Bonsai, as a favorite home decoration, is loved for its exquisite and compact form and rich symbolism. During the maintenance process, small bonsais may inevitably encounter the troubles of diseases and pests, especially pest infestations. Once they occur, they not only affect the appearance but may also threaten the growth of the bonsai. What should we do when a small bonsai gets pests? This article will provide you with professional maintenance guidelines to help you easily deal with small bonsai pest problems.
Identifying PestsWe need to determine the type of pests that infest small bonsais. Common pests include red spiders, scale insects, aphids, and whiteflies. Different types of pests require different control methods.
1. Red spiders: Red spiders mainly harm the leaves, causing red-brown spots. In severe cases, it can lead to leaf drop. Control methods include using miticides and improving ventilation.
2. Scale insects: Scale insects often gather on the back of leaves or branches, absorbing plant sap. Control methods include using insecticides and physical removal.
3. Aphids: Aphids are small in size and reproduce quickly, often gathering on tender leaves and stems. Control methods include using insecticides and yellow sticky traps.
4. Whiteflies: Whiteflies mainly harm leaves, causing white powdery substances on the leaf surface. Control methods include using insecticides and spraying pesticides.
Control Measures1. Clean the environment: Regularly clean up fallen leaves and weeds around the bonsai to keep the environment clean and reduce the breeding of pests.
2. Improve ventilation: Maintain good ventilation conditions to reduce humidity and the occurrence of pests.
3. Watering appropriately: Avoid over-wetting the soil of the bonsai and maintain suitable humidity to reduce the breeding of pests.
4. Use insecticides: Choose the appropriate insecticides based on the type of pest and spray them evenly, taking care not to harm the plant.
5. Physical removal: For some smaller pests, such as aphids and scale insects, use tools like brushes and cotton swabs for physical removal.
6. Biological control: Use biological methods such as natural enemies and insect hormones to control pests and reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
Preventive Measures1. Choose healthy plants: When purchasing a bonsai, try to choose plants that are free from diseases and pests.
2. Prune appropriately: Prune diseased and weak branches and leaves in a timely manner to reduce the spread of pests.
3. Avoid cross-infection: Different varieties of bonsais should be separated to avoid cross-infection of pests.
4. Pay attention to the maintenance environment: Maintain suitable temperature and humidity, avoid over-fertilizing, and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests.
It's not scary when a small bonsai has pests; as long as we master the correct control methods, we can easily deal with them. During the maintenance process, we should pay attention to the growth condition of the plants, detect pests in a timely manner, and take corresponding measures. We should do a good job in preventive work to ensure the healthy growth of the small bonsai.