Help with whatever is eating this poor plant!

11 years ago

Hi Everybody,

I received my first brug at a plant swap this spring (thanks Annie!) and am so excited to be growing this plant which I was told is almost 10 years old. Up till now, it overwintered in a basement in Zone 4/5, coming out every spring to put on its show. When I picked up this brug, it

was "bursting" with new growth all up and down it's stems. However, when the buggy holes started appearing in the leaves just a few weeks into my ownership, I logged onto Gardenweb and lurked in the brug's section until I had soaked up as much knowledge as possible prior to asking my question. I've had yellow leaf drop off, which I'm not too worried about because of the rate of growth which is still going on. I usually try to stay as organic as possible, but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire! I still have this brug in a pot, and have been fertilizing with bloom boost (Miracle grow) and today I decided to give a little tonic of epsom salts and some Ironite as a vitamin.... I'm attaching a photo (I hope) of the holes in the leaves, so that you can see the damage. I found an earwig on one, but I can't see anything else which leads me to believe it must be whiteflies and/or spider mites. So, my gardening buddies, what do you think the problem is and what in the heck can I do about it???

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Comments (6)

kasha77
11 years ago
Look for tiny to large green caterpillars. Go back several times, you might not see them at first. They can be less than 1 inch long. I have the same thing. You can hand pick them, or spray them with a soapy water solution, or get some BT. But i think BT takes too long to work. You can also hand pick them if you're not too squeamish. Good Luck!
rudy625
11 years ago
Go buy a bottle of Murphys Oil Soap Original Formula,and mix 1 or 2 teaspoons per quart of water,mix well,and spray the plant, stem,soil surface and be sure to get the under side of the leaves. Should make a difference for you. Looks like either earwigs,or green caterpillars,or both,but this solution works wonders on both of them,if you want to stay organic.Do this 2 or 3 times a week,rinse off at least once a week with hose to prevent build-up,and then re-apply.If this dosen't help,we'll try plan B.
Dan
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Bob_A
11 years ago
I have the same problem with mine, figured that it was earwigs.
tommysmommy
11 years ago
I'd say little green worms, but earwigs are a close second! I just pick them off. By the way, earwigs like to snuggle up together in the pointed tips of new growth. I look in there to find them and then squeeze the leaves together, effectively squishing the little buggers.
OhToGrow
11 years ago
I'm 99.9% sure it's caterpillars as I have the same thing. I have approx 30 brugs and mine look like swiss cheese. I've sprayed with BT and it's helping but I do pick and squish.
Pellis1
11 years ago
I have had some green grasshopper on mine. Seven dust keeps them off.