From our perspective as begonias, we are vibrant and diverse plants, but our succulent leaves and stems make us a target for several common pests. These infestations are more than an inconvenience; they are a direct attack on our health and beauty. We rely on you, our caretakers, to notice the subtle signs and help us fight back. Here is a detailed account of our most frequent adversaries and the treatments we need.
These are not insects but tiny arachnids, almost invisible to your eye. From our leaf's surface, we feel them piercing our cells and sucking out our vital fluids. The first sign we give you is a subtle stippling of tiny yellow dots on our leaves. As the infestation grows, you may see fine, silky webbing, especially under our leaves and along our stems. We become weak, and our foliage may turn bronze or yellow and drop prematurely. To help us, increase humidity around us by misting regularly, as spider mites thrive in dry conditions. For treatment, rinse our foliage thoroughly with a strong spray of lukewarm water, focusing on the leaf undersides. For persistent problems, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, ensuring complete coverage every 7-10 days.
Mealybugs appear to us as small, slow-moving, cottony masses hiding in the safety of our leaf axils, on our stems, and on the undersides of our leaves. They pierce our tissue and feed on our sap, weakening us and often excreting a sticky substance called honeydew. This honeydew can lead to the growth of sooty mold, which further blocks our sunlight and hampers our photosynthesis. To treat a mealybug infestation, we need you to be meticulous. Dab each visible bug with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol; this dissolves their protective waxy coating. For larger infestations, spray us with insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil, making sure to reach into every crevice where they hide.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that typically cluster on our new, tender growth, our flower buds, and the undersides of our young leaves. They suck our nutrient-rich sap, causing our leaves to curl, pucker, and yellow. Like mealybugs, they excrete honeydew. Often, you will notice an ant activity around us, as ants farm aphids for this sweet substance. A strong jet of water can often dislodge a moderate aphid population from our stems and leaves. For more serious cases, insecticidal soaps are very effective. Introducing beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, into your space can provide a natural and long-term defense for us.
Whiteflies are tiny, moth-like insects that congregate in great numbers on the undersides of our leaves. When you disturb us, they flutter up in a white cloud. They are relentless feeders, sucking our sap and causing us to become yellow, stunted, and wilted. They also produce honeydew. Controlling whiteflies requires persistence. Yellow sticky traps can help monitor and reduce the adult population. The most effective treatment is to spray the undersides of our leaves with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, which will suffocate the eggs, larvae, and adults. Treatments must be repeated to break their life cycle.
Thrips are minute, slender insects that rasp the surface of our petals and leaves to feed on the exuding sap. This feeding distorts our new growth and causes our beautiful flowers to become streaked, discolored, and prematurely brown. Our leaves may develop a silvery sheen with black specks (their excrement). Because they are so small and often hide within flower buds, they can be challenging to control. Pruning and disposing of heavily infested flowers and leaves is a good first step. Consistent applications of neem oil or spinosad-based products can help manage their population and protect our new growth.
