If your fuchsias are grown correctly you should not encounter this troublesome mite as it prefers to inhabit dry, hot conditions the opposite really to what your fuchsias require during the growing season. Therefore you can affect control by spraying the plants with clear water. The mites breed at an alarming rate and given the right temperature and humidity they can soon become a serious problem, particularly if they are inhabiting plants in a greenhouse.

The mites themselves are very difficult if not impossible to see with the naked eye, but the effects will soon become apparent with the underside of the leaf turning brown with the webbing and secretion of this pest, quickly followed by defoliation of the plant. At the first sign of any red spider mite spray the all the plants in the vicinity with a systemic insecticide and repeat at regular intervals, keeping a constant watch on ALL your plants for signs of attack.

WHITEFLY:

These very small white flies are often seen flitting from leaf to leaf as soon as the plants are distributed and are often introduced on plants from specialist nurseries. When purchasing plants check the underside of the leaves where you will find the infestation if there is one, as whitefly are able to breed at an incredible rate. Control can be achieved by using an appropriate insecticide, twice weekly to kill the young as they hatch.

CAPSID BUGS:

Are small and greenish insects, like aphids they feed on young shoots and inject a poison which causes discolouration, distortion and blind shoots. Control can be achieved by spraying with an appropriate insecticide

CUCKOO SPIT (Froghopper):

These are a small yellowish insect which is hidden inside white froth (the spit) and feeds on new shoots and leaves. This pest causes distortion and blind shoots. Wash the ‘spit’ off using a spray jet using an appropriate insecticide

THRIPS:

May also be encountered and are black insects which cause silvery specks and distortion on leaves and flowers. Control can be achieved by spraying with an appropriate insecticide or by using an insecticide smoke.

VINE WEAVIL:

This perhaps is more dreaded than any other pest in the eyes of the fuchsia grower. The reason for this is that you cannot easily detect that a plant is being attacked until it is often too late to remedy. It is the grub of the Vine Weevil and not the adult that causes the actual damage and also the fact that the adults are nocturnal.

Unless you are prepared to go out into the greenhouse or garden at night the first indication that you have Vine Weevil will be 'c' shaped pieces eaten out of the leaves. If this is left unchecked it will find one or more plants suddenly wilting and collapsing fatally. On searching through the plant root ball you will find the white ‘c’ shaped grubs with an orange/brown head, these must be removed and destroyed to prevent further infestations. The adults are extremely difficult to kill with insecticides and methods of their destruction are best left to the individual to decide.

For some reason you will not find the adults in even numbers, if there are two found there will no doubt be another lurking somewhere. The ultimate control will be vigilance and good greenhouse hygiene practiced by the grower. It is also beneficial where it is suspected to add a soil insecticide to the potting compost.

This will deter the adults from laying their eggs in the compost. Drenching the plants with a good quality soil insecticide that has been approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate to protect against vine weevil will usually effect a control (i.e. Provado2®)

Biological control can also be used by the introduction of a ‘nematode’ into the compost. However, as the nematodes are temperature sensitive after an initial trial I have not continued with this method.

REMEMBER PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

GREY MOULD (Botrytis Cinerea):

Thos is probably the most common fungus disease and is associated with every kind of decaying matter and the spores of this fungus are present in the atmosphere at all times Poor ventilation, coupled with a cold damp atmosphere, are almost certain to lead to an attack of Botrytis. There are fungicides available should be used at the onset of the disease and if application is continued this will help to protect against other attacks. Correct growing conditions and greenhouse hygiene will assist in preventing all fungal attacks.

FUCHSIA RUST:

Has become more common and probably the easiest method of introducing it into your greenhouse is by purchasing infested stock, despite the efforts of the nurserymen to supply clean plants. Infections are more likely to take place during spring and autumn when the moisture levels are higher and temperatures are cooler. Identification of fuchsia rust is by the appearance of orange pustules under the leaves. The affected leaves should be removed by hand and burned taking care not to spread the spores to other plants and being careful also of not allowing the spores to drop onto the plants compost. All plants should be sprayed with an approved fungicide at regular intervals for a couple of weeks. When purchasing new stock it is wise to check for healthy stock free from pests and diseases. If in doubt keep it out -- should be the policy to adopt to make your plants cleaner and healthier.