Rosemary is often infested by various plant lice that suck leaf juice. In particular, pests such as mealybugs and scale insects often appear towards the end of winter, when the plant is already weak and can only offer little resistance.
Aphids on rosemary
In the case of aphids, these are quite small insects, only a few millimeters long. They rarely have wings, but they have a proboscis with which they prick the leaf from the underside and suck out the carbohydrate-rich plant sap. Their high-sugar excretions, known as honeydew, attract numerous other pests, such as ants. In addition, the sticky substance is often colonized by the sooty mold fungus, which covers the leaf with a black, greasy layer.
How do you recognize an aphid infestation?
- Rosemary grows poorly.
- Rosemary sheds leaves and buds.
- The leaves wither
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In addition, the pests, mostly black in color, are usually easy to see with the naked eye. A strong nettle decoction has proven itself as a household remedy against aphids, but it must be used several times over a few days. Soak about a kilo of freshly harvested and finely chopped stinging nettles in about 10 liters of water and let the mixture steep for about a day. The nettle toxins of the plant are released. The aphids can also be removed with a soft soap solution.
Mealybugs and mealybugs on rosemary
Mealybugs or mealybugs are quite easy to spot. The tiny, white to pink-colored animals are surrounded by a protective cover that looks very similar to a cotton ball. This shell protects them from predators as well as from the cold. Mealybugs are very damaging to an infested plant. Not only do they feed on plant sap and thus weaken the plant, they also weaken a toxin. Like aphids, mealybugs excrete honeydew, which attracts other harmful insects and fungi. The animals love dry and warm air, which is why they often infest rosemary that has been overwintered too warm.
Fight mealybugs with home remedies
As a first step, you can cut off heavily infested parts of the plant, the rest of the plant is then held upside down under a strong jet of water and sprayed off. Then take a clean cloth, which you soak with a soft soap solution or with alcohol. Thoroughly wipe the whole plant with this cloth. The treatment should be carried out several times so that you really catch all lice and their eggs reliably.
tips and tricks
Plant lice primarily infest already weakened plants that are no longer able to defend themselves, for example due to incorrect care, the wrong location or a place that is too warm for the winter. As a preventive measure, keep the humidity as high as possible, e.g. B. using a spray bottle.
IJA