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Fly repellent

chimpysmith
chimpysmith Posts: 20 Forumite
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in Gardening
I noticed that my violas in my window boxes were shrivelling, closer inspection was they were covered in green/white fly. I started soaking them in shop bought fly spray and soapy water too. We had a week of torrential rain and I've just looked at them again. Every single one of my pots That were blooming are shrivelled with flies. I never have problems with flies on violas normally, I'm gutted.
Any advice?

Comments

  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 19,056 Forumite
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    Use a systemic fly killer regularly as advised on the packet.
  • chimpysmith
    chimpysmith Posts: 20 Forumite
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    I was out there every day soaking the window boxes in fly killer��
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 13,199 Forumite
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    If you are talking white flies they are notoriously hard to kill now the more toxic chemicals have been withdrawn. A systemic should sort them, but systemics are not instant death, like systemic weedkillers, needs time to work
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • chimpysmith
    chimpysmith Posts: 20 Forumite
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    I'm so nervous that it's going to spread to the rest of my pots. It's effecting about 70% so far. Just wondering if to bin all of them as spraying them every day doesn't seem to be helping. I hate throwing plants though.
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 13,199 Forumite
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    Are these indoors or greenhouses?
    Out in the fresh air normally inhibits them
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • Alfrescodave
    Alfrescodave Posts: 990 Forumite
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    Farway wrote: »
    Are these indoors or greenhouses?
    Out in the fresh air normally inhibits them

    I had a similar problem with whitefly on some peppers I was growing in the conservatory. I managed to move peppers plus containers outside and the insects (especially hover flies) soon removed all the little beggars.
  • chimpysmith
    chimpysmith Posts: 20 Forumite
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    Unfortunately these are all outside .
  • Alfrescodave
    Alfrescodave Posts: 990 Forumite
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    chimpysmith wrote: »
    I'm so nervous that it's going to spread to the rest of my pots. It's effecting about 70% so far. Just wondering if to bin all of them as spraying them every day doesn't seem to be helping. I hate throwing plants though.

    I think that if 70% are already infected then I'd be biting the bullet and dump the lot - sometimes Mother Nature wins and we mere mortals have to accept defeat.

    You still have time to achieve a good display this year if you restock now - Jersey Plants seem to bombard my inbox every day with offers.
  • chimpysmith
    chimpysmith Posts: 20 Forumite
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    Thankyou I think you're right. Bit worried they'll come back so think I'll have to dump the flowers and the compost beacause that's got a crust on it that doesn't look good. I'll just get a few new plants but not pansy's. Maybe marigolds or lobelia because they don't seem as interested in those.
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