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Thrips

Learn how to tackle thrips on your houseplants and in your greenhouse, with the help of our guide expert.

Sunday, 17 November, 2019 at 4:36 pm

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Time to act
Time to act	Do not Time to act in January	Do not Time to act in February	Do Time to act in March	Do Time to act in April	Do Time to act in May	Do Time to act in June	Do Time to act in July	Do Time to act in August	Do Time to act in September	Do Time to act in October	Do Time to act in November	Do not Time to act in December

These miniscule sap-sucking insects multiply rapidly on leaves. Large colonies are immediately evident, as are the symptoms – silvery-white discoloration of the leaves and distorted shoot tips and buds.

Symptoms

Packed clusters of tiny yellow insects on leaves produce several symptoms. The leaves turn dull green with silvery-white areas, the buds may fail to open and shoot tips may be distorted.

Find it on

Virtually anything from tomatoes to honeysuckle

Organic

There are many different species of thrips, but a biological control in the form of a predatory mite can be used on houseplants and in greenhouses to attack the western flower thrips. Organic pesticide sprays are available, which are based on plant oils or pyrethrum.