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Mini Mango!
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Location: United Arab Emarates (UAE)

Bougainvillea - bugs on it & half dry

Hey gardeners!

My beautiful bougainvillea got bugs on the leaves. I tried to check on the net who they are but didn't find these fellows. They look like fat mini worms, the largest ones are max 1mm long, most of them are 0,5mm.

They suck the juice from the leaves and flowers, leaving the leaves wrinkled and the color of the flowers light pink with red dots (their color should be "fuchsia").

The plant is half dry as well. And the new growth (the tips) dry out soon after. Is this a calcium deficiency?

What kind of food does bougainvillea need? It's weird that mine is not doing well at all, because wherever I look on the streets, everyone has them in full bloom with healthy leaves! Most of the people here (in UAE) just use water, no food.

Mine is standing half a day in the sun. In the afternoon only I get sun on my terrace. Does this affect it's growth as well? I remember they need a full sun to stay healthy.

Help! -helpsos-

I love this plant soooooo much! I got it as a present from my husband and now I feel too sad to see it like that. (And scared not to kill it...) :( :(

Thanks a lot in advance for your help guys!

MM.
Last edited by Mini Mango! on Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Kisal
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Any chance of a pic of these "fat mini worms"?

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Mini Mango!
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The thing is, they are so small that it's not showing clear on the camera... :S
I've tried the oil/soap/water mix on the leaves and it seems they are almost gone now. But the leaves as well.. The plant is standing almost 'naked' and I don't know what am I doing wrong. :(

Any help on that...?

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Mini Mango!
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It's horrible... new leaves are growing her and there and new bug are with them!! grrrr......

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Mini Mango!
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Guys,

I think they are 'Thrips'.

"Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings that cause discoloration and deformities on bougainvillea and other plants. Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies and corn lice. Thrips are generally tiny (1 mm long or less) and are not good flyers, although they can be carried long distances by the wind...."
(https://www.bgi-usa.com/bougainvillea-resource/pests-diseases.php)

This description is very very similar with what I've noticed on my plant.

Only, I've never saw them flying and haven't noticed any wings. But, them being "1mm or less", imagine the size of their wings then! LOL.

Now, I will need to get some POISON for them! Mmmuuuaaaha-Ha-Ha-Ha!
I gut really fed up of them, my bougainvillea hasn't flowered for months now and is so poor on leaves!

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Kisal
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Did you use a pure soap, or a "dish soap" to make your solution? Dish soaps are usually detergents, because detergents cut grease much more effectively than soaps do. Use 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of soap to 1 quart of water. I've seen recipes that include oils, but I do not add that. Oil can block the breathing pores on leaves, causing the leaves to die.

Spray the plant thoroughly until it's dripping wet. Be careful to spray both the tops and bottoms of the leaves, all sides of every stem and branch, every leaf axil, every bud, etc.

Don't spray while the plant is in the sun, or it might burn the leaves. I always spray at night, when bees aren't active, because the spray will kill them, too. I also examine the plant carefully before I apply a spray, so I can remove any good insects that might be present, like ladybugs and their larvae.

Thrips are soft-bodied insects, so most of them should succumb to the spray. However, there will always be a few survivors, and new ones will hatch from any eggs that may be present. For the most complete eradication, repeat the spraying 4 or 5 times at 5 to 7 day intervals.

I haven't grown bougainvillea, but I understand that they like heat and are drought tolerant. Full sun does seem to be a requirement, though. Is there any chance you could move yours to a better location?

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Mini Mango!
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Hi Kisal,

Thanks alot for your reply!
I used dish soap. So I need to use pure soap, you mean? "Block soap" or "liquid hand soap" is fine too?
I have pure, non scented block soap.
....or you meant I need to use dish soap? :S sorry got confused there..

I'll try your directions, hopefully those parasites will be gone for good!

We might be moving into a house in a week or two.. So I'm sure my bougainvillea will be getting ENOUGH sun now, :clap: yeey! ..and the rest of gang. lol!

And now my next quest is to figure out what is wrong with my Jasmine officialis. Almost every leaf is affected by the sides. (I'll send pics, maybe someone will know it..)

MM

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Kisal
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I don't know what brands of soap are available in your area, Mini M. A bar of Ivory soap should work, as should any good Castile soap. Maybe try to find a face soap for people who have allergies, one that has very few added ingredients? If you use a bar of soap, instead of a liquid, just shave a little off and let it soak in water overnight to soften. Then shake or stir it up until it's completely dissolved.

The brand I use is Dr. Bronner's pure liquid soap. It's a liquid form of Castile soap. I have heard of some people using Murphy's Oil Soap, like you use for furniture, but I've never tried that.

I use Dawn dishwashing liquid at home, and the first time I ever made my own soap solution to use against aphids, that's what I used for soap. Almost all the leaves on the plant died. Fortunately, it was a large shrub, and enough leaves survived to keep the plant alive. Live and learn! :roll: :lol:



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