If you read through the pest and disease section of most garden related books you should if you have any sense take up another hobby i.e. stamp collecting or knitting. Many of the pests that attack our plants are indirectly related to our own way of growing fuchsias, in as much as they will only become apparent if they are allowed to get to the stage where they do in fact become 'pests'., this also applies to the diseases which affect fuchsias that you will no doubt encounter.If you can maintain a strict hygiene control plan, all will be well, if pests and diseases become a problem the cause no doubt will lie with you and your methods. This list of common pests and diseases is by no means exhaustive but is designed to give you an idea of the ones that you will probably see. There are many ways in which you can apply insecticides (these are chemicals that in one way or another kill insects) and fungicides (chemicals that attack and destroy fungal spores), there are some other types of chemicals that will attack specific insects and diseases.
These chemicals can be sprayed onto the plants using either a small hand sprayer or a pressure sprayer. Whichever type of spray you use you must ensure that the undersides of the leaves, where most insects are found, are completely covered. Some chemical can also be watered into the compost, these are known as systemic because they are absorbed into the plants food system and taken around the plant in the sap, which in turn is eaten by sap sucking insects such as aphids.
Fumigants (smoke bombs) can also be used to good effect but if using them great care must be taken and as with all chemicals the manufacturers instructions must be strictly observed. Whichever method you decide to use it is no good just doing the job once and then leaving it to chance, you need to carry out the control at regular intervals taking into account the fact that these pests and diseases breed and spread at a fantastic rate.
Constant vigilance and a strict spraying or fumigation regime will assist greatly in reducing the incidence of encountering many of these problems.
ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS
APHIDS(Greenfly, Blackfly etc:
It is easy to miss these little pests until they have become huge in numbers as they are able to breed at a phenomenal rate and it is even possible for one aphid to multiply into a million in one season.
Fortunately this does not happen often but it does highlight the need to check the plants daily and take remedial action as soon as they are seen.
Symptoms of aphid attack are distorted growth, sticky patches on the leaves and sooty coloured moulds (amazingly called ‘sooty mould’) and in general sickly looking plants.
DO NOT squash aphids with your fingers when you do this the squashing action releases a chemical and the living aphids drop from the plant – you will never control them with this method.
The appropriate insecticide will control if sprayed regularly or applied as systemic. You can use soapy water as an alternative to using chemicals, however be sure you know what chemicals are in the soap that you use, the only one I know to be safe at the moment is ‘Stergene’.
