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Marigolds are beautiful flowers that can be a target for bugs and pests. To protect your marigolds from being eaten, there are several effective methods to kill bugs. One option is to use insecticidal soap, which can be sprayed directly on the bugs to eliminate them. Another method is to use neem oil, a natural pesticide, which can be mixed with water and sprayed on the plants. Additionally, you can introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings, which feed on the bugs that are eating marigolds. Finally, removing any infected plants or leaves can also help prevent the spread of bugs.
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are widely known for their ability to repel pests, but they are not immune to insect infestations. Common insects that enjoy feeding on these flowers include slugs, snails, aphids, and thrips. If you notice insects damaging your marigolds, the first step to solving the problem is identifying the pests so that you can then determine the appropriate method to eliminate them.
Slugs and Snails
Two of the most common pests that feed on marigolds are slugs and snails. You might occasionally spot them on your plants during the day after it rains, but since these pests are primarily active at night, you are more likely to see their characteristic slime trails on or around your plants during the day.
To get rid of these slimy troublemakers in your garden, start by manually removing them from the plants and placing them in soapy water. You will need to target them at night or early in the morning when they are actively feeding on your plant. If you prefer not to hunt for slugs and snails, try placing a coffee can in a hole near your plant so that the top of the can is at ground level. Then, add beer to the can to attract these slimy pests, as they are both attracted to fermented foods. Slugs and snails will crawl into the beer and drown since they are unable to climb out. Alternatively, adding eggshells and nut hulls to the mulch around your marigolds may help deter these soft-bodied pests.
While slugs and snails can also be killed with salt, it is advisable to avoid using salt in your planters or garden soil as it can harm your plants.
Aphids and Ants
Aphids are not particularly selective pests, so they are not deterred by the strong scent of marigolds and may feed on the sap of the leaves and stems. The sweet honeydew that aphids leave behind also attracts ants, which may not directly harm your plants, but ants protect aphids from predatory insects and can transmit diseases to your plants. Signs of aphids include yellowing and curling leaves, stunted growth, and the presence of ants. You may also observe the aphids themselves, which are small insects that can be yellow, green, red, brown, or black in color.
To manage an aphid infestation, spray them off your plants with a strong stream of water from a hose several times a week. You can also apply insecticidal soap to the plants, which will kill these pests on contact. Insecticidal soap may also harm beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, that are present on the plant when you spray, but these soaps do not leave behind any harmful residues that could harm insects that land on the plant after spraying.
Thrips on Marigolds
Thrips feed by piercing plant tissues and extracting the contents of the cells, which can stunt a plant’s growth or even kill herbaceous plants like marigolds if they attack in large numbers. These insects are often too small to be visible, but if you have one of the larger varieties in your garden, you may notice small winged insects that are white, yellow, brown, or black on your plants. Signs of thrip damage include premature leaf drop, tiny black specks of thrip excrement, and yellow, silver, or white streaks or spots on the leaves or stems of plants.
Controlling Thrips with Neem Oil
If you want to effectively control thrips on your plants, it is recommended to use a neem oil product that is ready to use. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer when applying the spray. To protect pollinators and other beneficial insects, it is advisable to spray the plants either late in the evening or early in the morning.
