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60 Turnpike Road
Ipswich, MA 01938
978-356-6342 Phone
978-356-4476 Fax
104 Eastern Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-281-4480 Phone
978-282-0619 Fax
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Garden Solution Center
Welcome to Wolf Hill’s solution center. Here we have provided fact sheets to address some of the more common problems found on plants; from insects, to disease, to environmental problems. After reading up on the problem which your plants may be experiencing, stop in a Wolf Hill Garden Center and we can guide you to the correct protect to remedy your plants affliction. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to bring in a leaf, cutting or insect sample for us to help identify.
Many of the following insects are found throughout the garden; on trees, shrubs, vegetables, roses, fruit and ornamentals; as well as houseplants. Heading into the fall, when many plants are brought inside, many of these insects sometimes find their way into the home.
Good practices to follow to protect plants:
• Hose off all plants which are to be brought indoors and over-wintered. Any infestations which are found should be treated, and left in an isolated area to prevent infecting other healthy plants. When needed, spray with the appropriate insecticide. If you are unsure which would work best, stop in to the nearest Wolf Hill Home and Garden, and we can help you find the best product.
• Humidity decreases throughout the winter months, which can often lead to an insect infestation. The best practices to follow to avoid this? Mist plants often with a spray of water; when needed place pots over a saucer filled with pebbles, and fill with water, to help increase the humidity.
• Over watering is another common problem in the winter months. Overly saturated soil can lead to an infestation of Fungus Gnats; which are often mistaken for fruit flies. To avoid this problem, make sure to allow soils to dry out completely between waterings.
• Any time a new houseplant is purchased, it is a good idea to keep it isolated for a week or so to keep an eye on it, making sure that no new insects have been imported into your home. If insects are found, please refer to the following tips as to what is the best way to combat them.
Aphids – Are often a problem with a variety of plants. Infestations can be found on vegetables, small fruits, ornamentals, fruit and shade trees, and sometimes greenhouse grown houseplants. The damage which they inflict is usually seen as leaf, bud and flower distortions – they feed by sucking plant juices. For control of aphids, we recommend an insecticidal soap, or a spray made from neem or pyrethrin. They secrete sticky honeydew that support the growth of sooty mold on infested plants; which is often seen as a charcoal black fungus. Getting the Aphid infestation under control usually takes care of the sooty mold problem; wash off remnants with water.
For more information, please see the UMass Fact Sheet:
Scale - An infestation of scale can cause leaves to yellow, and stems and leaves to be covered with small bumps. Scales weaken plants by sucking plant juices. Some scales have hard, shiny shells, others form cottony, white coating. These insects often feed on the underside of leaves, causing a generally unhealthy plant appearance and yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Other types of scales feed on twigs and branches. For control of scale, use Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Oil. This Horticultural oil works by smothering the insects, and it is an organic solution. It is safe to use year round, as it is lighter oil than dormant oil, and can be used on fruit trees, shade trees, Evergreens, ornamentals, flowers and houseplants. Bonide Horticultural oil controls other insects, such as: mealybugs, apple aphids, European Red Spider Mites, leaf miners, and many other insects. As with any insecticide, make sure to read the label fully prior to application.
For more information, please see the UMass Fact Sheet:
Spider Mites - Adults are minute, 8 legged, 1/50” mites with fine hairs on body, reddish, pale green or yellow; most but not all species spin fine webs. Nymphs: similar to adults, but smaller; early stages with 6 legs. Adults and nymphs suck juice from cells on undersides of leaves of many food crops, ornamentals, fruit trees and houseplants. Plants are weakened, leaves may drop and fruit may be stunted. Early damage appears as yellow speckled areas, with or without webbing, on leaf undersides; later, leaves are bronzed or turn yellow or white with brown edges, webs may cover leaves and growing tips. For control of spider mites, spray fruit trees with Bonide Horticultural Oil to kill overwintering eggs; in garden, home or greenhouse rinse plants with water and mist daily to suppress reproduction of mites. For chemical control, sprays of insecticidal soap, pyrethrin or neem.
For more information, please see the UC Davis IPM Fact Sheet:
Fungus Gnats - Fungus gnats are small, dark colored flies that jump and fly across the soil surface. They are often mistaken for fruit flies. Adult gnats are commonly seen as they collect around windows. Fungus gnats cause little or no injury to house plants but create a serious nuisance problem. Problems are most common during winter and early spring. Since these insects develop in potting soil, virtually any houseplant can be a host for fungus gnats. Since Fungus gnat larvae feed primarily on decaying plant materials, changing soil moisture conditions is the most important step to take. Watering should be limited so that the soil surface can dry between waterings. Some adults can be captured on yellow sticky cards. However, as they are very short lived they may have laid many eggs before capture. Adults can also be suppressed by sprays of pyrethrins and pyrethroid insecticides. However frequent application is required to reduce adult abundance and egg laying, particularly when using insecticides of short persistence. Larval control is more effective. The biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis is highly effective as a soil drench. Also some neem products are labeled for soil drench purposes and can control fungus gnat larvae.
For more information, please see the UC Davis IPM Fact Sheet:
Whiteflies - Greenhouse whitefly is a common pest of several houseplants such as poinsettia, ivy, Hibiscus, and Lantana. Greenhouse-grown vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, are also frequently infested. Damage is caused from the insects sucking sap from the plant. Heavily infested plants may drop leaves prematurely and have reduced vigor. During feeding, whiteflies also excrete sticky honeydew that detracts from the appearance of the plant. Yellow sticky cards or tape can be used to trap adult whiteflies. On small plants, adult whiteflies can be eliminated by vacuuming. Insecticides containing pyrethrins are the most effective chemical controls for adult whiteflies. Horticultural oils, neem insecticides, and insecticidal soaps may control nymphs on leaves. The systemic insecticide imidacloprid is highly effective against greenhouse whitefly.
For more information, please see the UC Davis IPM Fact Sheet:
Mealybugs - Female adults are soft, oval, 1/10” insects with distinctly segemented, pinkish bodies covered by white waxy fluff; malers are tiny, 2 winged insects, rarely seen. Adults and nymphs suck plant juices from many different types of fruit crops, potatoes, ornamentals, and tropical foliage plants. They feed on all parts of a palnt, particularly new growth, causing leaves to wither and yellow and fruit to drop prematurely. Honeydew excreted on leaves suppport the growth of sooty mold fungus. To control mealybugs, rinse plants with stiff streams of water to dislodge; spray with insecticidal soap; spray with pyrethrin, or a systemic application of imidacloprid will take care of the problem.
For more information, please see the UNH Cooperative Extension Web Page:
