nurtomi

Aphids

Soft-bodied insects often gather on tender growth.

Aphids clustered on a rose shoot.
Aphids clustered on a rose shoot. Photo: Sabalo22 · CC0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Look at buds, new stems and leaf undersides for small pear-shaped insects. They may be green, black or other colors; sticky honeydew and distorted new leaves can also be clues.

What to do

Separate the plant when possible and rinse small colonies from sturdy growth. Check new shoots again and repeat as needed. Inspect other plants for insects rather than treating the whole collection automatically.

Sources