Whether it was carefully grown at home or sown directly into the bed - it is outrageous when a whole colony of lice suddenly settles on he althy and strong cosmos. This pest can cause significant damage to plants.
How to remove lice from the cosmea?
A cosmea infested with lice can be sprayed with aspraymade of soap and water or rapeseed oil and water, which suffocates the lice. Alternatively, the Cosmea can be showered with a hardwater jet. Beneficial insects also help against lice.
Which lice infect the Cosmea?
It is mainlyaphids that attack the cosmea. These can be both green, flightless aphids and black, flightless aphids. They are often found on the buds, but also on the stems and leaves of cosmos.
How do the lice harm the Cosmea?
The aphidsdeprivethe decorative basket of valuablenutrientsandweaken with their sucking activity on the shoots and leavesThis increasingly affects the entire plant. One consequence can be that the flowers wilt early or don't open at all during flowering time. Leaves can dry out and eventually the cosmea dies. In addition, the lice leave behind honeydew, which appears as a sticky film on the cosmea and is an Eldorado for fungal pathogens.
How can the lice on the cosmea be eliminated?
The fastest, but unfortunately often not sufficiently effective, method for eliminating aphids is to direct a hardwater jetat them. This will flush away aphids. However, they are not destroyed and can return to the Cosmea. More recommended areHome remediesor self-made sprays based onSoaporRapeseed oil These substances cause the lice to suffocate. Make a mixture of soap and water or canola oil and water and spray all the lice on the Cosmea.
Can beneficial insects help in the fight against lice on the Cosmea?
Many beneficial insects eat lice and can therefore help in the fight against them on the CosmeaHowever, this method is quite time-consuming, as the beneficial insects have to be procured first. For example, ladybirds and their larvae, lacewings, parasitic wasps and hoverflies are suitable.
What circumstances promote a louse infestation on the Cosmea?
EspeciallyDroughtnessin summer promotes aphid infestation on decorative baskets. Hot and dry weather stresses the plant and makes it more vulnerable to predators due to its weakened defenses. In addition,incorrect care has a detrimental effect on the cosmea and its resistance.
How can a louse infestation on the Cosmea be prevented?
You can prevent this plant pest by making sure when planting the Cosmea that thelocationis sunny, but not windless and hot. FertilizeIf necessary, fertilize the plant sufficiently, but not excessively. When watering, it is advisable to addManurelike nettle manure to the water to strengthen the cosmea. You should also cut off the oldflowers, as seed formation also takes a lot of energy.
Tip
It is better to cut off severely affected shoots
Cosmea shoots that are heavily infested with aphids should best be cut off and disposed of with household waste. As a rule, they have difficulty recovering from sucking activity. Cutting is not a problem for the Cosmea because it will grow back and produce new flowers.
