A flock of different crawling animals makes life difficult for balcony plants in boxes and tubs. Most pests feed on the sap of plants. Other brazen pests devour leaves and flowers. Get an overview of typical symptoms of a pest infestation here. Benefit from tried and tested tips for powerful control without chemicals.
Pests are only too happy to attack balcony plants
Recognize pest infestation - typical symptoms
A variety of dreaded pests are far too small to be spotted with the naked eye. The dilemma only becomes apparent when hosts of pests romp around on balcony plants as a result of an explosive increase. The following symptoms indicate early on that aphids and their ilk have settled in:
- Curling leaf edges and stunted shoots
- Discoloration on leaves and shoots
- Sticky black coating on the leaves
Some particularly destructive pests feast on leaves and buds. Smooth feeding marks indicate voracious snails, whereas jagged wounds indicate insatiable caterpillars.
Identify and combat pests - tips & tricks
If you catch pests on your balcony plants early on, there is no need to use chemical insecticides. Biological control methods summarizes the following overview:
| Common pests on balcony plants | scientific name | appearance | Early stage control | Combat at an advanced stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| aphids | Aphidoidea | 0.5 to 7 mm in size, in various colors | vigorous showering, also overhead | soft soap solution |
| scale insects | coccoidea | 0.8 to 6 mm in size, sit under white or brown protective shields | wipe with alcohol-soaked cloth | Soapy water, sprinkle with diatomaceous earth |
| Leaf miner larvae | Agromyzidae | 2 to 3 mm long, yellowish white | Cut off and burn affected parts of the plant | hang sticky traps, sprays containing neem oil, |
| Slugs, slugs | Arionidae | up to 25 cm long, brown-orange, no shell | collect individually | Sprinkle coffee powder on the substrate, spray with liverwort extract |
Under high infestation pressure, even immobile scale insects become mobile. Before you devote yourself to combating pests, please quarantine the infested balcony plants.
tips
Balcony plants that are sensitive to the cold ideally overwinter in a frost-free basement. Cunning pests also flirt with a comfortable winter quarters. Therefore, subject the plants to a thorough inspection before putting them away. Ideally, you should use a magnifying glass and examine the leaves, leaf axils and substrate for stowaways.