Issue #36

Thrips on Tradescantias? Here’s What to Do

Do you know the signs that your Tradescantia might have thrips?

These little pests can be really sneaky. Often, by the time you find them, they’ve been around for a while. They’re small, but don’t let that fool you, they can cause some serious damage. That’s why finding them early and taking action quickly is important.

They can be quite difficult to get rid of once they've settled in. But it’s not hopeless, there are effective ways to prevent and get rid of them.

In this newsletter, I’ll show you how to spot thrips early and share some effective ways to get rid of them before they harm your Tradescantias.

But first, let's have a look at the Tradescantia of the week!

Tradescantia of the week: Maiden's Blush

Maiden's Blush is a very popular cultivar, and it's easy to see why. It has a stunning and unusual pink variegation. Unlike many plants whose variegation depends on light, and often doesn't return if it disappears, Maiden's Blush's colour changes with the temperature. Its variegation can completely disappear and then reappear when the temperatures drop or start to fluctuate.

I've never seen the variegation when I've kept it indoors, but every summer, when I plant it outside in my garden, those beautiful colours quickly come back!

The species of Maiden's Blush is uncertain, it has been described as both Fluminensis and Crassula, but confirming either has not been possible, so it is considered a hybrid. It was first documented in 1992, so it has been around for quite some time.

You might have seen this plant referred to as Andersoniana Blushing Bride? There's quite a bit of confusion with these names. Although most of the time when people mention Blushing Bride, they are referring to Maiden's Blush, there actually is a real Andersoniana Blushing Bride. This true Andersoniana Blushing Bride belongs to the Andersoniana group and is a frost-hardy cultivar with long, grass-like leaves and pink flowers. It was created in the 90s, but doesn't seem to be in cultivation today.

How to get rid of thrips

What Are Thrips?

Thrips are tiny insects that feed by sucking the sap from the leaves, which can lead to a lot of damage on you plant. Thrips can be very difficult to spot due to their small size, but finding them early can make a huge difference. Once they make themselves at home, getting rid of them can be challenging. They tend to hide within the nooks and crannies of plant leaves and stems. But, with the right methods, there's hope to get rid of these pesky invaders!

How to Identify Thrips

Thrips are very small, usually only about 1-2 millimeters in length, and can be yellow, brown, or black. They have elongated bodies and wings, which are often difficult to see without using a magnifying glass. Here are some signs to look for:

Unusual New Growth and Small Dimples: The very first signs of thrips are often unusual new growth and small dimples on the newest leaves. This can be easy to miss. Thrips attack the newest growth first, causing the new leaves to not unroll as usual or to have an irregular shape.

Silvery Spots on the Leaves: Another early sign of thrips is silvery spots on the leaves. This happens because thrips suck the sap from the leaves, causing cell damage. These spots show up first on the back of the leaves, but eventually appear on the front as well. They can easily be mistaken for burn marks, so keep an eye out if you find the next sign.

Black Dots: If you find tiny black dots on the leaves and stems, this is a sure sign of thrips—these are their droppings.

Dead Leaves and Stunted Growth: Eventually, infested plants will stop growing and develop a lot of dead leaves and stems. Leaves might also curl or develop unusual shapes.

Visible Thrips: You might see the thrips themselves; they look like tiny, slender insects moving quickly.

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Preventing Thrips

Thrips are a nightmare to get rid of once they've set up home in your plant. It's always best to do what you can to prevent them from finding your plants in the first place. There are many steps you can take to minimize the risk of a thrips invasion:

Regular Inspection: Make it a habit to regularly check your plants for early signs of pests. Pay special attention to new growth and the undersides of leaves where thrips are likely to hide.

Proper Watering: Make sure your Tradescantias are watered correctly. Overwatering can create a humid environment that attracts pests. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

Cleanliness: Keep your plants and their surroundings clean. Remove dead leaves and debris from the soil surface to eliminate potential hiding spots for pests.

Quarantine New Plants: Always isolate new plants for a few weeks before introducing them to your existing collection. This helps prevent any hidden pests from spreading. I have to admit that I'm quite bad at quarantining my new plants, but I've also regretted that a couple of times.

Healthy Plants: Keep your plants healthy by providing the right amount of light, water, and nutrients. Healthy plants are more resilient and less attractive to pests.

Neem Oil: Neem oil is popular method to use against pests and can be used as a preventative. But I would recommend being careful when spraying neem oil on your Tradescantia leaves. I did that once on my Nanouk, and the next day it had soft, sticky leaves. It survived, but it wasn’t happy.​​

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What to Do When You Find Thrips

I know the feeling when you find that silvery spot, you just want to throw out that plant! But it's not always necessary. Depending on the size of the invasion, there are things you can do!

First off, assess the size of the infestation and decide how much you want to keep the plant. Sometimes, it might be easier to take a few cuttings and treat those rather than trying to save the whole plant. Treating a few cuttings will also increase your chances of really getting rid of the pests.

Quarantine the plant:​ It's important to isolate the affected plant from the rest of your plants to prevent the thrips from spreading. Check all the other plants in the same room to see if it has spread. Thrips can fly, although not very far, so they can spread to nearby plants.

Prune affected areas:​ If you decide to keep the whole plant, trim off any visible infested parts of the plant. Get rid of the pruned parts in a sealed bag to prevent the pests from spreading.

Rinse the plant and give it a soap bath:​ Gently rinse the plant with water to rinse off as many thrips as possible. Be sure to target the undersides of the leaves and other hiding spots. I also recommend giving it a soap bath or spraying it with a soapy solution (1 tablespoon of castile soap per liter of water).

Repeat treatments:​ You need to repeat treatments every 3-4 days until you no longer see signs of thrips. Soap will only kill thrips when in contact with them, so this method requires persistence. It also doesn’t affect the eggs, so you want to make sure you get them when they hatch.

Monitor and Maintain:​ This is the last but not least important step. Thrips have a long life cycle, up to 60 days from egg to death. So it's important to keep your plant under observation for quite some time after you think you've gotten rid of all the thrips. Keep a close eye on the isolated plant and your other plants for any signs of thrips.

Alternative Treatments

Natural Predators:​ There's also the option of getting predatory bugs like ladybugs or predatory mites. It's a great way to combat pests without any harmful chemicals. This will also require less work from you since the bugs do most of the work.

Pesticides:​ If nothing else works, then there are pesticides. I would advise using this as a last resort. I cannot give specific advice on which to use since the availability differs a lot in different parts of the world. In Sweden, many pesticides can no longer be sold because they not only kill the pests but also all the other beneficial insects.

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As we wrap up, I hope you’ve found this helpful and that it has prepared you better for the next time these pesky pests show up!

I know how annoying they can be, but remember, it's not hopeless! If you have any questions or need more advice, please don't hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help!
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Until next time, happy planting! 🌿

Katja

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