Begonias - Tuberous - Pests
 

Would anyone have the slightest idea as
to what eats the leaves of Tuberous Begonias please?

I can't spot the little devils and they are destroying my
beautiful plants.

Thanks. Ruth.

G'day Ruth

Been a couple of years since I've had TB's but from memory I've got a
feeling Mealy Bugs used to attack mine and I'd wipe them off with a
cotton bud dipped in Metho. Check under the leaves and along the stems.

When I was away on an extended trip and had a friend looking after the
plants she let most die from lack of water so I replaced some as yet,
but TB's have always been a favourite.

HC ;-)


Ruth wrote:

Would anyone have the slightest idea as
to what eats the leaves of Tuberous Begonias please?

I can't spot the little devils and they are destroying my
beautiful plants.

Thanks. Ruth.

Ruth wrote:
Would anyone have the slightest idea as
to what eats the leaves of Tuberous Begonias please?

I can't spot the little devils and they are destroying my
beautiful plants.

Thanks. Ruth.


Bull Terriers just love tuberous begonias! (At least, mine does...=:-0 )

Also, slugs and snails won't leave much after a night or two. You'd be
surprised how good they are at leaving no trace! I began putting my last
remaining TB on top of the Wizz Bin at night and the depredations soon
stopped. As soon as I put it back among the other pots, I had swiss
cheese leaves again!

One good thing about TBs is that the tuber will live on against all
odds! Mine got fried by the hot westerlies of summer and 'died' on me.
Just last week, I saw it has sprouted a tiny shoot and lives again! You
might want to hang yours in a basket, that way it's off the ground and
away from most crawling pests. Anything that flies in (eg. cabbage moths
and their eggs/caterpillars) will have to be picked off by hand.

--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, Australia

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 19:05:30 +1000, HC wrote:

G'day Ruth

Been a couple of years since I've had TB's but from memory I've got a
feeling Mealy Bugs used to attack mine and I'd wipe them off with a
cotton bud dipped in Metho. Check under the leaves and along the stems.

When I was away on an extended trip and had a friend looking after the
plants she let most die from lack of water so I replaced some as yet,
but TB's have always been a favourite.

HC ;-)

Sorry for the delay in thanking you for your reply.

I saw a spray only to-day in Coles New World which included
Mealy Bugs - might buy it to save time!

Ruth.


Ruth wrote:

Would anyone have the slightest idea as
to what eats the leaves of Tuberous Begonias please?

I can't spot the little devils and they are destroying my
beautiful plants.

Thanks. Ruth.

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 00:00:55 +1000, Trish Brown
wrote:

Ruth wrote:
Would anyone have the slightest idea as
to what eats the leaves of Tuberous Begonias please?

I can't spot the little devils and they are destroying my
beautiful plants.

Thanks. Ruth.


Bull Terriers just love tuberous begonias! (At least, mine does...=:-0 )

Also, slugs and snails won't leave much after a night or two. You'd be
surprised how good they are at leaving no trace! I began putting my last
remaining TB on top of the Wizz Bin at night and the depredations soon
stopped. As soon as I put it back among the other pots, I had swiss
cheese leaves again!

One good thing about TBs is that the tuber will live on against all
odds! Mine got fried by the hot westerlies of summer and 'died' on me.
Just last week, I saw it has sprouted a tiny shoot and lives again! You
might want to hang yours in a basket, that way it's off the ground and
away from most crawling pests. Anything that flies in (eg. cabbage moths
and their eggs/caterpillars) will have to be picked off by hand.

Thanks Trish for the reply.

Well *I* can't blame the dog, he's gone to the Rainbow Bridge!

However, all the rest you mention are a distinct possibility.

What a bummer because as you say, Swiss cheese isn't in it!
They are such beautiful flowers and do seem to survive
against the odds.

Ruth in Melbourne.

Ruth, I think it might be a cabbage moth. I red that they love begonias, and I think that is what is getting mine now. I am researching how to get rid of them.