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Annuals/petunia problem

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Expert: - 5/23/2008


Question
My hanging petunia plant is being eaten alive.  There are little holes on both the flowers and the leaves.  The tell-tale sign is the little black dots (poop?) left behind.  This is the first time I've had problems with petunias.  Any idea what I can put on the plant to stop the munching?
Thank you!

Answer
Judy,
Little black dots is usually the poop of caterpillars - look very closely and you'll undoubtedly find some on the plant - they might be green and hard to see!  Hand smashing works well and usually solves the problem. If you can't find them you could spray with Bt or a product containing Spinosad - both natural bacterias that kill caterpillars. Spinosad works on a wider range of larvae so if you can find that it might be best.

I hope this helps!
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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