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Common Pests and Problems for
January
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Continue to inspect indoor plants closely for insect pests such as aphids, spider mites, scale, and whitefly.
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Aphids - Indoors
Aphids (Hemiptera) are a common problem on indoor plants. Sticky honeydew on leaves is a common first sign that they are present.
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Spider Mites - Indoors
Close-up of two-spotted spider mite (Acari) on angel's trumpet (Brugmansia); includes adults, immatures and eggs
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Also check for whitefly, mealybugs and thrips. Treat if necessary.
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Thrips - Indoors
Close-up of cuban laurel thrips (Thysanoptera) on leaves of a weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
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Use salt with caution or not at all around plants or you risk causing salt damage. The damage may not be evident until late winter or early spring as temperatures warm.
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Salt Injury
Bleached foliage of euonymus (Euonymus) caused by salt spray
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Salt Injury
Close-up of bleached foliage of euonymus (Euonymus) caused by salt spray
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Damping off can be a problem on young seedlings. Also, insufficient light can result in spindly growth on seedling.
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Remove and dispose of the foliage of plants such as roses, peonies, iris, daylilies, apples, horsechestnut, which are subject to annual fungal leaf diseases.
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Black Spot of Rose
Yellowing rose (Rosa) leaves with black spots are characteristic of black spot of rose
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Apple Scab
Yellowing leaves and spots caused by apple scab on crabapple (Malus)
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Scout for, remove, and dispose of bagworms and cedar-apple rust galls on junipers anytime now until spring. Also check arborvitae, spruce, crabapples, and oaks for bagworms.
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Bagworms
Bagworm (Lepidoptera) on lilyturf (Liriope)
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Cedar-Apple Rust
Cedar apple rust gall on eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
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Help prevent creating dead area in your lawn by refraining from walking over frozen lawn.
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Stop fertilizing and reduce watering of indoor plants during winter. Uneven watering can result in oedema.
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Heavy snow on trees and shrubs, especially evergreens can lead to breakage. Brush off snow carefully before it melts and refreezes and becomes difficult to remove. Allow ice to melt off naturally. Ice causes branches to become brittle and easily broken.
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Diseased branches in apples, pears, pyracantha and other plants in the rose family that were killed by fireblight can be safely removed in mid-winter. If not removed in winter, wait until dry weather in summer. Avoid pruning plants susceptible to fireblight during spring when the bacteria can easily enter cuts resulting from pruning.
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Fireblight
Tip dieback on crabapple (Malus) caused by fireblight
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Fireblight
Fireblight canker and twig dieback on crabapple (Malus)
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Fireblight
Dead shoot on apple (Malus) showing droplets of the bacterial ooze caused by fireblight
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If overwintering dormant perennials in a garage or basement monitor the temperature and moisture levels closely to avoid freezing, drying out or rotting due to overly wet, cold soil. Check stored bulbs for signs of desiccation or rotting.
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Do not add wood ashes to your garden without first finding out area’s pH. Wood ashes raise soil pH at an approximate rate equal to 1/2 of an equivalent amount of lime.
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© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2009
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