This article comes in handy as it offers a wide range of effective measures that can help with containing a rose thrips problem.
When it comes to identifying common pests of ornamental plants, one of those that easily come to mind is thrips.
Controlling Chilli Thrips On Roses
Like a lot of plants pests do, thrips feed on plant sap using their well-adapted mouthparts used in piercing and sucking plant juices.
Of course, the impacts are seen in the condition of the plants as they steadily deteriorate.
One of such ornamental plants that are vulnerable to thrips damage is the rose plant.
To keep your roses free from pest activity, you’ll need to know just how to deal with the problem.
There are Beneficial Thrips Too!
Before we get into the destructive activity of thrips on roses and other ornamental plants, it’s important to state that there are beneficial variants or species as well.
Rather than attacking your ornamental plants, these thrips join other predatory insects like green lacewings and ladybugs to prey on destructive thrips and other plant pests.
Predatory thrips belong to the Tubulifera thrips category. Due to the obvious benefits derived, you’ll find these sold as a natural control against destructive thrips.
All you have to do is purchase them and release them into the affected area.
For best results, you’ll have to deploy as instructed.
Your Beautiful Roses Can be Ruined Due to Several Factors
Roses are among the most popular ornamental plants to have due to the ambiance they add to your surroundings.
However, your efforts at growing these beautiful flowers might quickly become wasted when thrips come-calling. Such attacks could be due to several reasons.
First off, your garden might be located around areas with pest presence.
Adjacent areas might have active thrips populations. This means such thrips can easily swoop in on your rose plants when they begin to bud and produce roses.
Another possible factor that causes damage to rose plants is the purchase of infected seedlings. This is a problem a lot of gardeners have faced.
This is mostly caused by the difficulty of identifying thrips egg-laying within rose leaves.
With their presence and continued activity, you’re likely to find your rose plants developing lesions, deformed buds and flowers, as well as darkened rose petal edges, etc.
At this point, you’ll have to take urgent action towards reclaiming your rose plants from these destructive pests.
Vulnerable Parts of Rose Plants
To have an idea of where to apply your treatment, it’s necessary to know the most vulnerable spots or parts of rose plants.
Thrips usually target the tender soft tissues first before proceeding to other areas like the buds, bends, and junctions. Certain thrips species go as far as attacking the roots of ornamental plants.
As stated earlier, the objective is to suck out plant juices or sap. As thrips infestations worsen, the condition of your rose plant also worsens.
The reason is simple; more sap is being sucked out, plus, the plant is exposed to a variety of disease-causing viruses.
Getting Rid of Thrips on Rose Plants
There are several ways to deal with thrips issues on roses.
Such treatment strategies include the introduction of predators, the use of environmentally-friendly insect control products, as well as the adoption of preventive strategies.
With these strategies being carefully executed, you should be able to overturn thrips damage to plant leaves by eliminating these pests.
Let’s have a look at each of the different ways of thrips control for more understanding.
i. Introduction of Predators
As mentioned earlier, one natural and effective method to deal with a thrips problem on your rose plants is by introducing predators into the mix.
Such predators have an appetite for thrips but pose no further issues whatsoever to your rose plants.
Predators include certain thrips species such as those belonging to the Tubulifera type. These prey on other thrips, thus keeping your plants free of thrips activity.
Other predators to consider include green lacewings, as well as ladybugs. All of these pose no danger to your rose flowers, yet do a great job of resolving your thrips problem.
ii. Using Environmentally-Friendly Insect Control Products
Several products are available for purchase and use on thrips and other plant pests.
To take advantage of such, it’s best you go with those considered and clearly labeled to be environmentally friendly.
Examples of quality thrips control products to try out include Aktofit, Akarin, and Fitoverm.
You’ll need to carefully go through all the use instructions found on the product labels. This gives you an idea of how best to apply.
It also helps with a proper application which enhances the results obtained.
Some expert advice and help especially that from a pest control professional will do a lot in helping you get fast relief.
iii. Adoption of Preventive Strategies
Being prepared beforehand is the most effective way to deal with thrips. Preventive measures can be adopted to keep an infestation from breaking out and also contain an existing problem.
Some of the preventive strategies to try out include the removal of plant residues such as foliage, damaged branches, and weeds.
Asides from the removal of these residues, also consider irrigating the soil around your rose plants. To get desired results, you’ll need to include treatments that help keep thrips and other sucking insects at bay.
As the winter season sets in, there’s a need to have roses covered or protected from extreme weather conditions. You mustn’t use leaves affected by diseases or pests as mulch covering.
As spring sets in, have the mulch layer removed and loosen the soil around your plant.
Next, treat the soil using an appropriate agent to guard against thrips invasion. The formative and blooming stages of buds and leaves are crucial.
You’ll need to have these sprayed to prevent thrips from taking advantage.
With these preventive strategies fully implemented, there should be fewer cases of thrips activity on roses. Plus, your plants get to blossom and stay undisturbed for the most part.
Dealing with thrips on roses includes all of the steps mentioned above. It’s vital to act fast when symptoms of thrips activity are noticed.
Doing so keeps your plants from dying and also prevents the problem from worsening.