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What's killing my hanging baskets plants

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  • #1

    What's killing my hanging baskets plants

    I planted geraniums, petunias and lobellias in my hanging baskets , everything was doing well and then day before yesterday some of the lobelia plants started to wilt and today most of them are in a sorry state. I was looking at one of the wilted plant to work out what is happening and noticed some tiny worm wriggling in next to the roots. On pulling out the plant I noticed there were quite a few of these very thin white about 1cm long worm wriggling around in the roots. On close inspection I have noticed all of the lobellia plants are loaded with these near the base.
    Does anybody know what are these worms and how can I get rid of them. I have sprayed the soil with the ordinary black/green fly killer spray.
    I am really worried that one of my fuschia is started to wilt a bit as well.All of my baskets are still in the conservatory and I was hopping to put them outside after the rain, hopefully they will survive.
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  • #2
    Tiny white wriggling wormy things sounds like scariad fly (compost gnat) larvae. They eat roots, but are usually only a real problem indoors. Maybe your basket is too warm and wet. It's June now, so it should be warm enough for it to be outside. They don't mind the rain at all.

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    • #3
      I would guess they are scarid fly larvae ( fungus gnats) and they eat the roots. you can get a preditor but thats expensive not sure what else you can (or would want to) use. You could try Armillartox 1 tsp to a gallon of water and water the plants with that. but move them out of the conservatory

      They come about because the compost ( usually soilless) has been kept damp and because it is hard to re-wet once it dries you tend to keep it on the moist side, thats why John Innes is best as you can let it dry out and they die off.
      ntg
      Never be afraid to try something new.
      Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
      A large group of professionals built the Titanic
      ==================================================

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      • #4
        I thought one of the beneficial side effects of Provado (vine weevil killer) was that it would get rid of any other soil-born pests, ie the scarid fly larvae. It is also systemic, and should get rid of greenfly.

        ntg, I agree with you about Armillatox, it was approved for use as a soil sterilant against vine weevil eggs by the University of Bangor, but the EU decided it didn't like it to be used for that. Whilst you can still buy it in the UK, if you go to armillatox.co.uk. you will be told that it is illegal for such use in the EU. However, if you go to armillatox.com, you will be given the dilution rates for various uses anywhere else in the world!!

        Crazy, or what!!

        valmarg

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        • #5
          Just to add my two penneth and just a thought! Has the soil got any water retaining gel in it? The reason I ask is that I have had a similar problem with tomato plants and I was putting it down to the gel keeping the roots TOO wet!
          As I say, just a thought!
          My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
          to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

          Diversify & prosper


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          • #6
            Originally posted by Snadger View Post
            Just to add my two penneth and just a thought! Has the soil got any water retaining gel in it? The reason I ask is that I have had a similar problem with tomato plants and I was putting it down to the gel keeping the roots TOO wet!
            As I say, just a thought!
            Yes I did add water retaining gel to the compost. I didnt put the stuff in all of the pots and baskets, and the problem has occured only in those with the gel in.
            Another question, where can I get the Armillatox stuff from? If I water the baskets with a weak solution of the green/black fly killer will that kill the larvea and not the remaining plants? Any thoughts?

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            • #7
              Originally posted by tiby View Post
              Yes I did add water retaining gel to the compost. I didnt put the stuff in all of the pots and baskets, and the problem has occured only in those with the gel in.
              Another question, where can I get the Armillatox stuff from? If I water the baskets with a weak solution of the green/black fly killer will that kill the larvea and not the remaining plants? Any thoughts?
              Armillatox is widely available in any good Garden Centre. Sold as a path cleaner I believe!
              My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
              to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

              Diversify & prosper


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              • #8
                tiby - no, don't water the soil with whatever it is you've got. It's not a good idea to use chemicals other than for their stated purpose and I am sure that isn't one of them!

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                • #9
                  tiby, I am assuming your hanging baskets only contain ornamental plants, ie not tumbler tomatoes, or other edibles.

                  If this is the case, I would have no problems watering them with Provado or Armillatox. Both are readily available in garden centres.

                  Armillatox was approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate, and also the University Horticultural Services, University of Wales, Bangor as a soil sterilant against vine weevil eggs.

                  Other uses listed in the brochure I have are moss control in grass, moss control on hard surfaces, control of honey fungus, control of clubroot, sterilising water in water butts, cleansing/disinfectant, and use against toxicara canis.

                  As a result of EU intervention, the only item from the above list that it can be sold for is cleansing/disinfectant.

                  To get EU approval would cost the company hundreds of thousands of pounds.

                  Having been approved by british institutions for the other uses, I am quite happy to continue to use it for those purposes.

                  Are there no other rebels out there?

                  valmarg

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                  • #10
                    I know its bothersome but if it were me I would take out all of the plants, wash the roots in Armillatox and start off again with John Innes compost.
                    good luck what ever you decide.

                    And when your back stops aching,
                    And your hands begin to harden.
                    You will find yourself a partner,
                    In the glory of the garden.

                    Rudyard Kipling.sigpic

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by valmarg View Post
                      tiby, I am assuming your hanging baskets only contain ornamental plants, ie not tumbler tomatoes, or other edibles.

                      If this is the case, I would have no problems watering them with Provado or Armillatox. Both are readily available in garden centres.

                      Armillatox was approved by the Pesticides Safety Directorate, and also the University Horticultural Services, University of Wales, Bangor as a soil sterilant against vine weevil eggs.

                      Other uses listed in the brochure I have are moss control in grass, moss control on hard surfaces, control of honey fungus, control of clubroot, sterilising water in water butts, cleansing/disinfectant, and use against toxicara canis.

                      As a result of EU intervention, the only item from the above list that it can be sold for is cleansing/disinfectant.

                      To get EU approval would cost the company hundreds of thousands of pounds.

                      Having been approved by british institutions for the other uses, I am quite happy to continue to use it for those purposes.

                      Are there no other rebels out there?

                      valmarg
                      Guilty as charged,Malud!
                      My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                      to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                      Diversify & prosper


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                      • #12
                        Thank you Snadger. I was beginning to think that I was a lone voice crying in the wilderness!!

                        valmarg

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                        • #13
                          Went to B&Q last night couldnt find Armillatox but they did have provado bug killer concentrate. Please excuse my ignorance, what should be the concentration of the solution for watering the baskets? and should that be repeated again?

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                          • #14
                            Erm, sorry, tiby, but doesn't it tell you on the bottle the dilutions you should use?

                            You say you are in Derbyshire. There is a shop in Ashbourne that sells Armillatox. I would have to say, an independent ironmonger is more likely to sell Armillatox, rather that the likes of B&Q.

                            valmarg

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                            • #15
                              I still use Armmilatox and ***** Fluid. Nice to know I will be able to buy some more as mine is getting down a bit.
                              What on earth CAN we do about this silly EU direction--
                              Armillatox is a better solution than Pravdo Vine Weevil Killer--cheaper and more effective for treating against the grubs of the Vine Weevil--Kathie

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