Disbudding is the key to stopping budworms on geraniums
DIGGING IN
Q. We need help with our geraniums. They are potted in large plastic containers. They sit on our porch on stands. Now they have developed budworms. Please, how do we treat and get rid of the budworms and moths from our geraniums. We had them last year on some other geraniums and we lost the battle with them! — B.S.,
Albuquerque
A. Oh those rotten budworms! They are so aggravating. First, I have a couple of questions. Do the pots drain? If they don’t, whatever you have planted in them is going to automatically have a hard time growing. You mentioned you suffered with budworms last year and I wonder if you went ahead and planted these geraniums in the same soil the pots were filled with last year? If so, there very easily have been overwintering eggs from last year’s budworm infestation.
Okay, let’s say you have draining pots and fresh soil. The trouble with budworms is you very rarely see the bug itself. You notice wee holes in the bud bases and the flowers themselves. All or most of the flowers don’t bloom properly, if at all.
I suggest that first you cut off all the buds completely.
That means just barely formed buds, nearly opened ones and finished ones. They all have to go. Make sure the removed parts are disposed of. Don’t compost this garbage.
Next, invest in a pesticide spray that is easy for you to use. A ready-to-use trigger spray works great. Pesticides needing to go through a tank or hose end sprayer are effective, just make sure you have never used the sprayer to spray weeds. You need a sprayer that will be used for pesticides only.
There are two pesticides to choose from that I’ll recommend. On the product label you’re looking for either neem or pyrethrin. Either should eliminate the budworms but you have to disbud first. Then there is the time of day to consider. Best you spray just at dusk since budworms and moths are most active at night. Also pyrethrin tends to degrade rapidly in sunlight, you want the pesticide to be at it’s freshest when the bugs are their most active.
Spray the plants soaked-to-dripping wet and try to get the underside of the leaves too. Be sure to apply some of the spray to the soil surrounding the geraniums. Remember that as you water the pesticide will be washed through the dirt and that will help you win the war.
Now, once you’ve disbudded and sprayed, you need to watch for the next series of bloom to start to grow in about ten days. Once again you’ll want to disbud and spray.
I’ll recommend you treat at least twice — better three times — before allowing the geraniums to come back into bloom. Know that budworms really like petunias, so if you have any of those potted you might consider treating them too. I would suggest you delay fertilizing until you have at least two treatments completed. That should get rid of the budworms, and if all goes well, you’ll have pots full of cheery pest-free geraniums to enjoy until first frost!
Happy Diggin’ In!