As the warm weather begins to arrive in the UK, pests start to emerge, presenting several challenges for people.
A gardener has warned of a pest that is difficult to eliminate but inflicts a considerable amount of damage quickly.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Plant Corner NYC, expert Jira said: “Thrips are not super common but they are really hard to get rid of.
“Once one of them gets onto your plant, plants can decline fast because they rapidly expand.”
Thrips are more likely to emerge in the spring and summer
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There are multiple ways to spot if your plant has been infested by thrips. Jira explained: “The first sign of thrips is usually the discolouration on the leaves.
“Usually they show up as streaks or silvery patches in the front of the leaves. You may also notice tiny black specks on the back of the leaves.
“If your plants are declining rapidly and you are certain it is not root rot, it’s probably thrips.”
Part of the danger with thrips is they are asexual, meaning they can reproduce alone, helping them kill plants quickly with their fast outbreak.
Jira said: “I had a customer tell me that his monstera had been doing well for two years then suddenly declined within two weeks because of thrips.”
To fight against thrips, isolate the plant into a different room or area and purchase a product containing the chemical spinosad. It kills thrips upon contact.
The expert said: “Just focus on the front and back of the leaves and also the stem when applying.
“Repeat the process every five days for the first two weeks and then do it once a week for the next few months.”
The gardener recommended using a product containing spinosad to kill thrips
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Aside from pests, a Gardener has shared a key job to complete now for “more blooms” on roses.
They said: “If you want more blooms on your roses this year it’s time to give it a prune now.
“The number one job is to prune the deadwood. Generally speaking, brown or black is dead and green is living.”
Pruning won’t only encourage new growth and blooms, but it will also extend the flowering period, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.
