Nothing brings more joy than a beautiful garden of roses! However, lurking in the bushes is a threat to your lush garden- thrips on roses.
Thrips are tiny insects but their damage packs a powerful punch.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to handle a situation where you’re faced with thrips on roses.
What Are Thrips?
Thrips are small, slender insects that are detrimental to the development of your rose plants.
These winged insects have a brownish-yellow body.
Oftentimes gardeners have a difficult time identifying thrips in action due to their incredibly small size.
They will grow to 1/8th of an inch in adulthood.
Once a few thrips have found their way into your rose garden, it does not take long for a whole swarm of thrips to destroy your plants.
Their lifecycle lasts only about two weeks, so they can multiply rapidly.
Thrips Damage
If you suspect that there are thrips on your roses, here are some telltale signs of damage:
Deformed Rose Buds
Thrips primarily feed on rose buds and blossoms.
The first signs of infestation will start at the buds. As the thrips feast on the rose buds, it will affect the development of the premature flowers.
Consequentially, this causes the rose buds to appear deformed, withered, or drop from the plant entirely.
Discoloration On Rose Petals
Prolonged feeding of the petals by thrips can cause the petals to develop brown discoloration on the petals.
This discoloration is more noticeable on lighter colored roses such as yellow or white.
How To Get Rid Of Thrips On Roses
Getting rid of thrips on roses can be a tricky process, but with some patience and dedication, a cure is possible.
There are a number of both natural and chemical control methods one can implement in order to eradicate their thrips problem.
Rose Thrips Control: Inspect And Control Your Roses
Due to their short lifespan, thrips can multiply rapidly.
The first line of defense is early detection.
Every week, we suggest inspecting your roses for any of the signs of damage that we have discussed previously.
Thrips often start at the base of the rose and work their way throughout the whole flower.
If you have suspicions that your plant is affected by thrips, then we suggest testing on a flower.
Remove a healthy-looking blossom from the plant and peel back the first layer of petals. Search for small brown insects or discoloration.
Give the rose a gentle blow- this may coax the thrips out of their hiding spots.
How To Get Rid Of Thrips On Roses Naturally
To naturally combat thrips on roses, gardeners can employ various methods that avoid chemical pesticides.
These environmentally friendly approaches aim to control thrips infestations while preserving the health of the rose plants and the surrounding ecosystem.
- Introduce a natural predator.
The larvae of both ladybird beetles (ladybugs) and lacewings are natural predators of thrips. Introducing them into your rose garden will help curb your thrip population.
- Remove debris surrounding your plant.
Thrips can overwinter in the debris that surrounds your rose plants. They hide out in fallen leaves and branches over the winter and reemerge when the weather warms up. Keeping the area around your plants tidy is a crucial step to discouraging thrips from overstaying their welcome. Please remember to clean up any plant debris after pruning your plants.
- Neem oil
While neem oil is considered an insecticide, it is a naturally derived substance from the neem tree. It is an organic and natural solution to thrips on roses. You can find neem oil already diluted in a spray, or you can purchase our neem oil and dilute it yourself.
A common solution is to dilute 4 teaspoons of neem oil and 2 teaspoons of dish soap into 1 gallon of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the affected areas, coating the entire surface.
The Best Insecticide For Thrips On Roses
When natural control methods fail, there are chemical solutions to exterminating thrips on roses.
When selecting an insecticide for thrips on roses, you will want to search for a spray that contains the active ingredient spinosad (spinosyn A+D).
This substance is highly effective in taking care of thrips on roses and is commonly found in most insecticides.
Before applying any chemical spray to your plant, we encourage performing a patch test first.
Test a small, inconspicuous area of the plant first with the spray to ensure that there are no damaging side effects.
Spray a small flower or rosebud first to test the plant’s tolerance before using the chemical in a widespread area.
Since thrips start from the base of the flower and slowly work their way through the whole blossom, it is important to cover the surface of the flower with insecticide in order to completely trap the thrips.
The spinosad spray is often applied directly into the flower and is meant to drench the blossom in the solution.
As always, using chemical sprays to solve a pest infestation should always be handled with care and delicacy.
Please ensure that you read the manufacturer’s label to completion and follow the directions closely.
Failure to use chemical sprays properly can have counterproductive effects and cause more harm than good.
Thrip Resistant Roses
The variety of roses one chooses can have an impact on the likelihood of a thrip infestation.
While no rose species is entirely immune to pests, some species of rose have shown a higher resistance to thrips compared to others.
The physical characteristics of the rose petals are a contributing factor to their resistance to thrips.
Generally speaking, thrips tend to avoid roses with darker-colored petals, instead favoring lighter-colored roses.
Related post:
Most Beautiful 10 Dark Red Roses
Additionally, the texture of the rose petals plays a role in resisting thrips.
For example, the Veteran’s Honor rose is known for having thick, waxy petals. These petals can be a turn-off for thrips.
Overall, pests are least likely to affect a plant that is strong and healthy.
If you are looking for a plant that is less likely to succumb to the effects of thrips, then we suggest searching for one that is disease-resistant as well as pest-resistant.
David Austin english roses, Knock Out Roses, and Drift roses are all famously resistant to disease.
This will make it easier to care for a fortified, healthy plant that can resist an attack from pests.
Conclusion
Protecting your garden from thrips on roses requires a proactive approach against these elusive pests.
By practicing good cultural practices and preventative measures, you can swiftly fight back against thrips on roses.
By staying informed about these rose pests, you can safely enjoy a beautiful, lush rose garden year after year!
you know how to handle this!
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