BONSAI TREE BUGS AND PREVENTION

Home » Home Improvement » Green Living Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Custom Search Search John B. Stallings Platinum Quality Author Platinum Author | 3 Articles Joined: May 27, 2009 Romania Bonsai Tree Bugs: How You Can Effectively Protect Your Plant By John B. Stallings | Submitted On April 22, 2014 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article The best approach to this problem is prevention. Daily care and constant examination of your plant will make it easier for you to avoid a bug infestation. Naturally, a healthy bonsai will survive an occasional bug, but a few insects can rapidly turn into a pest outbreak that can do heavy damage to your bonsai. If you see a bug or two around your plant, use a oil or soap-based insecticide and spray your plant every four to six days then monitor closely. Another effective way to protect your plant from bonsai tree bugs is identifying the kind of problem you're dealing with. There are many types of insects that can harm your tree, and identifying which is harming your bonsai and using the appropriate treatment keep your plant healthy. Here are the common bonsai tree bugs and how you can protect your plant from them: Aphids Also referred to as plant lice, aphids are the most common bonsai pests. Usually green or gray in color, aphids may carry viruses and diseases that could be transmitted to your plant as they suck out juices from your bonsai. An aphid infestation causes weak branches and curling leaves. These pests leave a trace of sugary substance which attracts ants and causes the growth of black sooty mold. Fortunately, aphids can be removed even without the use of insecticide - watering your plant regularly and spraying the undersides of its leaves will keep these pests away. Red Spider Mites One of the most dangerous bonsai tree bugs, these pests are very difficult to spot because of their almost microscopic size. Symptoms of a red spider mite infestation include leaves turning yellow or brown and the appearance of very fine webs in between branches. Apply an organic soap spray or systematic insecticide to get rid of these pests. Caterpillars Caterpillars can be very destructive to your bonsai since they feed off leaves. When you notice that the leaves of your tree have holes in them or appear eaten, check your plant from caterpillars - they can easily be removed by hand or by use of insecticides. Scale Insects Commonly found in clusters, these bonsai tree bugs will usually appear as brown, white or yellow bumps on your plant's branches, leaves and trunk. They feed off your tree's sap, causing its branches to droop and leaves to wilt. Scale insect sometimes have a protective shell around them which makes them difficult to remove by use of insecticides so it's best to remove them by hand. Just remember that when using a new insecticide to protect your bonsai from a bug infestation, be sure to spray one leaf first to make sure the chemicals are not toxic to your plant. John B. Stallings is a Bonsai expert and aficionado. With years of research and hands-on experience with cultivating hundreds of different miniature tree species, John likes sharing his knowledge to his fellow green thumbs. Bonsai for Beginners, the book he co-wrote with Taisuke Ooshima is now available for purchase. For more information on bonsai plant care, tips, tricks and techniques, check out John's book on Amazon.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/John_B._Stallings/1885408 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 24 times Word count: 454 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Home Improvement: Green-Living John B. 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