Diseases and Pests of Begonia and Their Control

1. Aphids.

Spring and autumn are the peak growing seasons for Begonia. If the plants are not well ventilated and the environment is hot and stuffy, aphids are likely to occur. This is a small green-yellow or brown insect that often lives on the tender shoots or flower buds at the top of the plant. It uses its needle-like mouthparts to suck the sap from the leaves of the begonia, causing the leaves to curl and shrink, leading to death. The main method of prevention and control is to increase indoor ventilation. If insect pests are found, you can soak cigarette butts in water for 24 hours and then spray them on the stems and leaves of the Begonia. This will have a better effect. Use 1500 times diluted 50% aphidicide emulsion or 1000 times diluted 25% phosmet emulsion to spray and kill aphids.

2. Red spider.

In the dry and hot summer, begonias are often attacked by red spider mites. This is a small red insect that usually sucks sap from the back of young leaves, causing brown spots to appear on the leaves. When the damage is more serious, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, affecting the flowering of the crabapple. Because the insect is very small, it is usually difficult to detect. But if you turn the leaves over and look carefully, you can see some small red insects, and sometimes you can even find some silky webs. If there are red spider mites, spray water on the ground or use some spray to increase the humidity of the air to inhibit their reproduction. If the pest is not too serious, you can pick off the diseased leaves. If the number is large, you can spray it with 2,000 times diluted 40% trichloroacetic acid emulsion or 2,000 times diluted 50% trichlorfon emulsion.

3. Leaf rollers.

This insect is very small in size, and its larvae mainly eat tender leaves, causing the leaves to curl up, the plant's growth to decline, and the flowers to bloom poorly. To control this disease and pest, just check more often and cut off the diseased leaves in time.

4. Stem rot.

Water-shaped markings that appear on the rhizomes and lower parts of the stems can lead to softening and rot if not attended to. This is mainly caused by the potting soil being too wet, so it can be prevented by controlling the amount of watering.
It is rare for begonias grown at home to be subject to diseases and insect pests. However, the potted plants must be placed appropriately in a ventilated and cool growing environment, and must be protected from infection by pests and diseases from other potted flowers and trees.

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