little baby hoppers usually start appearing sometime in March. It takes time for the bait to work. So it should be put out as soon as you see them and hope for dry weather for a while. Of course with La Niņa we have had lots of dry weather, but no little grasshoppers as yet.
Sluggo will work against both snails and slugs.
Chrissy, what are ladybirds? We have ladybugs, but they good guys. They suck the life out of aphids. Do you have a photo?
Hi bettydee and everyone ...yes your ladybug and our ladybirds are the same things but perhaps you don't have the leaf eating one there over here they have a huge appetite and if you don't realize which one you have ...your leaves will be an awful mess ...
here is a site that explains all about them ...I love the aphid eaters but I squish the 28 spotted ^*&$#@ .
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1920318.htm
