Even simple care errors open the door to bonsai pests. The above-ground parts of the plant and the substrate are often affected at the same time. You can find out here how you can recognize and effectively combat pest infestations in the soil on your bonsai.
How do you recognize and control bonsai pests in the ground?
Bonsai pests in the soil can be recognized by crawling animals and dead plant parts. To combat them, repot the bonsai, remove contaminated soil, clean the bowl with vinegar water and plant with disinfected soil. For above-ground pest infestations, use soap and alcohol solution as an organic spray.
How to identify bonsai pests in the soil?
Bonsai pests in the soil can be recognized bycrawling animalsanddead plant parts The small animals are the offspring various pests that use bonsai soil as a breeding ground. The larvae nibble on the tender bonsai roots, causing the leaves and shoots to wilt. The most common bonsai pests in the ground are:
- Sciaridae larvae: greyish-transparent, black head capsule.
- Thrips larvae (Thysanoptera): light green-transparent, wingless, 6 legs.
- Root mites (Rhizoglyphus): shiny white, 8 legs.
- Springtails (Collembola): white, 6 legs, antennae on the head.
- Spider mite larvae (Tetranychidae): light green or reddish brown, spider-shaped, 8 legs.
How to control bonsai pests in the ground?
The best way to combat bonsai pests in the ground is to remove the voracious soil dwellers usingRepottingand the above-ground pest infestation with ahome remedyfight. These methods have proven to be excellent in bonsai care:
- Unpot the bonsai, rinse off contaminated soil, clean the bonsai pot with vinegar water, plant the bonsai.
- Without repotting: place root ball in rainwater, skim off pests.
- Without repotting or diving: Pull the nylon stocking over the bonsai pot from below and tie it at the root neck.
- Spread SF nematodes or predatory mites into the soil as beneficial insects.
- Combat pest infestation in the bonsai crown with soap and spirit solution as an organic spray.
Tip
Disinfected soil has no bonsai pests with it
Pest infestation on the bonsai is inevitable if you plant the tree in infected soil. Good bonsai soil contains a small proportion of humus, which can be contaminated by invisible pathogens. That doesn't have to be the case. Fill purchased or mixed bonsai soil into a fireproof bowl. Spray the substrate with water. Disinfect the soil within 30 minutes in a 100 degree oven.
